Thanks Westralis for the good information and pointing to trilateral ANZUS treaty as well as pointing out the importance of having access to intel and Pentagon planning.

It only seems that the intel received from the US in regards of Iraq for sure was distorted, false and misguiding. Andrew Wilkie even warned about the misleading information – good on him. I am also not convinced that all US information about 911 fed to the world is correct and could be held up under independent scrutiny.

Having a treaty doesn’t mean that the small brothers have to accept everything what big brother is saying. Only because the US have carried the biggest burden during WWII in the region does not mean that we have to be thankful in such a submissive way that we are unable to criticise US policies when they turn evil.

New Zealand took its stand. Its female prime minister faced the challenge and said no to join the states of the willing. If our tiny neighbour – also a member of ANZUS - had the guts to oppose US policies then why not Australia as well? Did the planned free trade agreement play a role or was it just mate-ship between Bush and Howard?

I am sorry Belly.
Australia does not have to be an international joke due to the lack of a single party majority in parliament.

I am not convinced that a political system with two domination big parties is the best way for democracy. Switzerland has a hung parliament since 1852 and its government is absolutely stable :-).

Australia’s reputation took big hits in Europe some years ago due to per capita pollution and especially John Howard’s immigrant policies breaching basic human rights. No wonder Australia does not want to sign the Human Rights Charter because we are on the best way to re-implement these bad policies.

The only Australian joke is called "fair go". It doesn't exist - at least not for everyone.

Chris

Well belly, on this occasion I say I have to agree with you.

Bally; Sound like the grumblings of an old man, dd election.
There's no reason we can't have a functional govt;
It probably goes in favor of a republic if we do have stupid blockages in parlament.
The GG is on Jules side anyway.
Could you imagine Tony as prime minister really.

Could you imagine Tony as prime minister really.
579,
easy, considering the alternative. How much more damage do you want before you can see what's being done ? Just utterly puzzling !

Some say, can we trust abott as Pm. Fair question, but, considering the two people who led labor on a path of 'continued waste' are still there and watched over projects, such as fuel watch, grocery watch, the solar and pink bats debarcles and who can forget the Copenhagen adventure, can we really expect them to roll out a $43billion NBN plan and not stuff it up.

You're kidding!

Tony as PM?

I would like to have him as training partner in sports and that would probably be fun. Considering him as an intellectual sparring partner makes me feel annoyed and bored already in advance and up to now I never heard from him a fluent longer speech without interrupting a a a's.

Julia in this respect is a bit better, but she reminds me of a radio series we listened to before going to bed - soft spoken fairy tales - making us feel sleepy and sending us to dreamland