Bruce

Another excellent article. Your extended first hand experience in the South Asian region gives your views greater credibility than a (to date) ordinary politician of a new government.

Its obvious Rudd has a feel for foreign and defence issues. This may explain why he appears comfortable in having Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence that clearrly lack experience and individual thought. Maybe they'll learn - but then again they may prefer to rely on micromanagement of an overworked Rudd.
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MARYLYN

As usual I agree with your wide ranging views. Invading Afghanistan to destroy bin Laden (literally the Engineer of 9/11) was just a cover. This is indicated by America's puzzling reliance on the Pakistani Army and Afghan warlords to bloc bin Laden's escape from Tora Bora in November 2001 http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0304/p01s03-wosc.html .

It is no surprise that the US allowed such a prominent Saudi Arabian religeous leader to escape - economic relations with Saudi Arabia would have been strained had bin Laden been caught.

Even though 3,000 Americans died on 9/11 America's demoralising system of priorities allows the invasion of two countries while permitting bin Laden (an exiled "Prince" of Arabia) to grow older...

Pete