The wrongness of the WMD story was shrugged off by blaming faulty intelligence. The deceptive nature of the story of Private Lynch has no such scapegoat to hide behind. It emanated directly from the US Military, a portrayal of bravery under fire, and to say that the story was slightly colourised would be being diplomatic.

‘First Lady Laura Bush said this morning that "no one suffers more" than the president and she do when watching television footage of the carnage in Iraq -- potentially opening her up to charges that the first family is too removed from the anguish of American troops and their families.

As we busy ourselves for our traditional ANZAC celebrations, in memory of those servicemen & women who gave their lives on our behalf, perhaps we should reflect on the values imbued in that fine tradition & what they really mean to us today?

 

The prime rattus has announced that his government will target the scourge of the drug “Ice” in a tough new offensive against illicit drugs.

Downer's Smart Traveller website is poorly handling the possibity of a terror attack on Anzac Day visitors to Turkey. Consider that many of the visitors to Gallipolli are young Australian backpackers converging from different parts of the world. Many might not have seen or heard the last minute media releases. Many may be relying on the Department Of Foreign Affairs for information. At the moment they would be misled.

In contrast to last night’s superficial offering by the ABC on Lord Mayo, SBS ran the documentary “Crude Impact” tonight.

More ill winds in Rattus sails than in Shakespeare's Tempest...

 

from the ABC …..

Howard outlines vision for 2020

‘Gonzales had weeks to prepare for yesterday's hearing. But the man who sat at the witness table sounded like the sort of person who forgets where he parked his car.

from the New York Times …..

Pentagon Invites Kremlin to Link Missile Systems

from the ABC …..

Govt will push ahead with water takeover: Turnbull

The US/ Australia Status of Forces Agreement of 1963, in particular Article 8 of the treaty, has a couple of points in it that make you wonder how far US Forces could go with Hicks. For example, although Ruddock says that Hicks would not be given up to the US for violating his agreement to remain silent, citing this treaty would be a simple way of the US to haul him in again.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[excerpts of Article 8]