Australia under attack II (from the USA)

[Davros]

I think Mark is playing it up as well as sooking it up. If he was doing it from principle then I would have a lot nore respect for his actions (even when I still don't agree with them). Mark is just trying to sway a few voters disgruntled by the bad vibes of Iraq and the scandal concerning the lack of credibility of the intell services in recognising WOMD if they bit them.

Mark is just playing the heartstrings to get elected. The silly thing is that I have no doubt that if he had been in power we would have jumped aboard the GW train as fast as Honest Johnnie.

[Oblivion437]

Originally posted by wellard: The USA is a member of the UN

And we pay half the bill, and we gave up the land so these morons could run their little charade.

And what has the UN got to do with scorning the opositon party in Australia? not once or twice but repeatadly?

Well...

Is the statement by Americans in any capacity affecting Australian politics? Is what they say that meaningful?

What's more, aren't Australian politicians so mentioned in your original post over-reacting? Like all politicians aren't they really doing this to get votes from concerned citizens?

[wellard]

Originally posted by Davros: I think Mark is playing it up as well as sooking it up. If he was doing it from principle then I would have a lot nore respect for his actions (even when I still don't agree with them). Mark is just trying to sway a few voters disgruntled by the bad vibes of Iraq and the scandal concerning the lack of credibility of the intell services in recognising WOMD if they bit them. Mark is just playing the heartstrings to get elected. The silly thing is that I have no doubt that if he had been in power we would have jumped aboard the GW train as fast as Honest Johnnie.

Sure Latham is playing the heartstrings to a degree, and he is not subtle enough to do it well is he But that aside it is dammed annoying and very poor international relations to keep stirring the pot. Both Malcolm Frazer and Paul Keating (Former leaders from both sides of politics) have expressed their displeasure at this constant mud raking by the USA.

I would venture to suggest that few comments on foreign policy are uttered by the USA administration without planning and without evaluating the cause and effect of those statements. That given with the number and consistency of those comments, it can only led one to assume that they are deliberately trying to cause an effect in Australian politics. Whether that effect will prove successful remains to be seen.

Edit to use whether - weather in the right context [img]graemlins/blush.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/heee.gif[/img]

[ 07-10-2004, 08:33 PM: Message edited by: wellard ]

[Davros]

Oblivion - on the UN thing you are off beam and introducing agendas of your own - this post has nothing to do with the UN. It is about the public spat between your admin and the leader of our opposition.

Wellard - my view is that if Mr Lataham wants to run down wee Georgie, then wee Georgie has a right to attack Muddled Mark. Latham brings much of it on himself, and he is doing that purely from a need for brand distinction. He wants to gull the Australian public into believing we wouldn't be in Iraq if he was PM. That is a huge load of bollocks. The longer he can keep a public spat going between himself and the US the more votes he hopes it will win him.

Personally I think he is on a loser, because although the US admin is not the flavour of the month at the moment in OZ, many people recognise that we are in bed with them for the long haul, and there is just no point in antagonising your partners.

[wellard]

Originally posted by Davros: Personally I think he is on a loser, because although the US admin is not the flavour of the month at the moment in OZ, many people recognise that we are in bed with them for the long haul, and there is just no point in antagonising your partners.

Your last sentence sums it up for me Davros. "There is just no point in antagonising your partners". Which is exactly what the current US administration is doing. Long after the Bush, Latham and co ride into the sunset there will be a need to decide on further trade agreements and to facilitate the provision of US bases inside Australia. To cause more antagonism between the Australian public and the US for short term political gain is a sad enditment of the foreign policy debacles since GW (what’s an atlas) Bush came to office. The USA has enjoyed the benefit of close support and friendship through many of its darkest moments with Australia, and long may it continue. Why through it away?

[Oblivion437]

I'm not trying to introduce agendas.

Consider the point a red herring. I won't discuss it further.

So, back to my more significantly posed question:

Does it matter what these two knuckle-heads or talking-heads or empty-suits or tweedle-dees say? Call them what you will, but I see it as a bunch of children bickering incessantly over irrelevant trivialities.

[Yorick]

Imperialism is always received less well in the frontier provinces.

I got really pissed off when America wieghed in on Tasmania''s decision to legalise certain drugs. You simply cannot go against Americas drug policy - even though it's failed miserably and something different has to be tried. So a sovereign state, making laws concerning it's own area of juristiction, gets harrassed, not by the federal government of it's own nation, but by AMERICA???

While I agree that Latham is being a sook, overreating, the issue of American imperialism is very real, and of great concern. I was unable to vote for Bush or Clinton, yet their policies affected my life in Australia. How is that fair?

[Chewbacca]

Meddling in the internal affairs and politics of other nations has been part of U.S foriegn policy, with a dare to exagerate- probably since we first ever had a foreign policy. It is distastful and no way to treat friends- I agree.

As far as non-American forumites commenting on American politics- considering the many U.S. policies that have global impact I would see it as a like right and also like a neighborly extension of ideal of free speech we so covet here in my beautiful nation. So discuss away I say!

Also- what the hell is a "Sook"? This seems to be an Australianism and I am quite unfamiliar with it. It seems to mean, from context, as someone exagerating for a sympathy or emotional effect. Am I close?

[Memnoch]

Originally posted by Chewbacca: Also- what the hell is a "Sook"? This seems to be an Australianism and I am quite unfamiliar with it. It seems to mean, from context, as someone exagerating for a sympathy or emotional effect. Am I close?

Chewy, have you ever seen babies when they've had their dummies (or pacifiers to you) taken away? What do they do?

[img]graemlins/ma.gif[/img]




[ 07-12-2004, 07:20 AM: Message edited by: Memnoch ]

[Timber Loftis]

All nations meddle in each others politics. With half the frikkin world chiming in on the upcoming US election, I've gotta say that this falls on my deaf ears. pot-kettle-black, and boo-hoo to all.