Wednesday, February 23, 2005
“IT WILL END WITH JACK BOOTS”
John Howard’s decision to increase troop numbers in Iraq has sparked the standard demands for an apology from the scalp-hunting moon howler community. Leading the anti-Howard charge is Margo “Heil� Kingston:
It’s the first time I’ve used ‘Heil’ re Howard. His behaviour can no longer be seen as maintaining even a pretence of being democratic. He says ‘circumstance have changed’. Really? During the election their were grave fears that the Iraq election might need to be postponed or that not enough Iraqis would vote. Just this month Howard hailed the achievement of the election. What circumstances have changed that require us to more than double our troop numbers in Iraq, and to put them on the front line for the first time? That Japan asked us to do it? Please! This has been on the table for a long while, from the interviews I’ve read to date. He lied to us to stop us considering our vote in the context of whether we wanted to continue to occupy a nation the invasion of which has strengthened terrorism and increased our risk of terrorist attack. Sorry, but this man has shamed democracy and is a danger to Australia.
If Howard decided that changed circumstances meant Australia should now ratify Kyoto, would Kingston condemn him? Just a hunch, but I suspect not. Meanwhile, the woman is doing everything she can to draw attention to her problems short of carrying a Norwegian passport and claiming German citizenship:
I never have besmirched our troops on the ground, and never will.
No, but the Great Unsmircher did write: “We have invaded Iraq. Iraq, or its new allies, have every right to attack back.� Our soldiers thank you for your support, Margo.
I have never accused those who voted for Howard at the last election of being right wing fascists or anything close. Not ever.
Except for saying this: “If Australia as a whole says yes to returning a Liberal government, I think our democracy is dead.� Close enough, Margo? Webdiary reader Syd points out to Kingston that “Iraq was front and centre of the election campaign, and the electorate knew who would handle it the best.� Margo’s response:
And the right wingers waxed lyrical post-election that it was about interest rates and economic management! You must be feeling defensive to rewrite history so dramatically Syd.
Actually, Margo is re-writing history; it was the left that sought to deny Iraq’s election influence. Other Webdiarists weigh in as best they can, given the limited internet access under Howard’s brutal regime:
Jan Piper: “If you vote for a dictator, you get one.�
Reg Rickard: “Are we not an accomplice before and after the fact for all crimes committed by the Coalition?�
Shane Edwards: “Leaders with Napoleonic syndrome may ultimately suffer Napoleon’s fate. Where is our St Helena island?â€?
Avril Sykes: “Little by little we see our freedoms eroded. And where will it end? It will end with jack boots and brown shirts. Right here in our living rooms. That and Howard taking complete control of every arm of the government. Herr Howard the Hater. Is this what we want? Not me! Killing democracy to make one man more powerful than all of us put together so one man can rule Australia like Sukarno ran Malaysia. You’d have to be crazy if you think I’m going to knuckle under jack boots and fascists. Over my dead body.â€?
As you wish, Avril. The jack-booted Living Room Kommandants are on their way!
UPDATE. Professor Bunyip notes Webdiarist Andrew Stretton’s quest for spiritual meaning:
I discovered that my soul could not be denied and that my thoughts needed to be expressed. I moved to Ballarat and took up a position with the local Chamber of Commerce
As the Bunyip writes: “Bugger this business of going to Tibet for enlightenment. The next time this Bunyip is laid low with care and torment, when questions of life’s meaning bring only echoes in the void, it’s pack the bag and straight up the Western Highway as fast as the speed cameras will allow.â€?