Pre-emptive strikes
What began as a benign Sunday morning chat on television between Howard and veteran Canberra interviewer Laurie Oakes has become a religion with John Quiggin, Tim Dunlop and Chris Shiels.
What Howard said;
What Howard said in reply to Oakes’ question was quite equivocal, full of “ifs”: “If you believed somebody was going to launch an attack against your country, either of a conventional kind or of a terrorist kind, and you had the capacity to stop it and there was no alternative other than to use that capacity, then you would have to use it.”At 7:14 this morning John Quiggan posts on the matter.
Call me naive, but I think that on an issue like national security, a government ought to offer coherent policies rather than soundbites. Howard’s statements over the weekend fail this test. On the one hand, he reiterated the view that Australia would undertake pre-emptive strikes against terrorist targets in neighbouring countries. On the other hand, he announced the formation of Federal Police counterterrorism teams to operate in South-East AsiaApparently having Federal Police overseas, as they are already, and having a last ditch stand of pre-emptive strikes is mutually exclusive. I can’t see why. And if Howard’s quotes are only soundbites what are Lathams -gospel? By 10:30 Tim Dunlop had worked up enough steam to post on the same point making it the Anti-Howard post for the day. Here’s Tim’s Orwellian piece-de-resistance.
If the Howard government loses this election–which is well within the bounds of possibility–it will be this sort of too-clever-by-half manipulation of the electorate that will be the reason. John Howard made trustworthiness the catchphrase of the election–his Orwellian piece-de-resistance–and this sort of flim-flam brings the issue nicely into focusTwo hours later, after studying his negative-spin dictionary ‘Sir Echo’ Chris Shiels attacks. Full of coffee or something worse he lines up Howard – all barrels but no clear sight picture.
Rodent, hoisted, petard, etc John Howard’s pre-emption ploy isn’t dead in the water; it’s alive and imploding within the Coalition. This issue has everything: Howard ruthlessly exploiting national security for domestic political scare campaign purposes, hyperbolic lies piled upon hyperbolic lies, regional contempt (with implicit racism), and now hysterical flip flops and backflips. Yes, we can see the whole wretched form of this most dreadful of Australian governments in full ugly flight, but on this occasion blowing up in its own face. The media transcripts will be here in due course (more at Tim’s and John’s places). If the Howardians don’t change their medication quick smart, they’ll be a smoking ruin come election day.Imploding, hyperbolic lies, regional contempt, implicit racism and most dreadful of Australian Governments….Wow. ‘Pre-emptive’ has certainly become the currency of left-wing mantra. Guys, all nations reserve the right to a pre-emptive strike just before they are attacked. It isn’t just a recently thought of right-wing swear word – its a last ditch tactic after diplomacy and all other means to resolution have failed. Get over it. At Back Pages a reader comments;
i love back pages. just when i was feeling downhearted and defeatist i read today’s pieces and it’s like someone’s put zoloft in the lemonade.Zoloft, a cure for depression, social anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder might be better prescribed for Chris. His ‘panic disorder’ needs medication.
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I have a number of Left friends (nice people, just a bit odd) and whenever pre-emption is raised I just ask a simple question –
Situation – there is a JI cell in Indonesia that is about to deliver a bomb to Australia. when it goes off it will kill your children, the Indonesian Govt refuses to co-operate (as they have past) – what do you want the Aust Govt to do about it?
Zoloft is not indicated for social anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It’s an anti-depressant, that’s where it stops. As for pre-emptiveness being the last ditch after diplomacy, I’d have thought your dictionary wouldn’t have that word in it.
Rather a badly timed post, don’t you think
Niall,
Unlike you, when talking about something outside my ken, I check first. Maybe Zoloft isn’t designed for social anxiety disorder etc but the makers think it is.
I quote.
Welcome to Zoloft.com
Learn more about depression and anxiety disorders
Feeling sad? Anxious? Tired? Restless? You may be suffering from depression or anxiety. To learn how Zoloft may help, click here: depression, social anxiety disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder.
As you say It’s an anti-depressant. Your first sentence is a list of problems caused by or associated with depression.
Try some, it may help!
John
No. Right from the start at the interview with Laurie Oakes Howard has been reactive on this issue- never proactive. Everything he has said has been in responce to Media questions or ALP accusations.
Of course, if it is mentoned during the election, as has been the case, he is then obliged to say something to our neighbours. It’s a beat-up and was never claimed as Coalition policy.
It’s like….when did you stop beating your wife? If you answer the question in any way whatsoever you are condemned.
Quite clever of Laurie, actually-plenty of mileage.
Niall
You seem to know alot about Zoloft…maybe you;d better get an extra set of prescriptions for October 10 and November 3.
Kev’s right. Zoloft has many functions. I used it for pain management for a spinal injury as prescribed by my specialist.
Once again Niall reads only the edited bit that helps his cause, the whole story shows him to be a dick.