Does George Bush want to be ruler of Australia as well ?

[the Kelly Gang]

They have lined up to criticise Australia's Opposition Leader Mark Latham..George Bush, Richard Armitage , Colin Powell.

After a planted reporters question at the White House, Bush lashed out at the Labor Party's announcement to bring the majority of Aussie troops home by Xmas (there is only 850).

Armitage has basically said "it's all the way with Bush..everything or nothing".

But who has the most to lose in this relationship ?

The US 'free ' trade agreement, as usual one sided, is threatening to end Australia's superb subsidised medicine benefits and decimate it's burgeoning TV and film production business.

Australia is the most strategically placed ally in Asia for the US.

Pine Gap in the Outback is the largest and most important 'communications' centre for US Intelligence.

The Bush administration, with the aid of an embarrassing and subservient Prime Minister Howard is now bullying the citizens of one of it's closest allies.

The "either you are with us or against us" doctrine now applies to citizens of other countries when they go to the ballot box.

George Bush's version of Democracy is the most frightening thing I have witnesed in my lifetime.

The friendship between the people's of Australia and the United States of America must survive the most dangerous Washington administration we have ever seen.

[Poiuyt]

1. I could see Bush in Australia

Didn't it used to be a penal colony?

I'm sorry, I shouldn't wish Bush on the Australians.

[the Kelly Gang]

2. we have the bush, we don't need the Bush !

[madrchsod]

3. i don`t understand

how we as a nation have let this guy ruin our relations with countries such as yours..take heart we will do our best to get him out of office.

[DBoon]

4. Didn't the US get rid of Gough Whitlam

through covert pressure?

Isn't this a "precedent" for manipulating Australia's government for US ends?

It's been done before.

[iangb]

5. I wouldn't get too excited by this.

Latham's poll numbers increase every time Bush or one of his Admin has a crack at him. (Have you not noticed he's letting 'em run?).

No matter how much we Aussies appreciate our relationship with the US, we don't take kindly to blatant interference in our domestic politics.

In any case this is purely academic exercise. We have only some 80 troops on the ground protecting our diplomatic reps. (the other 800 are RAN protecting Halliburton's......er Iraq's oil).

[the Kelly Gang]

6. yes I think they may be out of touch on this one..it's a symptom

though of Howard & Bush thinking..that their countries futures are linked to their desire to win office.

[Ms. Clio]

7. Yes, of course he wants to rule the world, it's God's plan

"If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier...just as long as I'm the dictator..."
--Washington, DC, Dec 18, 2000, during his first trip to Washington as President-Elect

[SammyWinstonJack]

8. For those who thought he was just joking about that comment

:argh: Arrogant POS!

[Ms. Clio]

10. His jokes are always cruel or arrogant

He's one scary piece of work.

[Mechatanketra]

9. Um ... that's really not so different.

the "either you are with us or against us" doctrine now applies to citizens of other countries when they go to the ballot box.

It's been that way pretty much since WWII. The grand cause of the Vietnam War, for instance, ultimately distills to "We want free, fair, and democratic elections, unless the Communists would win them." We're just being more open about it in this administration. (Hmm. That's weird -- Bush being more honest about something? I guess every rule DOES have an exception ...)