If war could be fought with strokes of the tarring brush
or satirical pencils instead of the gun and a liberal bomb...
Then the world might be a... different little pleasant place...
Where moronic extremists would have to crimson blush
while old cartoon-artists tint their greying pubic hair blond
in front of the moral police... thus forced to spray a little mace...

No winners. no losers, just a few sore eyes...

If Indonesia wants to review all its agreements with Australia, does that mean the Kopassus death squads currently being trained by our ADF will be on the next plane back to Jakarta? Maybe that's as likely as Indonesia will take pre-emptive action against the Free Papua office in Melbourne, as suggested by

"Indonesia will not tolerate whatever elements, in whichever country, including in Australia, that clearly provide support and play for a separatist movement in Papua," he said.

But if Australia-Indonesia relations do take a bad turn, where will Jakarta look for the aid to its military, police and 'security forces'? Why, to the north, as always. To Taiwan, Japan and Republic of Korea, along the historic para-Sinic axis. But, if Taiwan gets into military support for Indonesia, will Beijing sense a tilt at preferential access to Papua's raw materials? Is China already poised to make soft noises about independent action by Taiwan? If China whispers, Condi will roar, and Dick Cheney's net worth will escalate.

In any case, Aesop was right - Fox wins. But Rupert will always be a cancer.

From the Guardian
Silence in class

University professors denounced for anti-Americanism; schoolteachers suspended for their politics; students encouraged to report on their tutors. Are US campuses in the grip of a witch-hunt of progressives, or is academic life just too liberal? By Gary Younge

Tuesday April 4, 2006
Read more at The Guardian

From the ABC
Opus Dei distances itself from Mohammed cartoon
An Italian magazine close to the influential Catholic conservative Opus Dei group has published a cartoon showing the Prophet Mohammed in Hell, sparking outrage among Muslim associations.

The drawing in Studi Cattolici's March issue shows Italian poets Dante Alighieri and Virgil on the edge of a circle of flames looking down on Mohammed, whose body is cut in half down to his buttocks.

"Isn't that Mohammed?" Virgil is shown asking Dante.

"Yes, and he's cut in two because he has brought division to society," Dante replies.

Opus Dei has distanced itself from the magazine, with spokesman Giuseppe Corigliano saying that Studi Cattolici is not an official publication of the group even though it is edited by an Opus Dei member.

However, he says Opus Dei members "are free to have all the opinions they want".

The magazine's editor, Cesare Cavalleri, says he hopes the drawing will not provoke violent reactions.

read more at the ABC

A popular Egyptian political satirist is being investigated by prosecutors for allegedly insulting the president.

A formal complaint was brought against Bassem Youssef for "undermining the standing" of President Mohamed Morsi in his television show.

Separately, an independent newspaper says it has been accused by the presidency of "circulating false news" and is being investigated.

The cases come amid increasing worries about press freedoms in Egypt.

Many journalists have joined critics of the new Islamist-backed constitution, saying it does not offer enough guarantees of press freedoms.

Bassem Youssef is a doctor who shot to fame after winning a huge number of followers with his witty lampooning of public figures in amateur videos posted on the internet following the uprising that ended Hosni Mubarak's rule.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20884036

A Dutchman has been sentenced to 30 days in jail under a rarely enforced 19th century law for intentionally insulting King Willem-Alexander, according to a court ruling published on Thursday. The 44-year-old man from the city of Kampen, whose name was not released, had posted a message on his Facebook page in April 2015 calling the king a murderer, rapist, "oppressor" and thief. "Hereby the defendant damaged the dignity of the King," wrote judge Sylvia Taalman in her decision. "This behaviour is not acceptable in our society." Many Dutch consider the law "Insulting the Majesty" to be an antiquated relic that should be scrapped, but it has never featured high on the country's political agenda. The crime carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of 20,000 euros.

Look for the link yourselves... See lousy toon and crummy poem at top...