So yers really can't see what Abbott has fashioned for himself politically out of the diabolical IS situation?

I mean...really....

He's marshalled all the relevant agencies to back his "panic" and all the relevant media outlets to toot the govt's horn.

Not a peep about domestic policy lately on any subject but "protecting us from terrorism".

And none of you who are cringing under your beds and whirling your clackers in support of Tony's convenient concern for Iraqis (you know the ones he chopped off all aid to in the budget...before he realised that deploying the "terror threat" was perhaps political salvation)

That man is a con artist.

That man and his govt have "done nothing but" con the Australian electorate since way before the election.

He is a shyster of the highest order...who is apparently quite happy to cause division in our society to pour salve on his disreputable record since achieving govt...all in the service of hauling his re-election chances from the bottom of the cesspit.

Poirot,

For all that and all that, ISIS has just sent 130,000 Kurds fleeing over the Turkish border, and reports suggest that they are massacring people left behind, and presumably enslaving their women. Not that that worries you, of course, since the US is on the side of the Kurdish people in this one.

Most Arab states in the region also seem to be on the side of the Kurds, against the brutality of ISIS and its 'religion of peace'.

So whose side are you on ?

Joe

Poirot, I endorse your comments about 'the little Hitler'. When I hear him saying, "They hate us for our values," I cringe.

Howard, Bush, etc, myriads of liars have used this statement to justify their warmongering and fearmongering.

The Yanks are into the bombing and droning yet again. They relish it. The television is filled with images of missiles striking buildings in Arab lands. What they need to show are the body fragments and the screams of the badly injured among whom must be civilians and kids.

Humans are little better than beasts, brutal and cruel!

Welcome to the debate poirot, just back from the ME again I see, "They'll be watching you" as the song goes. Supporting IS? I guess so.

David G: Gee, as a peacemaker, I'm really on my own.

You didn't answer the question. How would you approach IS & get them to stop their killing & make peace? This will back your claim as "the peacemaker."

I look forward to you answer with excitement as YOU could may have the answer to the whole ME problem.

Loudmouth,

Are you telling me that Oz can't assist without slathering on the domestic "terrorism threat" so thickly?

What about the "raids"...for all appearances staged for media/public consumption?

What happened to "operational matters"?

Now he's got the "agencies" supplying material to the media.

(It reminds me of the US intervention in Somalia some years back when the media contingent was preemptively dug into the dunes ready to film the troop landings on the beaches.)

No one is supporting the brutality of ISIS (although I realise just how convenient it is for the likes of you to accuse anyone who criticises this govt's deployment of a major "terror threat" to be on the "baddies'" side)

You know in your waters why Abbott and his cronies are gung-ho on this one. Shorten is along for the ride.

It's for domestic kudos.

Any leader of integrity and honour would have gone quietly about the business of assisting forces against ISIS - they wouldn't have gorged themselves on an opportunistically prepared banquet ostensibly regurgitated and served up for domestic political consumption.

Poirot,

I think you picked the wrong morning to defend the 'religion of peace'. Two coppers stabbed ? 130,000 fleeing over the Turkish border ?

What have we had now - three incidents in a week in Australia ?

Mahmud Abbas in Palestine has come out strongly against ISIS. Arab countries are joining the struggle to defeat fascism (what else would you call it, Poirot ?)

I'll probably never vote liberal. But on this issue, which I believe is very, very real, Abbott and Bishop are on the money.

And it is really cheeky of you to write of 'integrity and honour'. Do you know what those words even mean ?

Joe