from the ABC …..

No plan to leave Iraq, PM says

Prime Minister John Howard says his decision to send a letter to his Iraqi counterpart in no way signals the Government's intention to withdraw Australian troops.

Mr Howard says he sent the letter to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki a week or so ago but has yet to receive a response.

This one's for the true believers ……

John Howard appeared to YouTube viewers at 5am yesterday, enticingly perched
on the cabinet table & inviting the youth of Australia to join the army.

By 7.30pm, he and the Opposition Leader, Kevin Rudd, were beaming live to nearly 900 churches around the country. All without leaving the shadow of the Parliament House flag.

As the YouTube election gathers pace, it is quaint to think that reaching 100,000 Christians might once have taken a month of Sundays.

Sol's salary unreasonable: PM …..

Telstra boss Sol Trujillo's huge salary is unreasonable, Prime Minister John Howard says.

Mr Trujillo's total pay packet increased by $3 million last financial year to $11.78 million - 38 times the prime minister's salary.

"I'm not complaining about the salary I get," Mr Howard told Southern Cross Broadcasting.

‘A dossier compiled by Liberal strategists Mark Textor and Lynton Crosby found voters had lost faith in Mr Howard, seeing him as dishonest while Mr Rudd was seen as genuine and accessible.’

Howard Has Given Up, Says Rudd

from the Sydney Morning Herald

Rates, states and red herrings .....

Australians are entitled to blame their state premiers for many things, but rising interest rates are not among them. The Liberal Party's internet advertising blaming state borrowings for a widely anticipated rise in mortgage interest rates is both irresponsible and wrong.

Rates, States & Red Herrings

from the ABC …..

Labor's getting cocky: PM

The Prime Minister has told his backbenchers that federal Labor has become cocky and has started eyeing off the trappings of government.

With today's Newspoll showing Labor soaring ahead by nine points on the primary vote, one Liberal MP described the mood in today's joint party room meeting as "realistic".

from our ABC …..

'Kevin 07' just a media tart: Govt

Federal Government MPs have launched a ferocious attack on Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd, as he launched his own 'Kevin 07' website.

A dozen Labor staff arrived at Parliament this morning wearing T-shirts with the slogan 'Kevin 07' to promote the new website.

And back in 2006...

Audit finds many missing U.S. weapons in Iraq

Government report: About 14,000 weapons - 1 in 25 - unaccounted for

WASHINGTON - Nearly one of every 25 weapons the U.S. military bought for Iraqi security forces is missing and many others cannot be repaired because parts or technical manuals are lacking, a government audit said Sunday.

That was yesterday.

Today, Putin seeks to regain the influence Russia lost in previous years. He is skilfully playing the anti-America card across Europe while putting pressure on the Baltic states, a clear warning not to extend Nato any further.

In Ukraine, political forces resisting closer strategic links to the west have gained ground. And the Kremlin is aggressively portraying the planned establishment of a modest US missile defence installation in Poland and the Czech Republic as a threat to Russia's vital security interests.

Iemma 'wouldn't trust' Govt hospital takeovers.…..

from the ABC

New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma says he would not trust any Federal Government offer to take over hospitals in his state.

Mr Iemma says there has been no progress on a proposal earlier this year by Health Minister Tony Abbott for a federal takeover of hospitals.

govt's IR ad blitz backfiring …..

‘The Howard government's latest advertising blitz is reportedly reinforcing fears surrounding its Work Choices reforms rather than dispelling them.

A research firm has surveyed worker reactions to the series of ads that feature Workplace Authority director Barbara Bennett.

It found the images of workers talking about losing holiday entitlements and penalty rates, and fears surrounding job security and conditions for young workers, was having an unintended effect.

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?

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.