Where's The Spine, Boys?

Alan Ramsey is an angry (grumpy?) old wordsmith of Australian journalism. Every now and again he really nails it:

"Ever since the Government's great lie of going to war to rid Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction fell to ashes, 'terrorists' and the 'war on terrorism' are a convenient catch-all responsible for any and all repercussions of Washington's appalling misjudgements and Australia's quite craven subservience to US policy."

Ramsay bemoans the Opposition's lukewarm diffidence, particularly on last week's UN vote against Israel (Labout would have abstained, not voted Yes - see below) and criticism of the Phillipines for withdrawing troops. He notes our flab-faced Foreign Minister Alexander Downer's response:

"The best way to deal with terrorists is to explain to those terrorists they can never win. The Filipinos unfortunately have given in to the terrorists. No terrorist will succeed with Australia in taking our people hostage and blackmailing the Australian Government and the Australian people into caving in."

"Really?" says Ramsay. "He should pray he never has to regret his boast."