‘In summary: Bush has suddenly not really changed the course and insists he was never for "stay the course," so that he could make it seem like he was going to change the course without actually changing the course. To that end he held a press conference to announce that he was going to "stay the course" without saying he was going to "stay the course," because if he doesn't pretend to be changing his failed course in Iraq there will be a major change in the Republican political course. And, of course, since Bush has ignored the Constitution and shredded the Geneva Conventions, he hopes to change the political course before Democrats put him on a course leading to impeachment. Hence, he's never been a "stay the course" guy.’

‘The Roman emperor Nero is best remembered for having his mother and wife assassinated, murdering his second wife, indulging in orgies, concerts and sporting spectacles while persecuting Christians, and blaming them for the great fire of Rome during which, most infamously, he supposedly played the lyre from the balcony of his palace. Nero playing while Rome burned is myth. The rest is not.

I wonder what history will say about us when we are gone, off to that great absolute water frontage in the sky?

New Element on Periodic Table …..

‘A major research institution has just announced the discovery of the densest element yet known to science. The new element has been named “Bushcronium.”

Bushcronium has one neutron, 12 assistant neutrons, 75 deputy neutrons, and 224 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 311.

These particles are held together by dark forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons.

‘While al-Qaeda and its ilk are clearly terrorist organisations, even if Satan ran their operations that would not alter the fact that some people accused of terrorism offences will be innocent. But while lip service may still be paid to the presumption of innocence, it's scorned in practice.

Australia's acceptance of the detention of its citizen, David Hicks, by the US for five years in Guantanamo Bay, and his trial by a military commission almost universally rejected by legal authorities as an unjust process, is based on a view of him as a terrorist threat. For that reason alone, he is subject to a regime that would be unacceptable for any person accused of any other crime (and any US citizen, terrorist or not).

‘A magical glow arises from the land. "Our economy is evolving," Labor Secretary Elaine Chao told CNN in September. "It's transitioning to a knowledge-based economy." Many liberals are dazzled by the light, imagining a new era in which poverty is curable by education and the highly educated know no limits. Those who go to college and work hard are set for life, while the clueless and the unprepared drift down into the working poor. Message to Americans in a competitive, globalized world: Sink or swim. It's up to you.

‘What I am arguing tonight is that our country is afflicted with a blindness that needs urgent repair given the magnitude of the problems now staring us in the eye.

By the end of the current bushfire season, I doubt many Australians will question the fact of climate change.

I am also arguing that this government can no longer claim to represent all Australians. It formally surrendered that claim, and also its claim to moral authority on the issue of our national values, when it appointed Keith Windschuttle to the board of the ABC.

‘"Friends speak together with complete freedom and frankness and listen to one another in trust. Neither seeks to dominate, neither acts like a vassal," asserted Michèle Alliot-Marie during the ceremony, before laying a spray of flowers at the foot of a monument celebrating the last battle of the American War of Independence. She added that, "friendship creates a duty of sincerity (...) in all independence, without excessive reverence, without beatific subservience."

"We each have our identities, our aspirations, our national interests to defend. They are sometimes contradictory," pleaded Michèle Alliot-Marie, before reminding that, "France is not and will never be a feeble friend to America."

from the Centre for American Progress …..

Character Counts

President Bush declared this week "National Character Counts Week." Americans are supposed to remember our commitments to "values such as integrity, courage, honesty, and patriotism" that "sustain our democracy, make self-government possible, and help build a more hopeful future."

from today's Melbourne Age .....

No white cane required for our gang-gang. 

‘Question: If the federal court system and the Bill of Rights are good enough for two foreigners who committed terrorist acts against the World Trade Center – Ramzi Yousef and Zacarias Moussaoui – and an American accused of being an active member of al-Qaeda, then why isn’t it good enough for all persons accused of terrorism? Equally important, where are the rule of law and equal treatment under law when some terrorist suspects can be treated one way (ie: military custody and kangaroo courts) and others treated another way (ie: federal court jurisdiction and the Bill of Rights)?

‘The authority of Tony Blair was left battered last night as he attempted to play down a rift with the head of the British Army over his unprecedented warning that the presence of foreign troops was "exacerbating" the security situation in Iraq

The devastating assessment by General Sir Richard Dannatt, the chief of the general staff, infuriated ministers and caused alarm in Washington.

However there was widespread backing across the Army yesterday as soldiers of every rank praised General Dannatt for standing up to the Government.

The violence & chaos in Iraq are direct functions of its illegal invasion & occupation, along with the use of illegal tactics & weapons to support the occupation.

War Crimes Committed By The United States In Iraq & Mechanisms For Accountability documents these crimes & calls for the prosecution of military & civilian leaders for their clear & deliberate violations of International Law.

A new NY Times/CBS News poll released Monday, shows that:

-          those approving of Bush's handling of terrorism dropped to 46% from 54% in the past two weeks

‘As the bodies pile up in Iraq, new polls show that most Iraqis want us out of their country, and they want us out soon. At the same time, Al Jazeera acquired a letter believed to be from a high-ranking al Qaeda operative that shows that our worst enemies think a protracted occupation of Iraq is "the most important thing" for the future of their cause.

Yet the Bush administration and its mouthpieces insist that we must "stay the course" in Iraq -- either to bring stability to the war-torn country or out of some misguided belief that we can salvage America's dignity from an embarrassing Vietnam-style defeat.

‘The Australian and American governments have sought to label prisoners in Guantanamo Bay as dangerous and as evil; in their terms, as terrorists. The latest to join in this litany of inappropriate, pre-trial condemnatory comment is the new United States ambassador to Australia, Robert McCallum. It is another unwise intervention in Australia's affairs.

McCallum well knows that the American courts, Congress and President would not allow any American citizen to be tried in the military commissions, formerly established by President George Bush, now to be established, slightly modified, by law of Congress.