Yes, you're right Mr Ruddock. But ONLY if you don't terrorise other people's countries and steal their oil!
That is real prevention and we'll surely be safe forever.

But do we have the guts to face such realities?

Keep selling Mr Ruddock, to those who wish to buy, certainly not me!

Mr Ruddick

I hope that we never have a terrorist attack such as the recent London tragedy. I hope that the negative posters here never have to worry.

I think that posters' comments to your articlle thus far have nothing to do with your article and the protection of this country. Sounds like typical other party political ploys.

God help us if we ever do have a "London" in Sydney, Brisbane, or Melbourne. If we do - I hope that people will accept that you (Government) are trying.

I would rather be alive with you trying - than no trying at all!

And for the posters who want to winge about the Howard Government and anti-terrorism laws - why don't you join up and fight for this county and your children?

Thanks
Kay

To first 8 replies,

(Part 1)

Give up the naive Pilger and Chomsky! Your irrational cynicism is unfounded in regards to any Australian government or Australian watchdog committee, and therefore religious: you NEED to believe in Big Brother, in a hidden reality behind a “manufactured” one.

Such baseless faith implies a sense of “individual rights” reflective of a major authority complex, typical of a self-centred middle-class brat, and which accords with an adolescent sense of “freedom” as anarchic. I can sense your fury misdirected at airport staff who “want to” pry into “your” personal space.

Walt Disney let you all down! In turn, you spit out your dummies and nursery rhymes become veiled mantras for State Power, and “freedom” itself a Foucauldian shackle in disguise! The hatred of anything Walty overwhelms your sheltered world with nihilistic rage, and so you turn to such faith for a footing. But please spare us you’re almighty selfish projections!

It is, I think, in light of your naïve kind that Ruddock said in his piece that terrorists are “deploying whatever resources can be sucked into the cause of terrorism”

If Al Queida are Marxists reacting, as Pilger puts it, to “Western imperialism”, why do they refer to Westerners as “infidels”? This kind of information cannot be mistaken as any media “sound bite”, for it is not capable of being taken out of context. Likewise, the Bali Bombers operation was entitled “white flesh”. And check out the website of Hizb-ut-tahir: their UK branch has articles on the incompatibility of Islam and Democracy; of course, it doesn’t follow that this is true, but such things inform us of the nature of the grievance these groups have, and that the closest a Pilger comes to understanding it is naïvely as a means to it

(see Part 2 below).

Cont... To first 8 posts,

(Part 2)

“Oh, but that’s just what big brother wants you to think!” you say. How so? What evidence? Cultural studies, sociology of the media? Why not the direction of flow of immigrants? Or is that, too, due to Western governments creating dictatorships, “deterring democracy”? We must be so almighty, powerful, evil! The Other so weak, devoid of agency, child-like. Nobody else is responsible but your Western daddy? And you’re not patronising? Where’s the post-colonialism in Japan’s and South Korea’s prospering after defeat? Why would daddy defeat someone such that they then become a fierce competitor? How could an almighty “Great Satan” sit by and let China and India prosper to the point of becoming potential superpowers? “Oh, but they haven’t”, you reply, “they’ve just culturally contaminated the world with Cartesian Western capitalism”, ruling by stealth of cultural (Hollywood) dominance and unfair trade deals. Funny how many indigenous communities market themselves into tourism, and how many non-Western nations are rife with uncheckable corruption. But agency is only a Cartesian trait, right? Just like veiled women “choose” to be veiled (which supposes they are NOTHING BUT sex objects), but Western working-class housewives are in “bad faith” or under “false consciousness”? What comparisons arise between Pilger’s and Chomsky’s attacks on our (and the US’s) reluctance to assist East Timor in 1975, the plight of those in Kosovo, and the Iraqi interim Prime Minister’s recent cry for world assistance? Would it have been permissible for NATO in Kosovo, or Australian troops in East Timor in 2000, to have withdrawn mid-battle, having “caused” an insurgent uprising? “But”, you say, “Western governments [i.e. Walt] are not acting morally but only out of self-interest!” Assuming you’re right, how else do you pay (i.e. $$$) for the battle? Iraqi oil? A positive move away from dependency on the evil Wihabi Saudis whom we all (even Mike Moore) know are funding terrorism

SKIPPY... say a few words mate :) hmm but try to put them in point form... easier to digest.

Mr Ruddock

aside from my pet hate of X rated porn, and onto the subject of your former port folio and in relation to the current one.

-CULTURAL SOLIDARITY is something that is emerging as an important issue, where Anglo Europeans are becoming more conscious of our own identity, and the connection with the founding of modern Australia.
While previously, as a vast majority, we didn't feel much need, and indeed were apathetic, to do anything to protect our shared heritage.
But the time has come to establish an 'Australian Identity' which has as its prevailing flavor our British/Euro/Judao/Christian background.

This is not to suggest alienating our minorities, nor rejecting anyone on the basis of skin color. But it IS a definite call for our immigration to be radically overhauled in terms of:
-Social Compatability
-Cultural Cohesian
-Political Stability.

Would be immigrants should be vetted strenuously, and it should be made clear to them OUR identity and customs. No one will or should receive special treatment based on their religion, should it be different from our own background. They must know our customs BEFORE coming here and sign an acceptance of them.
It is ludicrous that our emergency services should have to act differently for each an every person who they suspect of having a particular religion. The 'culturally appropriate' handbook would end up bigger than our Tax law.

1/ Establish our Identity
2/ Legislate/operate on that basis
3/ Inform all would be immigrants of 'how things are'
4/ Citizenship must be 'P'plated, with infringements resulting in deportation.

Islamic terrorism will be less of a problem then.

We live in a democracy, sh!t happens. What does XXX porn have to do with terrorism laws? Who cares what people do in the privacy of their own home. With all due respect, if i want to watch nuns having sex on dvd purchased from Canberra i will and you can take your morals and get stuffed. And if your far right christian crusade ever leads to a ban on xxx movies, i'll find nuns on the internet. As for your plan to legislate my identity. I know who i am i dont need the government to confirm it in writing using PC terms and inclusive language. You aren't serious are you BOAZ? Surely taking the piss? P plates for new citizens. What about born and bred Australian citizens who think what you're talking about is a gross insult to everything they stand for and associate with the Australian way of life? Will they be moved back from full to provisional and any further dissent gets them deported to the nearest detention centre and stripped of citizenship? pfft.

Anyway, i'll take free speech and the chance of being blown up any day. You'd hope that our society was mature and resilient enough to be able to self regulate against those preaching hate. I cant accidently leave my bag in the airport, i cant wear an FBI shirt i bought at vinnies, what's the world coming to? Ruddock can get stuffed and so can Howard and so can Beazley and all those state leaders who think that by removing various apparently superflous freedoms they create a safer, better society. They should concentrate on lowering my taxes and stay the hell out of social engineering.