Re: replying to Juan was Re: CNN's web site today Sunday 14.10.01

[Alan Bradley <abradley1@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

>From Juan:
> Think, for example, of "The Magnificent Seven", but instead of Yul
> gathering the team, we've got George building a multinational coalition
> (which oddly seems to have only two members--the USA and its dowager
> mother, the UK).

Last week I wrote something about Australia's involvement in this war.
Unfortunately it kind of went astray somehow before making it to the list.

Anyway, part of what I was saying was that the forces the Australian
government had promised where entirely token, along the lines of the
Australian force sent to the Gulf in 1991.  That is, it was an exercise in
political support, and not a "real" military contribution.

Incidentally, that is a partial answer to the theories about East Timor
supposedly making it easier for the Australian state to send in the troops.
Here is a perfect opportunity for them to do so - a war with overwhelming
popular support - and yet they send a couple of smallish ships, a few planes
and a company of commandoes.  There are more Australian ships and troops
chasing asylum seekers around the ocean than there are being sent to fight
the war in the land from which most of the asylum seekers are fleeing.

Oh yeah - part of Sydney airport is shut down at the moment, due to the
presence of a "suspicious white powder".  Maybe Australia is a real member
of the multinational coalition after all....

While I am writing about this kind of stuff - we had a small but successful
anti-war rally here in Toowoomba yesterday.  Roughly 100 people (out of a
population of 100 000) showed up.  Very good speeches, particularly from
people who were "just random locals".  At least some people have a pretty
good understanding of what is going on, even in a stupid little redneck town
like this one.

Alan Bradley
abradley1@xxxxxxxxxxx


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