Author: Kev

Retired infantry officer. Conservative by nature and politics; Happily married and father and grandfather of eight. Loves V8 powered Range Rovers, Golden Retrievers, good books and technology and think there should be open season on Greenies. Born in the mid forties and overdue for servicing but most parts still work.

Geoff Clark

Posted on by
Geoff Clark, ATSIC commissioner, convicted thug and accused rapist still refuses to resign from his 240,000 job.
A VICTORIAN judge has found suspended ATSIC chairman Geoff Clark led two pack rapes against a woman 33 years ago. In granting Carol Anne Stingel the right to bring a civil action for damages against the Aboriginal leader, Victorian County Court judge John Hanlon said he was satisfied Ms Stingel was raped six times in 1971 – the first two of which were led by Mr Clark. “I am satisfied, to the requisite degree, that the events that she described in 1971 did take place and that Mr Clark was, in fact, the leader of the pack on the first two occasions on which she was raped,” Judge Hanlon said.
Just what do you have to do to get sacked from ATSIC?
Uncategorized

Blackhawk Down

Posted on by
Eight survive chopper crash in Queensland. choppercrash.gif
PILOT error is suspected as the cause of a Black Hawk helicopter crash which left six soldiers injured and the $25 million aircraft destroyed near Amberley RAAF base southwest of Brisbane yesterday. The army helicopter with eight on board was on a training exercise when it reportedly clipped trees and ploughed into a cow paddock at Mt Walker, 12km southwest of Amberley about 10.30am.
The press release condemns the Trainee Pilot who after recovering from the crash will most probably be a trainee landrover driver.
A trainee pilot, 23, and his instructor, 33, were at the controls with four other trainees and two loadmasters in the cabin. It is not clear whether the instructor or his co-pilot had control of the helicopter at the time of the crash.
Update: From Defence Media
Of the eight persons on board, six members suffered injuries. The current status of the injuries as of this morning is: – One member suffered a spinal fracture and will undergo surgery over the weekend. – One member suffered breaks to his wrist and knee and is recovering from surgery. – Two members received minor injuries and are being held for observation at Amberley Base medical facilities. – One member sustained minor injuries and is being held at Royal Brisbane Hospital for observation. – One member sustained neck trauma similar to whiplash and is being held at Princess Alexandra Hospital. – The other two members are being held for observation at Enoggera Army Base Hospital
Defence

Super Deal

Posted on by
Latham calls it and Howard looks and agrees. Some will call it a flip-flop but they’re wrong. Howard never said No. He said I’ll look at it. If Super isn’t on the agenda next week then Howard and the country have won and Latham will be wondering how it all happened. Still that’s what Oppositions should be all about – force the issue…change for the better. News.com flags it well. PM smothers super grenade
Politics

The Power of Suggestion

Posted on by
Clearly Dennis Shanahan and The Australian want an investigation into WMD Intelligence Assessments. This article, headed ‘Spy agencies to face new WMD inquiry’ is very long on suggestion and very, very short on facts. AUSTRALIA’S spy agencies can expect.. The Howard Government is expected to agree to an independent inquiry.. ..a recommendation for an independent inquiry is expected. Pressure has grown for an independent inquiry .. ..the external inquiry into Australia’s intelligence assessment is not expected to include politicians. It is also likely to be more secretive than the US inquiry.. Dennis has based an entire article on the passsive ‘expected’. Nowhere is there a ‘will’, ‘is to’ or ‘are going to’ statement. The entire article is based on the fact that Dennis thinks there should be an inquiry. Hang on. Dennis does actually quote someone rather than rely on conjecture Mr Howard has refused to order an external inquiry until the findings of a parliamentary inquiry, due to be released in March, are made public. Keep up the good work Dennis but I feel that by March the electorate will have other things to occupy it’s mind. For example, by March the public could well be running a book counting Flip-Flop’ Latham’s policy reversals. To make the article more confusing the on-line editors have grafted a part of another article about Bill Gates and Microsoft security into the middle of ‘the I want an enquiry’ article..Confusing but so is the whole article particularly when it ends with this.
But both the Opposition Leader and Mr Rudd have fallen short of demanding such an inquiry until the parliamentary committee reports. Yesterday the Coalition and the ALP joined forces in the Senate to block a Greens motion to hold a judicial inquiry into the intelligence agencies.
Most people understand, some need telling, that Intelligence work is not as precise as maths. Never was..never will be. It is always based on assumptions and unless you have operators on the ground, in the enemies HQ, then you can only assume. The Left and other Howard haters will push this Intelligence issue for all it’s worth but all it’s worth is not very much.
War on Terror

One for Vietnam Vets

Posted on by
Kerry wins big in Maine caucus and questions Bush’s Vietnam Service.
Mr. Kerry took the opportunity to highlight his background as a decorated Vietnam veteran and questioned whether President Bush had fulfilled his Vietnam-era commitment to the National Guard. Mr. Kerry insisted that he was not making a political issue of Mr. Bush’s Vietnam-era service, saying he had no trouble with the “many people” such as Mr. Bush who served in the Guard to reduce the odds of seeing combat in Vietnam.
Kerry VVAW.jpg True, Bush didn’t serve in Vietnam but then he didn’t serve for both sides either. Pic from fellow Vietnam Vet Peter Munro. Update: For more info go to the Vietnam Vets against John Kerry website
Politics

Defence Expenditure

Posted on by
‘Projects axed to fund spy planes’ is the spin at The Australian. Not hard to find a negative spin if you want but defence expenditure is a difficult game and like a battle plan must remain felxible when it comes in contact with the enemy (or reality).
“The ground-based air defence system for the army was a missile system that was going to replace the Rapier surface-to-air missiles and that’s dropped out,” Australian Strategic Policy Institute analyst Aldo Borgu said yesterday. “So there’s a question mark over whether there’s adequate air defence cover of our troops when they are deployed.”
Could someone remind me of the last time Aussie troops were attacked by air. World War Two, I think. I’m not saying our troops don’t need air defence cover but if we have to opt for Global Hawks, new tanks and ships over air defence missiles then I’d go for the former group every time.
The cuts have been made to pay for the $1 billion purchase of up to 12 US-made Global Hawk unmanned spy planes, up to 100 new main battle tanks for $600 million and extra ships worth up to $3.5 billion to transport troops to areas of conflict.
The Global hawks will replace the Orions operating out of South Australia and will do an exponentially better job. The Orions have been around for nearly as long as I have and like me, can only be described as ‘tired’ old technology. global.jpg Read all about the Global Hawk here. Likewise the tanks need replacing and I’ve argued for decades that we need efficient, modern ships to take our troops and all their support to conflict areas. It may have escaped some commentators notice but defence has had huge changes in it’s expected role of late. While we still must be prepared to fight a conventional war we have been increasingly involved in conflict that is anything but conventional. Rapier missiles would not have helped at the WTC, Bali or Iraq, but Global Hawks were very useful in Iraq and new ships to transport troops to conflict areas with their guns and modern tanks will always be needed in any type of conflict. I tried to get info from Defence.gov.au but it’s not loading. Must be the RAAF’s turn to run it and they’re all busy celebrating not having to fly long, lonely, boring recon patrols . Good idea, I reckon. Go for it.
Defence

US, Australia sign trade pact

Posted on by
The most interesting aspect of the trade deal will be the medias interpretation. Already different commentators are taking different approaches. Latham says it’s bad and rushed so both Howard and Bush can get political mileage. Well he would say that wouldn’t he? With both the US and Australian elections some months away I just can’t see that as relevant. Negotiations have been going on for some time already. News.com puts a negative spin on the deal quoting Latham in both articles The Age reports it as it is and lists benefits to the US and Australia. I tend to think a trade deal is better than no trade deal and there seems to be plenty of advantage to both parties. Vaille and his team have worked hard and the fact that most goods will enter the US duty free can only help. The Left wing and Howard haters will scream and push sugar and the yet to be announced variation to the Pharmaceuticals Benefits Scheme down our throats for some time yet but most will see the benefits.
Politics

Kids names

Posted on by
After the article about the Nerd calling his son Ver 2.0 we now have a little light humour on the subject from my mate Paul kids.bmp“We met on the Internet. These are our kids: Control, Alt and Delete.?
Uncategorized

Offensive Art

Posted on by
In Melbourne comes a story depicting the level of debate the Howard haters love. A PAINTING mocking the relationship between Prime Minister John Howard and American President George W Bush has been labelled offensive by the Victorian Liberal opposition. Aboriginal artist Gordon Hookey’s Sacred nation, sacred nation, indoctrination, theme is on display at the Ian Potter Gallery in Federation Square
The painting includes a line that states: “John Howard and Australia are so far up George Dubbah Yah Bush and the USA’s arse that we’re in the s—. We’re kept in the dark and it stinks.”
How indescribably tasteless. He might think he’s clever but the majority of Australians will think he’s fouling his own nest . You are in the dark, old son, and you stink. Bill Leak’s cartoon yesterday that depicted thre Ostriches, two with UK and US flags adorning their feathers have their head in the sand while the third, with the Aussie flag, has it’s head up the US birds fundamental orifice. You are so clever, Bill but the only people who would have laughed are the grade three boys my son teaches at Yepoon. Oh, Ok some lefties would have laughed as well but their sense of humour is based on grade three anyway. Grade three humour, Grade three art. Upgrade: Reader James Riley has come up with more info on Hocking and his Grade three scribbles and daubles here and herethat links to the offensive painting, “Fuck’n Our Land. Should you wish to send the gallery an email complaining of this gutter art then click here Yobbo also picked up on event.
Politics

Time is the essence

Posted on by
My daughter Liz sent me this pic. She thinks its fake, I’m not sure. Can any US or local readers comment? f16.gif Capt Christopher Strickland ejects from a USAF ‘Thunderbirds’ F-16C less than one second before it hits the ground at Mountain Home Air Base Idaho, on Sep 14th 2003. Update: Wallace from Big Gold Dog says it’s true and who am I to argue with a Texan. See comments.
General Musings
1 … 204 205 206 207 208 … 228