Foxy,

"Anyway, I'll go and sit in the naughty corner now and
keep my mouth shut and next time I'll try th think a
bit more before posting. It simply was a gut reaction on my
part - "Way to Go Mr Abbott!" That was what I was feeling
at the time and I gave our PM the thumbs up!"

Wow!...you really think that I don't believe you should say what you think?

Go for it!

It's just that I believe it's a bit of LNP bravado from a "very confident" govt used to serving it up in spades domestically.

It's something they're going to have to spend a lot of time repairing.

That's a lot of time and energy.

Anyhoooo...here's a well-balanced examination of the issue.

http://theconversation.com/australia-indonesia-spy-standoff-more-than-just-gestural-politics-20427

Dear Poirot,

Not at all.

I was simply explaining to you my thoughts at the time
of posting and the reasons for them.

Thanks for the link.

However I still feel strongly about the subject - and
right or wrong - I'm all for standing up to the Indonesians,
I feel that they've had things a little too much - their
way.

Our spooks are not doing a great job at this spying caper, keep getting caught. They should watch re-runs of 'Get Smart' to see how Max does it. I believe our 'Chief' spook Tony Boloney was seen outside the Indo Presidential Palace in a 'Skippy' suit hiding behind a tree with a dirty big spy glass, peeing through windows. I've got a bit of exclusive footage of Our Tone getting to work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egIvTgfFJ9w

I wouldn't be paying Poirot much attention. Old Tin of Fruit has bouncing off the walls since before the election and he didn't start off the full quid as far as emotional intelligence goes. He needs to develop his feminine side. Hmmm, of course it could be that the girdle is killing him. They do not make proper ones for Ladies and where to tuck every little thing is a problem.

We all know what the leftist Guardian newspaper is getting out of releasing more of the long departed Snowden's papers: thousands of dollars of free publicity for itself to sell more audience to its advertisers. What we should be asking is why Australia's national broadcaster is helping the Guardian out and giving it all extra spin, helping to embarrass Australia.

As Australians we do not gain and in fact we would definitely be the losers from the intel that could come from government confirming or denying allegations concerning its intelligence services. That is why neither Labor nor the LNP would ever do that. The ABC already knows that, which poses questions about the informal but persistent editorial policy it operates.

I am not saying that the ABC necessarily prefers Labor nor the LNP. In fact it doesn't and comes across as representing the views of the 'Progressive' educated elite, more Green Left. The ABC doesn't want to discuss its informal editorial policy -which matters more than the formal editorial policy that strongly implies independence. Maybe the national broadcaster in its 'Auntie' days was once independent, however it isn't now. It will be a long cold day in Hell before Media Watch ever questions any of that.

Paul,

"... peeing through windows..."

There was obviously a typo in his top-secret instruction manual - he's very literal, you know.

Foxy,

My main area of interest is how he expects cooperation on his baby "stop the boats" (coming from Indonesia)...if he insists on pushing a diplomatic pie in their face at this juncture.

Culturally, having someone blow a raspberry at you from the floor of Parliament would not lend them the disposition to cooperate with you.

What will be achieved as far as bilateral engagement on commonalities under the circumstances?

Not much....

Indonesia has an election in the wind and the elites are buzzing in anticipation. It is just like Oz. As usual, time will pass and things will return to normal.

The UK's Guardian newspaper is a rag.

The ABC (along with the SBS) really needs to present a disciplined and specific business case to Parliament for continuance of public funding at the level it has been. Likely the SBS could do what the ABC does or vice versa, but two national broadcasters is gilding the lily at the expense of other pressing needs of government, such as aged care.