melbournesnapshots

World Domination by the US?? Is this really what it is all about?

I went to University in Queensland in the 1970's - and that campus, believe it or not was a "hotbed" of radical (at times quite feral) activity - there was Errol O'neil (lecturer and left wing activist) and Jim Prentice (red-haired student activist)- Jim Cairns a regular visitor... and many other vocal and active left-wing student and lecturer activisits - (apologies to those whose names don't spring to mind instantly)... there was Kath Walker the aboriginal poet - the Springboks, Joh, street march bans even Peter Beattie (Qld Premier) etc etc - you get the picture - the student union was dominated by the "RAT" party (Radical Activist Ticket) and I watched all this with great interest - I listened to everything that was said but found it very hard to fully accept all the doctrine and dogma that was being spewed forth about the corruption, hidden agendas and deceipt of the western countries, particularly the US.

If all what was said back then was true and if I express opinions that do not support these doctrines - it is simply because I find it hard to believe that things (our Governments and elected representatives) could be so screwed up and that the "ordinary person" is given such a "whitewash" - am I just naive or are these critics of the US , successive Governments and the attribution of world domination motives to these Governments - are they paranoid?? or are they right??

I am really taken back to this time (the 70's) and the feelings I had then, whilst I was reading the comment from jackkanaris. He really criticises my opinion as being in "denial of the facts as we know them" - and in doing so, he actually attacks the entire fundamental operating principle that guides me in living day to day... and that is that our leaders (Bush, Blair, Howard) are essentially good decent honest people, who do not have massive hidden agendas and are fundamentally open and honest with us, their electors. What do others think?? Is Jack right? Is the world completely run by the corporations who put the "mouthpeice" politicians into office? I do say that my opinion as expressed is not based on any research and fundamentally comes from the popular media "inputs" that most people are exposed to... What does it mean if what Jack says is true?? That we are all unwitting, duped pawns in someone else's game?? I am actually very open to what Jack is saying - there is a lot of what Jack says that makes sense and bears further thought - it occurs to me that the problem with today's media - where I confess I draw all my current affairs "knowledge" does not present events in their full context -the context of jack's comment as well as Cameron and Tony's comments do make sense..

So, here is my question .. if jack is right, what are people doing about it???

Check out the very interesting and critical (hard-hitting - no punches pulled comment from  jackkanaris who says...

Alan,i just read your opinion on Tony Godsons question re the London bombing and you sure let the rhetoric fly,and as usual you are in denial of the facts as we know them.

If you were to look at the world through the eyes of the Neo-cons of the current Bush administration and their quest for "FULL SPECTRUM DOMINATION"to use their own phrase,just go to PFNAC,you would realise that the invasion of IRAQ was not about Democracy,not about terrorism or Saddam,it was about Americas desire to dominate the planet with its military and its ecomomy,nothing new in that,every major power,history tells us has had that dream from Ceasor to Hitler from Atilla the Hun to Genghis Khan,all have failed just as the USA is failing.But why Iraq?"... <read more>

Tony - Cameron - I see things a little differently

Tony Goodson asks some interesting questions today in relation to the "allies" actions in Iraq and referring specifically to Tony Blair

"... He (Tony Blair) knew the consequences of his actions in Iraq.  What did he expect, defeat Saddam and it would all be over, and we'd live happily ever after?  What price freedom?  And is anyone more free than before the invasion of Iraq?  Have less people died and been injured?  How are we better off now?"

Very good and important questions Tony..

Tony agrees with Cameron's unstated inference that Blair, Bush and Howard may not have anticipated that, in response to their sojourn to Iraq, that terrorism would come to our own cities... and that somehow, this terrorism was reasonably predictable and maybe reason enough if forseen, to have not "gone" to Iraq - Cameron says ...(I) wonder if, deep down inside, Tony Blair, George W Bush and John Howard, are starting to realize what they have started. Are they connecting the dots? Was this part of a collateral damage assessment when they made the decisions in 2002/2003 to invade Afghanistan and Iraq?

Whether Bush Blair or Howard saw this or not, to me is not an issue... I want to raise the fact that 9/11 was pre Iraq invasion - and for me, it is not OK to say, let us (Australia) refrain from doing anything that might bring terrorism to our cities - as far as I am concerned, the attack on the WTC was a personal attack on MY freedom and MY way of life and that of my family, my friends, my fellow Australians and my fellow Earthlings. To somehow say - look what is happening now to us (Aus and UK) because we have invaded Iraq - we have drawn the "monster's attention" to us, I am afraid is logic and sentiment that I am completely unable to support or understand.

Who knows if it was right or wrong/good or bad/ for better or worse to invade Iraq - the point is that the elected leaders of the three great "democracies" decided to do this (what you didnt vote for them? tough titty - we have a democratic system and we empower our leaders to make decisions on our behalf - for better or for worse...

As far as I know, Saddam Hussein was an ardent supooirter of terrorists and was in my view an accessory to the fact of 9/11 - did he have WMD - don't know - maybe he didn't - but if he did not - why did he not just let the WMD inspectors "get on" and do their job??, are the majority of Iraqis better off ? - if they are, they might have internet access and they may leave a comment on this site.

What does my friend Mohammed have to say on this iussue - your comments please Mohammed..

Disgraceful, Cowardly Mongrels

Good to hear that Johnnie is OK - hoping that my Auntly Rose and cousins Amanda, Ian, Linda et al and families are OK - such a dastardly cowardly pointless disgraceful act of infamy.

Heard Ken Livingstone's (Mayor of London) speech which he gave from Singapore before boarding a plane for London - what an amazing speech - it stirred me to the core of my soul - I have no idea what he is really like - this speech was my first exposure to Ken Livingstone and I must admit I thought I was watching Winston Churchill!!

9 Dead - 2 Injured - Australian Service Men and Women Tragedy

Today, Australia, we lost 9 fine service people (7 men and 2 women) and two more are badly injured as a result of a tragic crash of a Sea King helicopter in Indonesia. Both John Howard and Kim Beasley took a commendable leadership role in appearing in public today and consoling the families and the people of Australia. From my observation, both John Howard and Kim Beasley were obviously feeling the loss very deeply and personally. One can not help but wonder at the irony that these much loved 11 service people would have been home safely in Australia had it not been for our steadfast commitment as a country to help our neighbour Indonesia. These servicepeople had been due to return home but were re-routed to carry out another mission due to the recent (Easter Monday) earthquake in Indonesia. My sincerest condolences to the families of the dead and injured. 

"Tsunami boy" has been claimed

I have now removed my two posts regarding this young boy as I heard yesterday that he had been re-united with a family member.

Please see below an extract from the SOPHOS site explaining the importance for well-intentioned people to take care when forwarding emails to their entire contact lists.

11 January 2005

Unidentified tsunami boy chain letter clogs email systems, reports Sophos

   

The chain letter contains a picture of the boy. But media reports confirm he was identified in late December.

   

Sophos technical support has reminded users of the nuisance that can be caused by forwarding emails and the danger of opening unsolicited email attachments, as a message asking if anyone can identify a young victim of the Indian Ocean tsunami disaster has spread across the internet.

The email, which has been hitting inboxes across the world for over a week, contains a photograph of a young blonde-haired boy in a Thai hospital, who was found seemingly abandoned at the side of the road on the holiday island of Phuket.

Many recipients of the email have forwarded it onto all of their friends and colleagues, slowing down email systems because of the attached photograph's 1MB size.

(see full article at SOPHOS site)

Australian "Simulcast" - Reach Out to Asia

Last night, Australian broadcasters including the three commercial networks and most (I think) of the FM radio networks, broadcast a concert from the Sydney Opera House linked to a telethon to raise money for World Vision to aid the victims of the Tsunami.

This type of simultaneous All TV and ALL radio broadcast is an ABSOLUTE FIRST for Australia and a very, very impressive achievement. When you think about the fact that this was organised in probably no more than 7 to 10 days in total and most likely invloved the organising of the Opera House concert and performers, the television and radio network management, the television and radio technical facilities and teams, the telethon program, celebrities, guests, call centre, and all other support facilities - this is an absolutely amazing achievement considering the scope of the undertaking, the success of the event and the very short timeframe involved. CONGRATULATIONS to the organizers on a job very well done!

This is a short excerpt from a related article in today's Age newspaper from Melbourne.

"The three commercial networks put traditional rivalries aside for the first time to simultaneously broadcast a concert and telethon to raise money for charity World Vision.

Thousands of people gathered at the Sydney Opera House and millions watched the on television as celebrities manned telephones in Melbourne to accept donations for World Vision.

At the end of the broadcast, the Reach Out to Asia event raised $15,198,329.20 through telephone, website and SMS donations. Phones will remained open tomorrow."