Weapon:".... Nobs like Bob Geldof and Bono telling us all about the wonders of debt relief and sending millions to Africa to relieve their collective suffering. Lets not worry about all the other endemic problems they face, just have a sing along, send some money, prop up some dictators, and feel good about yourself."

- Very harsh. If nothing else, the nobs like Bob Geldof have highlighted to the younger not-so-socially-aware what's going on in the rest of the world.

Where in hell are the positive stories, Ben, or aren't you writing about the Middle East since 1919-20 when good old Brittania did the dirty on TE Lawrence, culminating in the Iraqis revolting and over 10, 000 knocked off by the RAF under orders from Winston Churchill?

From that time on its been the same with the Yanks joining in, first using Saddam as a convenient puppet to knock out naughty treacherous Iran, not caring a hoot about Saddam's use of poison gas, etc. etc - Henry Kissinger hoping like Christ, both Iran and Iraq would totally knock out each other.

There is much more, Ben, in fact a hellava lot more. Sometimes one could wish we could trust the Americans, Ben, but we can't trust them anymore than we can trust these damned terrorists, who have come out of the social woodwork, similar to the way our Germanic cousins came out of the social woodwork with Hitler, Ben. None of us are much better when it comes to greed, Ben, in this case with the Yanks, mostly contraband and hegemon.

This Post is being pushed out by an oldie with not much more time, left Ben. One could only pray you do have the remedy to fix up this rotten world with a tiny little Israel allowed to have a nuclear free go, Ben, while Iran knows she has to have such capacity to even things up, Ben.

If you've got that one worked out, matey, just give us a ping back. Reckon this one could handle you any time. Written three long historical novels in my time, too.

George C, WA, Bushbred

Lisamaree,

I dont know what you mean by the not-so-socially-aware. Is that a polite way of referring to people who dont know jack or care about the world they live in. The fact that Geldof saw the need to have Live-aid 2 should give you a fair indication that his first attempt failed miserably at achieving any change whatsoever either in Africa or at influencing the way anyone, let alone the not-so-socially-aware, think. If Geldof wants to get involved in changing the way the world works he can start by reading some books on economics and history in an attempt to try and understand why Africa is in the state it's in and then perhaps he could go about encouraging the not-so-socially-aware to do likewise. Perhaps Bono could set up a school for the not-so-socially-aware with the money he so succesfully avoids having to pay tax on (no judgement here, good luck to him, i'd do all i could to avoid paying tax at 50c in the dollar as well ).

Handing out money, little or large, to individuals or nations doesnt build self sufficieny. Australia knows that all to well.

Good post, weapon.
I'd like to know why, when it comes to Iraq and its human rights abuses, that many people seem to take an isolationist stance. I agree that there were no WMD but surely the vicious regime there justifies intervention?

As for the Un, is it not rife with sectional interests of it own? Had it not been dealing with Iraq for about 10 years through various resolutions with no change in outcomes?

Whether the war was justifed or not, it's too late to bail. We can't leave now and allow civil war to ensue.

Gee Weapon, and I'm sure Bob thinks quite highly of you.

No, I do not mean people who "don't care jack", to use your vernacular. I meant people who would remain otherwise unaware if not for a celebrity speaking out. Unlike some, I don't think keeping abreast of political issues warrants a superiority complex. Some people consider art, meditation and possibly other introspective pursuits to define themselves as worthwhile people. They may not read the paper and be aware of what's going on in the rest of the world until a celebrity, with which they feel some affinity, brings it to the fore.

Whether his (or any other celebrity's) appeal was/has been mis-placed or mis-informed or whatever, my point is that it has contributed towards awareness of an issue.

Alternatively, we could all condemn him for getting it wrong and sneer at any efforts that has been made towards increasing awareness. If that's makes you feel better, go hard!

Noos, there is already civil war in Iraq, just turn on your TV. As long as the invaders stay there and continue to bomb, it will get worse not better.

Why has not the US invaded Saudi Arabia, where all the 9/11 perpetrators came from, as well as those that carried out the attacks on the US warships and other terrorist actions. Simple, politics and economics. Saudi, is one of the most repressive religious regimes in the world, they kill on the spot those that dissent, and chop of hands for stealing. Foreigners have to live within locked heavily guarded compounds to survive.

As Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, and is thousands of klms from the US, with no missiles or WMD's, what threat were they. Those that support this action, are either religious, and or programmed puppets of the current duopoly dictatorship here in Aus.

The US hasn't changed since Vietnam, their method is to flatten everything to flush out their opponents. It didn't work then, and isn't working now. it is the same in Afghanistan, they just bomb in the hope that they get someone and they always do. Sadly 80% of the time, they flatten the civilian population, 19% of the time, they hit their own or allied troops. 1% of the time, they actually get an enemy combatant