Stage One: Denial

What does the Madrid bombing mean for other nations who have supported Bush's illegal invasion of Iraq?

According to Australian PM John Howard: "There is no direct link between what has occurred in Spain and Australia, no direct link at all. "

But, according to Australia's Federal Police Commissioner, Mick Keelty: "The reality is, if this turns out to be Islamic extremists responsible for this bombing in Spain, it's more likely to be linked to the position that Spain and other allies took on issues such as Iraq."

So the PM is contradicting the advice of his own Police Commissioner, even while Australian rail workers struggle to prepare themselves for a similar attack. And guess who else is on the PM's side? Australia's own version of the Simpson's Monty Burns, Attorney-General and former Child-Overboard election orchestrator Phillip Ruddock:

"Well that's not a conclusion I would agree with because the evidence doesn't suggest that that is likely."

These people are playing politics with OUR safety and gambling OUR lives for the sake of what?