Just as the pathway out of Iraq is piling up with the bodies of young Americans, a swag of hot yarns about Al Qaeda has hit the presses.

'Al-Qaeda may attack Asian financial hubs'
An attack on an Asian financial centre, such as Tokyo or Sydney, would be symbolically important for Al Qaeda, he said and designed to throw the region's recent economic boom into doubt.
Sydney in al-Qaeda sights: warning Daily Telegraph

Yen Drops on Report Al-Qaeda May Plan a Terror Attack on Tokyo

Al-Qaeda will retreat to Africa: US General

GWB: " ... if we do not confront these evil men abroad, we will have to face them one day in our own cities and streets."

All the more reason to chase the phantom beast into the depths of Africa. You never know what could be found there - gold, diamonds, more oil, ...

How about this, from Bring It On, and On, and On  at the Cato Institute, a place not renowned for socialist leanings.
The Iraq conflict has become a killing field. But not as war supporters expected. It is providing an opportunity for extremists to kill U.S. troops while learning skills that may eventually be employed in Western lands. Whatever the Iraq conflict is accomplishing, it is not making us safer from terrorism. Either President Bush should stop claiming this or we should stop listening to him.

Is Bush al-Qaeda's 'Useful Idiot'?

I have a memory like an alzheimered elephant... Some things I remember well, some I don't...

But reading this item on nineMSN, my ears pricked, my sharp memory memorised:

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"US military base to be built in WA
Thursday Feb 15 04:00 AEDT
This will be the first large US military establishment built in Australia in decades, with previous big bases such as Pine Gap and North West Cape plagued by controversy.

By ninemsn staff

After three years of secret talks with the United States, the Federal Government is reportedly about to approve the construction of a hi-tech US military base in Western Australia.

The base, planned to be built on defence land at Geraldton, is to be a key communications asset for the US military. It will connect a network of military satellites which will help the Americans fight wars in the Middle East and Asia, The Age reports.

This will be the first large US military establishment built in Australia in decades, with previous big bases such as Pine Gap and North West Cape plagued by controversy.

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Gus: I remember that the Ratbag Right government of Ratus Porky , not that long ago, denied that any new US military (or for that purpose) bases would be built in Australia...

And there was this denial as well:

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Labor's Kim Beazley questioned Shane Carmody, head of the Defence Department's strategic policy group, about the idea at a parliamentary hearing in March. Beazley referred to the American defence review which upgraded "the East Asian litterol" and foresaw bracing allies to allow the US to reposition its troops.

Had there been proposals put to Australia?

"No formal proposal has come forward to me for forward facilities and basing," Carmody replied. "At the same time, down at a working level, it has certainly been suggested. I am not sure whether it has been suggested by the United States or whether people are just thinking that it is a possibility given our review of the national security strategy."

Hugh White, head of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute think tank, doesn't question the Government's denial of any formal request, but believes "a number of aspects of (America's) posture suggest that basing combat forces in Australia could be much more attractive to them in future than in the past".

Australian National University defence analyst Alan Dupont has little doubt "the Americans are interested in doing more with us (militarily and locally)".

He warns: "If that was not handled really sensitively it could further alienate those (Asians) who see us in the American camp - particularly the Indonesians and the Chinese."

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Gus: so when the ABC tells us:...

"US military base to be built in WA

The United States military will build a new communications base at Geraldton in Western Australia.

The Defence Minister, Brendan Nelson, says the Government has agreed to host a ground station for a new US military satellite communications system.

The base will be built at the existing Australian defence facility at Geraldton and will be used by the Americans to monitor regions like the Middle East.

Dr Nelson says the details of the agreement will be finalised soon.

Labor frontbencher Peter Garrett has long campaigned against such facilities but today he is not commenting.

"My views are clear and they've been clear since I've come into Parliament," he said.

The Government says it will have full knowledge of the functions and purpose of the base."...

.... Where is the bloody outrage at those previous denials and porkies?Where are the memory sticks of journos? of politicians? of the denialolers?

 see cartoon at top of this line of blogs...