Poirot, I'm sure the Underfuhrer will lob in very shortly with his usual "balanced comment" on this one. Pointing out that Scotty's news bestests, friend Hun Sen can't be such a terrible chap after all, as he has been seen wearing the obligatory white hat. We all know from the days of Tom Mix and Hopalong Cassidy those in the white hats are the good guys! No doubt the 'Usual Suspects' sitting in the OLO peanut gallery will be giving their nodding approval to the Cambodian deal and their "democratically" elected leader, the lads are very big on democracy in such places as South Vietnam, South Korea and now Cambodia, seems their form of democracy is a health hazard, the fore mentioned places seen millions of their citizens perish in achieving this Western style democracy they now don't have.
p/s Did Hun Sen learn his trade from Pol Pot? Not that Scott Morrision and Tony Abbott would much care if he did, politically he's useful...at the moment. I ask you, what's a few of them there turban wearing darkies and $40 million between friends.
It shall all be explained shortly...come in Underfuhrer!

Paul,

South Korea is a democracy and one in which the people are thriving.
There are no Koreans trying desperately to flee the South and enter the North but the reverse might be true but unfortunately for those north of the DMZ they would also have to cross the "arid zone" first.
Have a dekko on Google Earth.

Hi there IS MISE...

You're wasting you breathe with this peculiar fellow, similarly the import of your Blue Beret ! To him and his kind they'd consider it more of a fashion accessory, rather than a badge of honour ?

There was an excellent discussion last night between people of three different religious backgrounds on the ABC. There was one Christian, Muslim and a person who lives in Israel.

I think one person very well highlighted one main point - and that was, some countries have had 'church and state' seperated because it was forced onto a community - by others who came in through colonisation - and so there has been a diverse range of people, policies and actions in regard to those countries.

Some other countires however have not had this - and so addressing the issues around terrorism and those who take the extreme words of the past as the law of today - are very difficult to address. This includes when it occurs in their own country - and naturally flows onto fears with other places like Australia and the western world who have had the 'church and state' element removed a lot easier in that context.

It isn't nice for everyone in Australia - as people living here of Muslim background can feel victimised to something they have nothing to do with. We had one suspected Australian terrorist found guilty - (and had to spend time in a U.S prison). I'm not going to be held responsible for his actions, whatever they may have been.

With what I heard on radio last night, we do need a new department in Australia that addresses issues - to prevent war and violence or even expand the foreign affairs department, as a lot of other countries are very complex to live in. War won't fix these problems anymore.

Hi there NATHAN J...

War solves nothing, other than to create further divisions, hardened feelings, and enormous distrust amongst the formerly warring parties.
Moreover, and probably the worst consequence of war, it divides people, even in their home countries, as it has to a greater or less degree, here in Oz. Just examine all the conflicts, that Australia as been involved, post WW2 ?

Nathan, & O Sung Wu,

People start wars. Such wars are manifestly unjust, aggressive, unprovoked and, unless the attacked party responds, unstoppable until the aggressor gets what he wants. This could be termed an 'unjust war'.

Germany's attack on France in 1940 was an unjust war.

Russia's attack on Finland in 1939 was an unjust war.

Japan's attack on China in 1931 and 1937 was an unjust war, and their attack, inter alia, on Australia was an unjust war.

China's attack on Vietnam in 1979b was an unjust war.

So what do attacked people do ? Roll over ? No. Quite properly, they fight back. They have tov fight a 'justv war'.

Kurds are being attacked by ISIL right at this moment, and in the past few weeks, Christian Iraqis, Muslim Iraqis, Turcomans, Turkmens, Yazidis and other inoffensive groups as well. What are they supposed to do ? Of course they have to fight back. They have to fight what sounds like a contradiction in terms, a 'just war'. They have to fight back.

And if their enemy is very heavily armed and financed, what must they do, as well as fight, in order to avoid slaughter ? Of course, they can ask for support and assistance, they have every right to do so. Those responding to those requests are thus also fighting a just war, provide they keep their response within the bounds of supporting the Kurds, or Assyrians, or Shia Muslims, or Turkmens, or Yazidis.

So far, that appears to be what the US air strikes have done: responded to calls from the Iraqi government, which quite properly has the right to make such calls for its defence, and calls from the other groups as well. Thus, in this case, the US and the coalition is fighting a just war.

Joe