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Last updated on March 6th, 2018 at 12:31 am
Perfesser John Quiggin prior to the Cole Royal Commission:
Both Downer and Howard knew that the AWB was paying kickbacks to the Iraqi regime.
The findings of the Cole Royal Commission:
There is no evidence that any of the Prime Minister, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister for Trade or the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry were ever informed about, or otherwise acquired knowledge of, the relevant activities of AWB.
Perfesser John Quiggin after the Cole Royal Commission:
My predictions at the start have been borne out almost entirely.
- The TurdPosted by Craig Burden on 2006 11 29 at 03:07 AM • permalink
- I quick read of the report pretty much indicates that Cole went out of his way to demonstrate that the calls of corruption by the SWAT womble were rubbish, and emphatically clears Howard, Downer, DFAT etc. from any knowledge of what was going on prior to the oil for food enquiry. In fact Cole says that AWB executives went out of their way to hide what they were up to from the Governmant.
However, he did go to say that DFAT did not have sufficient processes in place to ensure that the oil for food program was not being rorted by the likes of AWB. This is probably a result of the prior history of AWB as a government agency, and so a degree of trust existed between DFAT and AWB that would not normally have existed if it were another company. I guess that you could say that the government was negligent in that case if you wanted to be harsh. Alternatively, you could say they were too trusting of an iconic institution.
This should be the end of the AWB (not before time IMHO). A relic of agrarian socialism.
- It’s almost been worth watching the ABC coverage of this: you can practically hear the journos swallowing a mouthful of bile before they announce through gritted teeth and invisible sneer-quotes that the PM and co have been “cleared” by Cole. This was Australia’s ‘Fitzmas’, and suffered the same fate.
- Quiggers is just ahead of the news cycle.Posted by Evil Pundit on 2006 11 29 at 03:25 AM • permalink
- The Labor party must be the only ones who could have stuffed this up (well except for the state liberal parties). Rather than concentrating on the negligence/incompetence angle they went into overdrive and pushed too hard on trying to tie the ministers in as willing accomplices. That lowered the bar for the government who can now claim to be exonerated.
Doesn’t mean the government will get away unscathed but the pressure is off. And meanwhile Beazley is watching his back.
- The term ‘professor’ is significantly diminished by the cognitively disconnected Quiggin.
He is a prime example of my assertion that the Left prefers to spend time forming opinions rather than doing any actual research, which is odd for a professor but I guess when you’re convinced of your own righteousness then there’s no point studying anymore.
Posted by Jack Lacton on 2006 11 29 at 04:02 AM • permalink
- Don’t forget Perfessor Squiggles brain is wired back to front. Confronted with the truth he calls it a lie. Confronted with a lie he calls it the truth.
His brain is unable to distill fact from fiction, therfore his theories will always be true, even when proven to be untrue. It is a classical case of psychotic denial.
- the government’s defenders have had no trouble squaring their denunciations of Saddam with the fact that we were financing his rearmament program up to the day the war began. (from Quiggo’s page).
Similarly, the AWB affair has at least provided the Left with their one and only opportunity to pose – however unconvincingly – as critics of Saddam.
- A promising career in global warming/cooling/ climate change awaits the proffessor. They need people able to keep straight faces while they are wrong fooyed time and again by the facts.
Still the wheat thing should never have happened.
Dont expect to hear much more about BHP’s “gift” shipment to Iraq either, that was done under UN sanction so the graft and corruption oiled the appropiate wheels first..Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2006 11 29 at 04:41 AM • permalink
- Hey, he said almost.Posted by Jim Treacher on 2006 11 29 at 05:01 AM • permalink
- The Ol’ Quiggler in typical form.
Confronted with a straight question regarding him being WRONG and he responds with a vague question of his own to avoid answering it.Posted by Hank Reardon on 2006 11 29 at 05:29 AM • permalink
- He must do really well in the Lotto draw, with that ability to retrospectively declare mistakes to be correct.Posted by Harry Buttle on 2006 11 29 at 05:30 AM • permalink
- He was very very close… Just swap Both for Neither and he was correct!Posted by curious george on 2006 11 29 at 06:02 AM • permalink
- Hey, give Quiggers a break.
He was wrong, but from his point of view he should have been right, therefore, he was right conceptually, just not actually.
Therefore, he was actually right in theory, because he should have been right in fact, because Howard is a fascist and the West is the font of all evil.
See? Clear now?
All it takes to do left-think is to understand that facts are not important compared to opinions!
MarkL
Canberra
- Professor Quiggin has taken me to task several times this year over my analysis of the Cole Inquiry. Speaking to me, he recently told his readers in this comments thread:
I’ll start by pointing out that you personally have been an active apologist for collaboration with Saddam by AWB with the (at least) tacit encouragement of the Howard government (many more links available via Google). As far as I know, you’re the only person commenting here who has supported Saddam at any time.
My first take on the affair, written a day after Quiggin’s:
WAS Alexander Downer aware of the bribes being paid to the Iraqi regime by the AWB? The FM confidently denies the suggestion and, at this stage, I think he’s probably telling the truth.
If you’re interested, hit the “Google” link for all the other posts evidencing how I (according to the Professor) got it wrong (that is, right) and “supported” Saddam Hussein. To summarise: I was right and the Professor was wrong – which the Professor has altered to ‘I was right and C.L. was wrong.’
Shameless and astonishing.
- Well, OK, almost entirely correct except for the bit after “Both”.Posted by pick-your-pun on 2006 11 29 at 06:31 AM • permalink
- #6 – I’m hardly surprised that lefties don’t accept Howard is innocent; they presumed he was a conspirator in the absence of evidence and will continue to believe it in the absence of evidence.
Exactly. Hard, cut-and-dried evidence could be produced that proved the Government had no knowledge of the kickbacks. But when did hard evidence satisfy conspiracy theorists?
We see the same effect with the unfortunate Mrs Kovco. An inquiry concludes that Jake shot himself while playing around with a loaded pistol that should not have been loaded in camp. She refuses to accept that conclusion and desperately insists she be given a complicated explanation, one that doesn’t make her deceased husband look like a complete prat.
What she (and the Opposition in respect of Cole) wants is real-life equivalent of “The butler did it!” It’s a pity life isn’t as simple as Cludo.
Posted by walterplinge on 2006 11 29 at 06:33 AM • permalink
- Sheilvoyance at work.
Let’s hope he uses his abilities to un-predict for good rather than evil.
Posted by Margos Maid on 2006 11 29 at 06:39 AM • permalink
- This is quite embarrassing and unacceptable. Quiggins should resign his position of professordom.
I want his letter of resignation on my desk by 4 pm US Eastern Time. Since he’ll need to fly it here himself, he better get a move on it. I don’t care if it adds 5 tons of carbon to the environment.
4 pm!
Posted by wronwright on 2006 11 29 at 06:47 AM • permalink
The only point of disagreement is that Cole and I apparently differ on epistemological questions.– Quggins
——————————————————————————–
e-pis-te-mol-o-gy = noun – a branch of philosophy that investigates the origin, nature, methods, and limits of human knowledge. – Dictionary.com
——————————————————————————–
I think Quggins is misusing this word as only academians can. I need MentalFloss to confirm this but I’m thinking epistemology looks at knowledge in general, not with one snippet or on one fact.
By the way, the dotted lines came from Dictionary.com. I like them. I’m registering them for a copyright through a company called Patent Applications Compiled Orderly. This is not free font. Nobody here can use them without paying me carbon credits for them. And don’t even try pulling a Quiggins by saying that from a epistemological point of view, you have a right to use them.
I’m also thinking of getting a patent on: ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Maybe: **********************************
As Quiggins would say, the epistemology supports me. Don’t make me call the epistemologians on you.
Posted by wronwright on 2006 11 29 at 07:10 AM • permalink
- Personally I tend to distrust anyone who conceals their mush behind a beardy burkha.
Given his fondness for facial fungus, as it occurred to anyone that the Nutty Perfesser may be in fact a sleeper- a convert to wahabism (certainly no wackier than socialism) who is actually known to his fellow followers as Jamal Bin el Quiggain, who is working to destabilise a mamber of the coalition of the willing by promoting dafft flat earth/voodoo economic theories, which are being absorbed by compliant (and terminally stupid) state governments?
Sounds like good grounds to cut his tenure, cancel his grants and pitch him in ‘Gitmo with all the other atavists and troglydites.
- #33 (wronwright)
Earlier this semester one of my lecturers mentioned in essays one had to be careful about our use of language because ‘often words and phrases mean things completely different to what you think they mean or how people use them.’
I concluded that academics think you should use language in ways normal people don’t. And somehow it all makes sense to them.
- What a twit and he’s a “professor”. What’s the world coming to?Posted by Dennis, Doncaster East on 2006 11 29 at 07:37 AM • permalink
- Lay off the Quigster, its exam marking time.
This is a fascinating story, particularly if you consider that Wilson Street is actually in town!
- #38: Well, it does – but the Quiggling hardly has a monopoly on stupidity. He just excels at it.
If you look over the comments after the Professor’s latest post, you’ll note a contribution saying that we know JoHo is guilty because of prior form. I’m glad the Left has decided this is sufficient evidence to base an opinion upon – should make criminal trials a damn sight easier.
- Murph, I think you meant “eking” out a living, but really, “irking” sounds a lot better.Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2006 11 29 at 08:04 AM • permalink
- O.T. I’d like to extend my sincere condolences to the families of those Australian service personnel who lost their lives today off Fiji. As a former member of The Regiment and regular passemger of rotary winged A/C this incident really brings home how much faith we all place in the 1,000 moving parts held together by one nut.
Lest we forget.
Posted by deadparrot on 2006 11 29 at 08:14 AM • permalink
- Apologies for being OT but found this on Security Watchtowers summary of MG Caldwells Debriefing
“What is probably news to most people is how strongly the Iraqis remain resolved to enact this vision of a unified, secure and prosperous Iraq despite the continuing violence. In polling conducted last month, 89% of Iraqis nationwide agreed with this statement: “My first loyalty is to my country, rather than my sect, ethnic group or tribe.”
89%!! Civil War my arse!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by the nailgun on 2006 11 29 at 08:17 AM • permalink
- More “fake but accurate” news.Posted by Mystery Meat on 2006 11 29 at 08:48 AM • permalink
- #34
Habib the Beardy Burkha of Osama bin Quiggler.
Posted by Hank Reardon on 2006 11 29 at 08:53 AM • permalink
- Quiggin is obviously an Epistomologist. Someone should contact Andrew Sullivan immediately.Posted by Some0Seppo on 2006 11 29 at 09:38 AM • permalink
- “Claudia Rosett reports on an oil-for-food investigation done right.”
- Per link from entropy:
A New South Wales north coast woman has been charged with bestiality and offensive conduct after allegedly being involved in an indecent act with a horse.
Ok, we are about to be bombarded with jokes from the male commenters here alleging that they were, in fact, the one mistaken as a horse. We can also expect to hear some faux complaints about being harassed by the authorities due to cultural discrimination or some such. Mohammed or Muslim jokes figure in some way.
~ sigh ~
Posted by wronwright on 2006 11 29 at 12:19 PM • permalink
- #59 Ok, we are about to be bombarded with jokes from the male commenters here alleging that they were, in fact, the one mistaken as a horse. We can also expect to hear some faux complaints about being harassed by the authorities due to cultural discrimination or some such. Mohammed or Muslim jokes figure in some way.
Update: the horse is reliably reported to be an Arabian stallion that was so consumed by lust at the sight of uncovered meat that he attempted to rape the shameless hussy. Not that there’s anything wrong with that (according to certain Muslim clerics).
- Speaking of shockingly idiotic academics:
Christians must give up the basic tenants of their religion in order to make peace with Islam, according to Lipscomb University theology perfesser Lee Camp. The man is utterly clueless to the fact that he has just defined “dhimmitude”.
Posted by Spiny Norman on 2006 11 29 at 03:21 PM • permalink
- ::Ahem::
That would be tenets. Nothing in there about “renters”. Sorry. The fingers can’t keep up sometimes…
Posted by Spiny Norman on 2006 11 29 at 03:24 PM • permalink
- Well, it’s just as I predicted except that the Silly Party won.
NSW: Where the males won’t take neigh for an answer.
Posted by Paul Zrimsek on 2006 11 29 at 03:58 PM • permalink
- Well, saying “they knew” is not a prediction is it?
I don’t know what predictions he made – maybe he got them right.
He was dead wrong about Howard Knowing, but it wasn’t a prediction, it was simply an incorrect statement of alleged fact (ie, what people would call a lie, if they thought Quiggin knew it to be false, though I for one am absolutely convinced that he was absolutely convinced of Howard’s guilt. Wrong, but sincerely wrong).
(Remember, he also said “This information was transmitted in a way that preserves deniability, so no conclusive proof will emerge”, which gives him a great conspirazoid-ish excuse; why, if the commission had said they were guilty, he “wins” on his main point, and gets to say “gee, I’m glad I’m wrong and they were so incompetent about hiding their evulz”.
As it turns out, he merely has to say “Aha! I told you they Hid The Truth!”. The non-falsifiable assertion is the best kind! You just can’t lose!)
- Quiggin kinda reminds me of another hairy charlatan. If that beard gets any longer, the folks from PETA are going to be throwing paint on it. In fact, the photo linked above almost suggests the face of somebody swallowed feet first by a bear.
- O/T The lady Moira Rayner who was found noy guilty of corruption last week has an interesting background.
She was found not guilty or corruption after ringing a man under investigation for stealing from the government and warning him not to use his phone.
Bollocks.
The lady in question basicly “pled her belly” in other words the defence was “shes a woman, and made an emotional decision because thats what women do”.
My father had some dealings with the lady back in the 80’s and she was a fully fledged “orange person” (rajnishi’s?) in the commune in Perth.
She was appointed to a public service position by B. Burke and has been sheltered and looked after by the ALP and the siterhood (Carmen, Kirner etc.) ever since.
My old man has begun telling me of quite a few bits and pieces about some of the shady sods he met around then.
Including a business deal with a department head which was due to be signed at “the happy haven” a Perth brothel, where the head in question said, “I will just get the girls to shut the place and we will have the place to ourselves”.
WA Inc didnt touch on 99% of the crap Burke and his boys got up too.Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2006 11 29 at 07:09 PM • permalink
- My firm acted for Howard, Vaile, Downer and their respective departments and agencies in the Cole Inquiry. I managed the team that prepared the matter, took statements from them, sat with them for hours over the course of weeks going through documents and file notes prior to their evidence.
Never once did I see a single indication from anything said, done or written that they had the faintest idea what AWB were up to. I saw plenty that suggested senior AWB Execs knew exactly what was going on and that they were desperate to keep it hushed from anyone outside and most within the company.
Right from the off though, all the usual rabid Fairfax and ABC suspects (Marr, Wilkinson et al) were absolutely desperate to paint it as Wheatgate. They had each of them convicted of knowing, conspiring, lying and covering up the truth before they even got in the box. To expect any better of that lot on their usual form would probably be naive.
More disappointing though was the coverage in normally sensible rags like the Australian.
Caroline Overington waded in day after day with an enthusiasm apparently undiminished by facts or evidence and scribbled breathless denunciations slamming all three of them for every calumny under the sun.
Not a peep has been heard from any of these journos since the findings were delivered suggesting that, just maybe, they might have got a wee bit excitable earlier on and that perhaps they were a tad outa line with all that conspiracy stuff.
Journalism is an honest and decent profession though, so I’ll just sit here holding my breath till they do then.
Posted by lex luthor on 2006 11 29 at 07:59 PM • permalink
- #71 Lex
Not a peep has been heard from any of these journos
You won’t either Lex. They’re mouths are full, eating crow. Not.Being of the Left means never having to say ‘sorry’ (an admission they continually expect of others, especially conservatives).
On another note, Lex, you must be a rich, rich man. This case has dragged on for months and I assume we haven’t heard the last of it.
Finally, say hello to Superman for me.
- #59, Ok, we are about to be bombarded with jokes from the male commenters here alleging that they were, in fact, the one mistaken as a horse.
wronwright, I was going make a John Kerry joke but thanks to you it will now look like I was flattering him so I wont.
Posted by Art Vandelay on 2006 11 29 at 09:00 PM • permalink
- But… but… if kickbacks had been offered, you just know they would have been taken! You just know it! *stampstampstamp*Posted by richard mcenroe on 2006 11 29 at 09:27 PM • permalink
- Quiggin has demonstrated a classical example of that rhetorical trick a, what, Quiggin?
“My predictions at the start have been borne out almost entirely”.
Yes, ALMOST entirely, except for that major bit where you were completely wrong.
Posted by Wimpy Canadian on 2006 11 29 at 10:52 PM • permalink
- #2 Entropy, we have a similar contraption in Canada, The Canadian Wheat Board.
Odd thing is, it doesn’t apply to all Canada, only West of the great lakes.
Posted by Wimpy Canadian on 2006 11 29 at 10:54 PM • permalink
- #63 Spiny Norman, I read the link. Horrifying. Something must be done about it. Write to the United nations.
No, seriously, something should be done about it.
Posted by Wimpy Canadian on 2006 11 29 at 11:19 PM • permalink
- Fine op-ed by the always-excellent Greg Sheridan today —
AWB is no scandal
If anything, the Cole inquiry has shown that our diplomats, far from being crooks, are heroes…
What a load of nonsense this whole non-scandal about AWB is. The Howard Government deserves serious criticism for its one real mistake in this business: setting up the Cole inquiry.
Posted by walterplinge on 2006 11 29 at 11:28 PM • permalink
- #63:
Geez, I’m agnostic, and that guy’s demented opinions on Christianity are enough to make my hair stand on end.
To live peacefully with Muslims and Jews, Christians must put aside the notion that their faith requires the creation of a Christian kingdom on Earth, a Lipscomb University theologian told an interfaith gathering at the university.
“We are not going to get very far in our relationship with Jews or Muslims if we do not let go of this idea,” Lipscomb professor Lee Camp said at Tuesday’s conference.
What a stunning case of projection to avoid facing the real issue. Members of which religion are currently engaging in wars of conquest with people of basically all other religions (as well as various secular and pagan peoples), again? Wasn’t the evil Xtians, last time I checked. And one doesn’t even need to read Mark Steyn to know the real answer.
Or maybe it’s like the offensively inoffensive Mohammed cartoons…perhaps the mere fact that Christian teaching includes that notion is enough to turn those poor Muslims (not to mention the Joooos!) into a murderous mob, irrespective of whether any Christians are actually acting on that notion.
Camp described himself as a conservative Christian but conceded his opinions may be viewed as “radical” by other evangelical Christians.
Well, he doesn’t just hold idiotic opinions, he’s self-deluded to the core, too.
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