Howard/Australian PM-Wakes Up!---"REFLECTIONS ON THE SITUATION IN IRAQ"

[kpete]

John Howard Australian Prime Minister has come out swinging and he's aiming right for Bush

12 March 2006

TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER
THE HON JOHN HOWARD MP
ADDRESS TO THE DEAKIN SOCIETY, MELBOURNE
"REFLECTIONS ON THE SITUATION IN IRAQ"

(Kpete: These are just snippets - the whole thing is worth a read)

..............

These are the facts. There are many more examples. And they raise serious concerns for the future predicament which our Government and our party may find ourselves facing. We have been lucky up to this point, because the full extent of the mayhem resulting from our U.N sanctioned occupation has not been dwelt upon by the Australian media. You can draw your own conclusions why this is so. However, having been kept well briefed on the conflict by our intelligence agencies, and I can assure you that many unpleasant details are still to emerge.

.................

I speak to you here openly, and with sadness. I have no intention of repeating or elaborating these remarks outside this room. For decades, many of you have stayed loyal the principles of our Party. However, it is not wise for any leader to mislead himself, and I have no wish to mislead you. Like our good friend Tony Blair, I too admit to episodes of anguish. I worry the situation is getting worse. Not only in Iraq, but elsewhere in the world. You will of course be making up your own minds as you watch the news in the coming weeks.

I note that the latest US Country Reports on Human Rights concedes that in Iraq, 'civic life and the social fabric remain under intense strain from the widespread violence'. The US ambassador to Baghdad, Zalmay Khalilzad, has said we have 'opened a Pandora¹s box in Iraq'. There is mounting evidence of arbitrary detention and torture committed by government forces, both police and military.

..................

There is tremendous pressure from the US for our troops to remain in Iraq, and of course mutual loyalty is a vital component of the alliance. But the longer the Coalition of the Willing remains, the more we are detested, and the more blood is shed. The country is already tearing itself apart, so I am asking you, could our departure really make it any worse?

............
alot more at:
http://www.johnhowardpm.org/speech1817.html

[htuttle]

1. "...as you watch the news in the coming weeks."

Is that a heads up?

I worry the situation is getting worse. Not only in Iraq, but elsewhere in the world. You will of course be making up your own minds as you watch the news in the coming weeks.

What significance does he place on the news in the next couple of weeks, versus the hundreds of weeks since the invasion? (there's some obvious possibilities here, but wondering if I'm alone finding some significance in these few sentences).

[kpete]

2. This is what I am wondering about too....

[Jackpine Radical]

3. I noticed that too, and was wondering

what he's talking about. Sounds like something major coming down the pike.

[mom cat]

19. My immediate thought was the real possibility of a US attack on Iran.

[rooboy]

4. This hasn't been in the Australian news at all...

in fact, this post is the first I've heard of it. For DU'ers who don't know, Howard has been at the top level of federal politics for well over 30 years - he's no idiot. But he's also quite disciplined when it comes to negative news - this kind of talk is quite unusual for him.

[kpete]

5. I think its HUGE!!!

And will get even MORE Huge....

[kpete]

6. From Atrios:

Howard


This speech by Australian PM John Howard is interesting.

...It's really one of those things you have to read in its entirety to get the full sense. Lifting any one bit feels like quoting out of context no matter which bit is lifted, but nonetheless here's a bit:

http://atrios.blogspot.com/2006_03_12_atrios_archive.html#114225827280011704

[mom cat]

21. I agree. I just finished reading the whole thing. It is fraught with

british unserstatement but is a powerful messagefrom someone who has seen behind the mask and feels that his principles have been betrayed. I do not know Howard enough to know how much of this is self serving, but is certainly represents a sea change.

[mattclearing]

7. Wow.

That's amazing.

[kpete]

8. Maybe TOO Good to Be True (I Am Still Checking)

Its bogus. The site links back to the official PM site, but the actual pagein question is at johnhowardpm.org which is NOT the official site. The official PM's site www.pm.gov.au has no listing for a speech on 12/3.
There has been no mention of this 'speech' locally, and the Australian media whilst occaisonally sleepy, would not miss this.

http://www.haloscan.com/comments.php?user=atrios&comment=114225827280011704

[bpilgrim]

10. ah, that makes more sense

thanks for the info :toast:

peace

[grytpype]

15. It's a fake!

I'm thinking it's a fake. johnhowardpm.org is registered to a private party in California.

[grytpype]

16. IT'S A FAKE!

Here's the official PM speech page:

http://www.pm.gov.au/news/speeches/index.cfm

This "speech" is not on it. It's a fake.

[htuttle]

17. It may be a fake, but it's "true" nonetheless

[bpilgrim]

9. i take it he recognizes that he can no longer lie to his people

the facts on the ground have over taken the coalition of the willings rhetoric.

i am sure the aussie press must have told him that they will no longer keep a lid on it.

http://nobravery.cf.huffingtonpost.com

peace

[Sparkman]

11. As in Austria-Germany-Italy circa 1940's, worry @ THEIR own Fascists

[Sparkman]

12. Our "allies" and sane Americans have a lot to worry about, U.S. Fascism.

[NNN0LHI]

13. Australia was almost the last to leave Vietnam too. We were the last n/t

[Sparkman]

14. Lie to get war maching run'g-control media-milk the public treasury

[kpete]

18. Again - THIS IS A HOAX - Not Authentic

Sorry I posted, wish I could delete - DO NOT RECOMMEND!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jack Rabbit]

20. Thanks for the confession, Mr. Howard, such as it is

Now report to The Hague and take the Frat Boy and his Poodle with you.



The Palace of Peace
The Hague
Home of the International Criminal Court

Photo from the Dossier Nederland (The Netherlands)