Passionate and cleared-eyed I think, Stephanie. I notice BK has also had something to say about Labor's obfuscations. There unwillingness to take the people into their confidence is truly disturbing.
Yes. Paul Keating is writing in Pearls & Irritations. “Clear eyed” a distinct quality to be treasured & cultivated which we can only do by encouraging & also challenging one another. Michael McKinley another of Pearls’ writers. A good place for you also? I’d say so.
(I've been a little quite of late, and I will explain why soon.) At least we now have these spaces where people like me can say some things. Really appreciate such support, Peter.
The Australian media/political establishment nexus has so successfully dehumanised Iranians that the illegal bombing of a sovereign state is twisted as an act of kindness to the ‘poor and oppressed masses’. Never once have they dealt with the international crime of an unprovoked war of aggression.
Penny Wong shows herself to be utterly unprincipled and morally bankrupt as a foreign minister. She has more outrage at Iran for non-existent nuclear weapons than she ever showed for Zomi Frankom, a fellow Australian murdered by the apartheid state.
Sometimes when you are the smartest person in the room--and Wong is that--you can feel, I think, that you don't have to explain yourself and that's poison for a politician. I would love Wong to make her case more openly, precisely bc she is so articulate. But that's not how Labor rolls, unfortunately. (See the Crikey link above.)
Thank you Tim. The Crikey article did sum it up very well. Its point about the culture of secrecy is really apt, and how the ALP has shrouded itself from scrutiny. This similar pattern of secrecy and non-disclosure is reflected too in its zealous pursuit of whistleblowers and the opaqueness of the NACC.
Thanks Tim. Our craven capitulation to Trump and netanyahu’s warmongering is as outrageous as it is unsurprising. As is the media’s framing. I of course shift to thinking what can we do to mobilise society in opposition. Maybe a concentrated month of grassroots community engagement and outreach before some rallies the size of the pre Iraq war ones?
I wonder what you think, Janet, about whether a minority government (Greens and independents) would've seen this playing out differently? I've been thinking about that.
Just in general, the fewer states with them the better. Should be our starting point. And you can see why Israel wouldn't want Iran to have them. But there is so much hypocrisy involved in these arguments and it is playing out atm. All they are doing is encouraging proliferation, let alone making it impossible to reduce the overall number of them in the world. I mean, as if Trump is interested in that!
Bravo TD, bravo. I’m sitting penning this comment while waiting to board a flight back to Brisbane passing through the Middle East. The not totally unanticipated two weeks reduced to 2 days before military action by ‘our friend’ did cause a rescheduling. I can not believe (well yes I can) that we are where Australia was with John W Howard 2 decades ago. Australia is still a duopoly run by career politicians. We are still treated like imbeciles. Cheers
Update. Made it to Doha only to have Qatar airspace shutdown by , well I’m sure people have been following (or will wake up to) the news on retaliatory strikes in the Middle East.
It's worse. It was bad enough velcroing ourselves to Bush, but it is unforgiveable doing it to Trump. Esp as these current actions will be used to consolidate his authoritarianism within the US. Wtf are being party to that?
I wonder how much we're missing Zoe Daniel? Her Foreign Correspondent's view on international relations could be helpful now.
As for the potential for a backlash against Labor, it'd be interesting to discuss how and why that can happen, because that seems to be the only way to establish a more reasonable Australian government in every way - especially in integrity and climate.
Iran becomes Iraq … the great cities of Persia, the culture, human lives yet again sacrificed to what?
Thank you Tim. Those of us speaking up for life must be doubly passionate.
Passionate and cleared-eyed I think, Stephanie. I notice BK has also had something to say about Labor's obfuscations. There unwillingness to take the people into their confidence is truly disturbing.
https://www.crikey.com.au/2025/06/23/iran-attack-trump-israel-australia-role-wong-marles-anthony-albanese/
Yes. Paul Keating is writing in Pearls & Irritations. “Clear eyed” a distinct quality to be treasured & cultivated which we can only do by encouraging & also challenging one another. Michael McKinley another of Pearls’ writers. A good place for you also? I’d say so.
Thank you for all the things you cover and for articulating what feels like the elephant in the room which MOST other media is ignoring.
(I've been a little quite of late, and I will explain why soon.) At least we now have these spaces where people like me can say some things. Really appreciate such support, Peter.
(quite/quiet)?
(There/Their) above, also. You must be very busy right now, Tim (grin).
Admirable, direct and eloquent.
Much needed in these low times of self-deception, willing blindness and pointless political compromise.
The Australian media/political establishment nexus has so successfully dehumanised Iranians that the illegal bombing of a sovereign state is twisted as an act of kindness to the ‘poor and oppressed masses’. Never once have they dealt with the international crime of an unprovoked war of aggression.
Penny Wong shows herself to be utterly unprincipled and morally bankrupt as a foreign minister. She has more outrage at Iran for non-existent nuclear weapons than she ever showed for Zomi Frankom, a fellow Australian murdered by the apartheid state.
Sometimes when you are the smartest person in the room--and Wong is that--you can feel, I think, that you don't have to explain yourself and that's poison for a politician. I would love Wong to make her case more openly, precisely bc she is so articulate. But that's not how Labor rolls, unfortunately. (See the Crikey link above.)
Thank you Tim. The Crikey article did sum it up very well. Its point about the culture of secrecy is really apt, and how the ALP has shrouded itself from scrutiny. This similar pattern of secrecy and non-disclosure is reflected too in its zealous pursuit of whistleblowers and the opaqueness of the NACC.
Thanks Tim. Our craven capitulation to Trump and netanyahu’s warmongering is as outrageous as it is unsurprising. As is the media’s framing. I of course shift to thinking what can we do to mobilise society in opposition. Maybe a concentrated month of grassroots community engagement and outreach before some rallies the size of the pre Iraq war ones?
I wonder what you think, Janet, about whether a minority government (Greens and independents) would've seen this playing out differently? I've been thinking about that.
Will someone please explain why Iran must not be allowed to have nuclear weapons?
Because only Israel is allowed to have nuclear weapons in the ME, because Israelis are God’s chosen people. You know it makes sense.
Just in general, the fewer states with them the better. Should be our starting point. And you can see why Israel wouldn't want Iran to have them. But there is so much hypocrisy involved in these arguments and it is playing out atm. All they are doing is encouraging proliferation, let alone making it impossible to reduce the overall number of them in the world. I mean, as if Trump is interested in that!
We tried to popularise the use of "pretaliation" and variants during the Iraq clusterfuck. Perhaps it's time to trot it out again.
God, I don't remember that one! Reminds me a bit of "remigration" that Magas are using at the moment. Ugh.
My oldest son claims authorship, although he may not have been the only one to have come up with it. It suited the times, and does again.
Bravo TD, bravo. I’m sitting penning this comment while waiting to board a flight back to Brisbane passing through the Middle East. The not totally unanticipated two weeks reduced to 2 days before military action by ‘our friend’ did cause a rescheduling. I can not believe (well yes I can) that we are where Australia was with John W Howard 2 decades ago. Australia is still a duopoly run by career politicians. We are still treated like imbeciles. Cheers
Update. Made it to Doha only to have Qatar airspace shutdown by , well I’m sure people have been following (or will wake up to) the news on retaliatory strikes in the Middle East.
Be safe, Gavin. I've been wondering how that route is going atm.
It's worse. It was bad enough velcroing ourselves to Bush, but it is unforgiveable doing it to Trump. Esp as these current actions will be used to consolidate his authoritarianism within the US. Wtf are being party to that?
Yep, we are so badly served by our ‘government’
Thanks Tim, again.
I wonder how much we're missing Zoe Daniel? Her Foreign Correspondent's view on international relations could be helpful now.
As for the potential for a backlash against Labor, it'd be interesting to discuss how and why that can happen, because that seems to be the only way to establish a more reasonable Australian government in every way - especially in integrity and climate.
Yes, as I said to Janet, above, I wonder what difference a minority would've made. I'm still thinking about that.