Typical. Just as the first real debate on Australia's contribution in Iraq for years is taking place, I find The Biggest Loser to be more entertaining in the 7pm timeslot than ABC News - I don't get home in time for the earlier, commercial news bulletins. Not that they ever cover much of anything of importance anyways - oh, two mass shootings in the US, well, we could mention it, but let's run with ten minutes of 'she said she said' about the Corby's instead.
Also, the whole of the US House of Representatives, and probably the Senate as well, are having a debate about the Administration's surge of twenty thousand troops into Baghdad. I think this is the first full debate on Iraq since the 'vote with us or you are supporting the terrorists and will get kicked out of office' rubber stamp before the midterms in 2002.
Just wondering how anyone can suggest that things are going well over there, when on average 100 Iraqi civilians are getting bombed, shot and generally killed a day, and the whole society is being brutalised. And thinking how lucky Australia and the Prime Minister have been that our casualty toll hasn't been in proportion to the American ones - Our Diggers, a hundred times less the size of the US military over there 'should have' given the country thirty body bags, maybe.
And what exactly do the troops do over there anyways? There is minimal to nil coverage of it at all in the media, apart from when Defence Minister of the Month needs to have a photo op. I think in regards to Afghanistan, I saw a report where most of the activity the troops are doing over there comes under the category classified information - I would cynically assume that the same applies to Iraq.
In my slow, very slow detachment from all the bad news of the world, I even managed to take a pass on the Economist last week. Had to buy it this week though, what with the B2 stealth bomber on the cover, on the way to Iran - just imagine me drooling like Homer Simpson over the whole military hardware imagery thing. F-22 Raptor stealth fighters, pfft, not even in the same ball park, people.
Back to local politics quickly, is good to actually see the same issues that I am concerned about, climate change and Iraq are the ones that come quickest to mind, are actually gaining traction with the politicians and the media. Not so sure about the Australian people in general, two million viewers to Mercedes Corby does drugs last night and all. I was pretty well transfixed by tonight's 7.30 Report, debating industrial relations in a mostly calm, collected sense. Long may this continue until the election.
I would add 'and beyond' to that last sentence, but pigs would fly as well.
Also, the whole of the US House of Representatives, and probably the Senate as well, are having a debate about the Administration's surge of twenty thousand troops into Baghdad. I think this is the first full debate on Iraq since the 'vote with us or you are supporting the terrorists and will get kicked out of office' rubber stamp before the midterms in 2002.
Just wondering how anyone can suggest that things are going well over there, when on average 100 Iraqi civilians are getting bombed, shot and generally killed a day, and the whole society is being brutalised. And thinking how lucky Australia and the Prime Minister have been that our casualty toll hasn't been in proportion to the American ones - Our Diggers, a hundred times less the size of the US military over there 'should have' given the country thirty body bags, maybe.
And what exactly do the troops do over there anyways? There is minimal to nil coverage of it at all in the media, apart from when Defence Minister of the Month needs to have a photo op. I think in regards to Afghanistan, I saw a report where most of the activity the troops are doing over there comes under the category classified information - I would cynically assume that the same applies to Iraq.
In my slow, very slow detachment from all the bad news of the world, I even managed to take a pass on the Economist last week. Had to buy it this week though, what with the B2 stealth bomber on the cover, on the way to Iran - just imagine me drooling like Homer Simpson over the whole military hardware imagery thing. F-22 Raptor stealth fighters, pfft, not even in the same ball park, people.
Back to local politics quickly, is good to actually see the same issues that I am concerned about, climate change and Iraq are the ones that come quickest to mind, are actually gaining traction with the politicians and the media. Not so sure about the Australian people in general, two million viewers to Mercedes Corby does drugs last night and all. I was pretty well transfixed by tonight's 7.30 Report, debating industrial relations in a mostly calm, collected sense. Long may this continue until the election.
I would add 'and beyond' to that last sentence, but pigs would fly as well.
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