No Request for Basra Troops: PM

[Matilda]

"Prime Minister John Howard says there has been no request from
British Defence officials for Australia to send troops to southern
Iraq.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200507/s1411305.htm


(snip)

"There have been no discussions between ministers, no discussions
between senior officials of the British ministry of defence and
the Australian defence department."


But we who know John Howard well know that the truth is usually
between the lines. He details where discussions have NOT taken
place, but that leaves a helluva lot of other options.

Howard has always wanted to play with the big boys - but can he
really be stupid enough to put Australian troops in the front line?
And that means Australia well and truly in the front line of any
further terrorist attacks.

[1932]

1. Not that it matters much to Al Q, I don't think Basra is the front liine.

The British passed political control to Iraqis very early (after the first week, IIRC), which is probably why Basra isn't the mess that the ress of the country is.

Furthermore, Australians already got attacked -- that bombing in Indonesia was on Australieans, right?

They haven't been cut any slack, and that's because they've already been participating in Iraq.

[Matilda]

2. I'm not sure about Bali.

My husband knows someone in the Dept. of Foreign Affairs, and they
actually think Bali was aimed at the Indonesians for allowing the
infidel into their country to indulge in such a hedonistic lifestyle
on Bali. It just happens that a majority of tourists in Bali are
Australian.

Makes some sense, really - if they wanted to hit us hard, I'm sure
they'd do so.

[1932]

3. IIRC, at the time, Australians perceived it as an attack on Australians

and I'd be very surprised if the perpetrators didn't realize that would be the case.

Didn't they actually convict the guy responsible? Wasn't he the guy who was pleased he got the death penalty because he wanted to be a martyr?

Did the trial investigate motive?

[Matilda]

4. I don't believe motive was investigated.

And I doubt if the perpetrators, if they admitted to anything, would
admit to striking a blow against Indonesia.

But I can't swear to the truth of the belief that it may have been
targeting Indonesia; it's only an opinion relayed to me from one
person.