from Alan Ramsey …..

‘Be careful of your friends.

And watch out if you see Kevin Andrews coming.

John Howard's Australia four months before an election is an absurdly melancholy place to be.

To watch Howard take his bottomless bucket of money to Tasmania this week is to know how absurd. To read the transcripts of 13 radio and TV interviews the hapless Andrews gave on Tuesday and Wednesday is to know the Immigration Minister is only doing his Prime Minister's bidding, however clumsily he is doing it.

’The entire world was shocked beyond belief when the Twin Towers in New York and the Pentagon building were struck on 9/11 by US planes hijacked by Arab young men. There was sympathy for the victims and justifiable anger in America.

from Crikey

Winning in marginals: any pork in a storm

Christian Kerr, Lauren Parle & Jane Nethercote write:

“I can feel a dam coming on,” the legendary Bert Kelly used to say. But why stop at a dam?

Dow Jones & Co said on Thursday it did not know that one of the people named to protect its editorial independence after it becomes part of News Corp runs a foundation that received a donation pledge of $2.5 million (1.2 million pounds) from News Corp.

Rupert Murdoch's global media conglomerate selected Massachusetts Institute of Technology Professor Nicholas Negroponte to be part of the five-member special committee that will oversee the editorial independence of Dow Jones's news operations including the Wall Street Journal.

Gordon Brown told George Bush this week that Britain has a "shared destiny" with the United States" founded on "shared values". Even as Brown spoke, the consequences of those "shared values" in Iraq were spelt out in horrific detail by a report from Oxfam and over 100 other NGOs.

‘Police and security agencies will be given unprecedented "sneak and peek" powers to search the homes and computers of suspects without their knowledge under legislation to go before Federal Parliament next week.

The extensive powers - which also give federal police the right to monitor communications equipment without an interceptions warrant - come amid growing public disquiet about counter-terrorism powers following the bungled handling of the Mohamed Haneef case.

Poor Keelty has really lost it ….

Is this really the man who is supposed to be keeping us safe?

Whilst his mate Joe took the decision to release Haneef, who he could have detained indefinitely given his authoritarian powers under the Discrimination Act, the chief feral footpad moved effortlessly from ridiculous to incredible mode today, alleging that the innocent arch-terrorist, who is no longer here, could still face charges!!

Talk about “Commissioner Wrongways” …..

Australia has recorded its worst monthly trade performance in more than a year, partly because of adverse weather.

June's balance on trade in goods and services was in the red to the tune of $1.75 billion, more than $500 million worse than expected on financial markets, and the biggest shortfall since May last year.  

The value of Australia's exports dropped 3 per cent.

Trade Balance Takes A Hammering

‘Parenti explains our founders created a system of checks and balances by separating government into executive, legislative and judicial branches, even though the idea sounded better than it actually was. Today it's barely noticeable with two branches overtly supporting the chief executive's right to do as he pleases with no effective check on his power or lawlessness. One reason is because of who gets to Congress and the courts. They're mostly plutocracy members in good standing there to take care of their own. Half of Senate members are millionaires, and one critic believes the lower body is more "a House of Lords" than a House of Representatives.

Andrews was looking peeved but tolerant tonight on Lateline as he spelt out how it had been his job to have a suspicion of an association. He didn't mention any process involved in what might happen if that association was proven irrelevant.

He believes Haneef to be guilty, it would seem, saying that Haneef had left Australia "on a false pretext."

Andrews had a new angle, and as he delivered it light glinted in his eyes and his lips twisted in the failed suppression of a smirk as he said:

"Why didn't he have a press conference before he left Australia?. He did a paid exclusive interview for 60 Minutes... he could have fronted up and answered all these questions... now, he didn't do it."

OK, so let’s get this right.

Joe says that he cancelled Haneef’s visa because of a suspicious chatroom discussion between him & his brother in India & his alleged attempted “hasty” departure from Awstralya.

The information that Joe released today was in the hands of Keelty’s feral flatfoots from the day they arrested Haneef. That information was tabled in court during Haneef’s bail application & was also available to “Buggsy”, the DPP.

The prime rattus has thrown his support behind his Minister for Discrimination, Kevin “Joe McCarthy” Andrews, who is facing calls for his resignation over his handling of the Mohamed Haneef case.

Former terrorism suspect Dr Haneef returned home to India early this morning & told reporters he had been "victimised" by authorities during his time in custody in Australia.

 

from Crikey …..

Markets correct, Bush urges calm. Uh oh

Eureka Report publisher Alan Kohler writes:

There is absolutely nothing more worrying for an investor than seeing a US President telling "The American People" not to panic.

 

from the BBC …..

World owes US a debt, says Brown Prime Minister Gordon Brown

The world owes a debt to the United States for its leadership in the fight against international terrorism, Gordon Brown has said.

The prime minister described the link with the US as the UK's "most important bilateral relationship" ahead of his first talks with President George Bush.

'The charging of Dr Haneef means that the anti-terror laws passed by my government, & supported by the ALP, are “completely appropriate”.'

John Winston Howard