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July 27, 2004
same old song
I heard on the news that, Alexander Downer, our wonderful go go foreign minister has been on the airwaves accusing Spain and the Philippines of being soft on terrorism because they have pulled their troops out of Iraq. Downer said the withdrawal of Spanish troops from Iraq had encouraged terrorists to issue threats. This send the wrong message and placed Australia at greater risk.
Alan Moir
Doesn't Downer recognize the principle of national sovereignty any more? The Spanish people had wanted their troops out, and an election had been fought on that issue. They were also figting terrorism. Their judgement was that the war in Iraq had very little to do with the war on terrorism.
This event would indicate that the only interests Downer recognizes are those of the imperial presidency in Washington. According to Washington America is at war. It is fighting a monolothic Islamic ideology out to destroy America. Little distinction is made between the differences within Islam --between Iran or Iraq, Sunni's or Shi'ites.
It is like the good old days of fighting the monolothic communist ideology bent on world domination, when US & Australian troops were in Vietnam whilst China and Russia were at each others throats.
Guys like Downer have their head in the sand. They refuse to acknowledge that any heightened terrroist threat to Australaia is caused by the Government's decision to keep troops in Iraq.
Should we not be building good relations with our neighbours (Indonesia, Malaysia & Philippines) in the war against internaitonal terrorism?
Posted by Gary Sauer-Thompson at July 27, 2004 10:38 AM
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Comments
I find it interesting that a country should not withdraw its troops because it may show that we were influenced by terrorists and are sending the wrong message BUT we should keep our troops in a foriegn country influenced by the message it would send to terrorists
as Homer would say "Duh"
Posted by: Shaun at July 27, 2004 04:36 PM