"Specific Terror Threat" Against Australia: PM

[Matilda]

John Howard says that Australian intelligence authorities have
received specific information about a terrorist threat in Australia.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/specific-terror-threat-against-australia-pm/2005/11/02/1130823250648.html

How terribly convenient! As he prepares to introduct legislation
for his Brave New World into Parliament, Howard announces that the
sky is falling.

Yawn!

On Edit: He is now trying to rush it through in record time. And
thanks to the gutless Beazley, he will probably succeed. This guy
is as cunning as the proverbial shithouse rat.

[Matilda]

1. Bob Brown on 702.

He says Howard's had this information for weeks, and if it was so
urgent, why haven't they acted on it?

He's completely cyncial about it, but what's the betting that most
of the G.P. will fall for it?

[foreigncorrespondent]

2. Exactly what I was thinking.

In fact when I saw the report on Skynews earlier today I was screaming at the TV that not all Aussies are stupid sheeple. That some of us will realize exactly why this "terrorist threat" has been announced.

He wants his bullshit passed. He was having problems from the states. So conjure up some bullshit terror threats to get the states to come in line. What fucking bullshit!

All this on the day the IR was introduced as well. Managed to bury that story huh?

[PinkUnicorn]

3. Yup

When I heard it, followed by Bonsai saying "Gee, well, I can't reveal details, you'll just have to trust me" I went off my dial. Trust "We have information that Iraq has WMD - Johnny?" or "Trust me, they threw children overboard - Johnny?" And Beasley? He folded like the sack of hot air he is.

I want to see the head of ASIO, ASIS or who ever gave this 'intelligence' put in front of the TV camera and state clearly and without obfuscation "Did you report terrorist threat to the Prime Minister and is it credible. You will answer Yes or No". No names, no bullshit 'confidential details' just a straight question. Won't happen though, because when nothing occurs no one will be able to say "I didnt say that", or "I didnt know that".

As for the IR *cough* 'debate', it seems to me that the current speaker of the house (Neil Hawker IIRC) seems so far up the Coalitions butt its not even funny. Unbiased? Ha!

Where have the 'good politicians gone'. The ones who don't suffer from a Napoleon Complex, who aren't gutless wonders and stand up for their constituents, who have more than two brain cells to rub together, who are straight and to the point instead of hiding behind legalese crap, the ones who refuse to be bought by a helping of pork...maybe they never existed and I'm being idealistic.

[foreigncorrespondent]

5. I am beginning to think more and more...

...that Bushco* definitely has his hand in our politics.

I believe Howard is a puppet for the U.S. I also am starting to believe that the U.S. also has a hand in the ALP.

I guess I always did believe the U.S. controlled us to some degree, but since Bush* has been in power, I see it more and more. And the stupid people really don't get it.

I purchased the October/November issue of Nexus (http://www.nexusmagazine.com/) this month, mainly because of a story I wanted to read. However upon reading the letters received by the magazine, I found myself applauding a guy named Michael M. (Michael, if you ever see this, you are a true Aussie hero for stating this in public.)

Anyway I gotta share this LTE with you guys:

PM John Howard -- US Servant

The announcement that John Howard is the recipient of a top United States of America public service award -- namely, the highly covered Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service -- has publicly confirmed what one has long suspected: that the Prime Minister of Australia is clearly a servant of the United States.

Australia's policies are without doubt formulated in Washington and then carried out to the letter by our "ever grateful for photo opportunities" prime minister, who thrives on the false adulation showered on him by President George Bush and members of his administration.

Section 44 (i) of the Australian Constitution clearly states that "Any person who is under acknowledgment of allegiance, obedience, or adherence to a foreign power, or is a subject or citizen or entitled to the rights privileges of a subject or a citizen of a foreign power, shall be incapable of being chosen or of sitting as a senator or a member of the House of Representatives."

The prime ministers track record of allegiance, obedience, and adherence to the USA speaks for itself. His blind obedience has seen Australia support the USA in unprovoked illegal attacks on two sovereign nations, thereby breaking the Geneva Convention, the United Nations Charter, the ANZUS Treaty, and the Australian Constitution. Under his leadership Australia, in support of the USA has refused to ratify the Kyoto Treaty, declined to sign up for the ICC, refused to support a United Nations resolution condemning Israel's Wall, and allowed the USA to hold two Australians prisoner at Guantanamo Bay for years without any effort to have them freed.

That's why he has received this award. He's a good and faithful public servant to the USA.

Is that brilliant or what? This guy has said it how I could never say it. But that is exactly how I feel about Howard and the politics of Australia.

[PinkUnicorn]

6. Mmm, my take

I'm don't think that Jackboot Johnny is a puppet, but more of someone stuck in the past and scared of the real word. Its no real secret Johnny live in the 50's land of white picket fences, 'unions, workers and women knew their place', consumption was good, and you got patted on the head by the British Royalty if you were a good boy - maybe even a knighthood. I think he wants to go back to that fantasy land of his, despite the fact it vanished over half a century ago. He wants to live in the 'good old days' and the down side is he has the power to do it.

As for why he is #2 boot licker to Bush (Blair is #1), the US has always had a vested interest in Australia. Especially since the Kiwis told then to get lost we are about the only large country in the entire southern hemisphere than even pretends to like them, hence the reasons for various naval bases, pine gap, etc. Now the British royalty is considered a joke by all, and don't pat good servants on the head anymore, but since insecure little Johnny needs a imperial master to grovel to (and receive accolades from) he latches himself to the US.

Remember how quickly he started fawning and sucking up to Gore when it was announced Gore had won the US elections? And how quickly he changed his tune when the Shrub was appointed. The same thing happened with the Iraq invasion. Howard and Downer were trying to outdo each other in "Saddam is Bad! WMD! UN is irrelevant!" screaming. Then the US was more or less forced to go to the UN (even though it ignored it), and the screaming muted to an embarrassed mumble for a time. They don't need a puppet, when all they have to do is throw a few doggy treats to Johnny and they own him.

When Bush came here and called him a 'Man of Steel' I suspect Howard creamed his pants. And when Bush said 'In Australian that mean Fair Dinkum' I almost had a seizure. "Oi! Smirky. Fair Dinkum means 'for real', 'no shit', 'genuine', 'honest' - everything that your pet toad is not.

[Matilda]

7. I think you're right about Howard needing an imperial master.

I think he really has the mind of a petty bureaucrat, someone who
has to follow a routine and a script to feel secure. So now he has
the top job here, he has to turn elsewhere for guidance. This is a
man whose horizons were so narrow that he lived at home with his
mum until he was 32, never flatted with a group of guys, never went
overseas. Then he swapped his mum for a wife, but how lacking in
guts and imagination is that? I'm sure he always has sex in the dark
too. (Quite irrelevant, I'm just being nasty).

I'm sure his greatest regret is that we don't have imperial honours
any more - being Sir John would make him feel really important, but
since he can't do that, the next best thing is to be the pal of the
president of the United States. And given that said president is
a congenital idiot, what does that say about Howard?

[PinkUnicorn]

8. Circumstance I think

I think that Howard has licked the Chimps shoes because that is all that is available. The British ignore him, as a poster boy WASP he would never consider Asia. Europe would laugh at him and forget Russia as he perceives them as 'godless commies'. The fact that the US has a large military allows Howard to be the whiny brat who runs and shouts insults while hiding behind the bigger guy. (I bet he wouldn't be half as brave insulting the middle east or China without the US to hide behind.

Howard isn't bright (though not on the same level of idiocy as Chimp), but he is as cunning as a wharf rat and twice as mean. You go against the dictates of De Fuhrer Howard and he will smear you out of existence.

[oscarmitre]

9. Good points.

For a long time I've imagined that his psycho-history might be interesting. I wonder if he was unpopular at school - an unpleasant experience for a young person and not one I'd wish on anyone. But every time I see Howard anywhere near Bush I think of the nerd kid that somehow has been adopted by the schoolyard bully. And the nerd kid is saying "revenge is mine."

[Matilda]

10. I've always thought that Howard was probably the class snitch.

"Excuse me, miss, but Keating just blacked someone's eye. I thought
you'd want to know."

[T_i_B]

4. Howard warns of terror threat to Australia

This story has made it to the UK press. Many thanks for posting this.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/australasia/article324144.ece