Western governments like to depict terrorism as a uniquely moral evil which democratic states do not engage in.  

But history is filled with instances in which even democratic governments have sanctioned or perpetrated acts of violence that would ordinarily be described as 'terrorist', from bombings and assassinations to black ops and 'dirty wars'.  

In 2004, the Vatican launched a global diplomatic campaign for the recognition of Christianphobia.  

The need for such a campaign, according to the sponsor of the UK Parliamentary debate on the issue, was, “the relentless assault on the nation’s much loved Christian heritage. It’s about how anti-Christian sentiment is increasing.”  

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says he can't stand artwork that depicts naked children. 

Mr Rudd today said work such as that shown in this month's edition of Art Monthly Australia did the opposite of restoring dignity to the debate over depictions of children in art. 

 

 

The Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Pell, said yesterday there was nothing immoral about commercialism as he opened the first official World Youth Day venue: a merchandise tent in Hyde Park. 

The Archdiocese of Sydney is contributing $15 million toward WYD events and denies it will be making a profit from the event. On optimistic days the pilgrim juggernaut is expected to hit 500,000 participants and bring millions of tourist dollars into the state.  

What follows are just a few of the July 4th lies and errors that we are supposed to blindly accept: 

·                     The military is glorious, its heroes heroic, and our support is patriotic

The remorseless destruction of the Murray-Darling river system is arguably the most grotesque of this country's more obscene political and environmental crimes of the 20th century. It's right up there at the top.  

“Saddam Hussein has also demonstrated a willingness to threaten to use the oil weapon and to use his own export program to manipulate oil markets.

Therefore the U.S. should conduct an immediate policy review toward Iraq including military, energy, economic and political/diplomatic assessments.” 

from Crikey ….. Hitchens' tortured pursuit of the truth

Charles Richardson writes:

from Crikey ….. 

Bidding farewell to our worst foreign minister 

Canberra correspondent Bernard Keane writes: 

Extraordinary new powers will allow police to arrest and fine people for "causing annoyance" to World Youth Day participants and permit partial strip searches at hundreds of Sydney sites, beginning today. 

from Crikey ….. 

NSW crime commission: the law beyond the law 

Joe Hockey is the manager of Opposition business. As such, his brief is to organise the flow of legislation with the Government, and to be the Opposition's union rep in question time.

At 42, he is hardly old, but it's fair to say that he has been an adult for some years. Which makes it all the more odd that opposition has caused Mr Hockey to regress to the age of approximately 14.