At the insistence of the Greens, we are about to get a full-scale parliamentary debate on our military involvement in Afghanistan some time soon - the only foreign policy demand in our 17 days of political haggling.

So let's hope our kinder and gentler MPs do their homework and make the best of it, instead of resorting to the usual pieties about standing behind our fighting soldiers until the job is done.

The question is: what is the job? Fortunately, some very good discussion papers are starting to come out of respected think tanks and policy groups to guide our thinking. And some bad ones too.

In a normal country, war is front-page news. It is a big deal to invade and bomb another nation. Most of the world's people can probably name all the foreign governments their own government is at war with.

"America's strategic and economic interests in the Mideast and Muslim world are being threatened by the agony in Palestine, which inevitably invites terrorist attacks against US citizens and property."

Ever since 9/11, readers keep asking me my views on these attacks. I have been barraged with emails until my head spins with engineering studies about melting steel, controlled explosions, claims about nefarious plots, and wreckage analysis.

One of the most colorful theories comes from Gen. Hamid Gul, former director of Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI. He insists that 9/11 was staged by Israel's Mossad and a cabal of rightwing US Air Force generals.

Two conflicting urges struggled within Tony Abbott's breast on Tuesday evening as he dealt with the news that Julia Gillard would form the next government.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Abbott began his press conference at Parliament House. "The longest election is finally over. The Coalition won more votes and more seats than our opponents, but sadly, we did not get the opportunity to form a government."

This was the first urge, to frustration and anger, as Abbott promised to hold the government "ferociously to account".

The atmosphere was speech day at a minor Christian college as Tony Abbott handed out prizes for most "indefatigable" (the member for Swan, Steve Irons); "outstanding" (the member for Macquarie, Louise Markus); and a new award - "first indigenous" - won by the member for Hasluck, Ken Wyatt.

By a clear margin, the Wyatts stole the applause. Death Stare was all smiles. Bygones were bygones. Peter Dutton, Sophie Mirabella, Alby Schultz and Don Randall, who all walked out of the Reps during the apology, joined the warm applause. So did Eric Abetz.

from Crikey .....

Gillard thanked us for being fair and balanced: The Oz editor

Jason Whittaker writes:

The pastor of a small US church who planned to burn copies of the Koran on the anniversary of 9/11 has cancelled his protest.

Terry Jones said he was calling off the event after the group behind a planned Islamic centre near Ground Zero in New York agreed to relocate it.

But the cultural centre's organisers said they had no plans to move it.

...

US Defence Secretary Robert Gates had telephoned him to urge him to reconsider his plans. The pastor had also been visited several times by the FBI.

After watching Julia's and Tony's speeches on the box, I can say Julia was statesperson-like while Tony was still haggling about his "moral" victory and Julia's government's competency. Tony showed a very junior amateurish, possibly doglike, attitude. Does not Tony read the economic international praise heaped on the Labor government or is he interested only in banging his fists on the door till he gets in???..

Bob Katter has an easy way out of the dilemma about which party to support – neither. Holding his hat over his heart, he can reasonably claim neither mob is worthy of his allegiance.

But – and here's the big but, the Katter flap for him to slip out of the way – in the interests of stable government he will guarantee not to block supply or support any frivolous no-confidence motion whoever's occupying the Treasury benches.

from Ted Mack ..... 

"People forget that these three are probably three of the most experienced Members of Parliament," he said.

"They didn't come down in the last shower and they certainly don't need any advice from me.

"What I suspect that they will do however, I think they will back the Gillard Government."

He [Ted Mack] says it may sound unusual, but it makes sense.

"The point is, if there is a Liberal-National government formed, then that government will do its best to get those three out of office because they think that those seats belong to them.

John Prescott tonight demanded the Metropolitan police reopen its investigation into the News of the World phone-hacking scandal as the Observer revealed that Scotland Yard holds News International documents suggesting that he was a target when deputy prime minister.

A decision on who forms government could be delayed with a squabble breaking out over parliamentary reform.

Labor and the coalition have previously indicated they would support changing parliament's rules, but today the opposition declared some of the reforms could strengthen the hand of future governments.

Rob Oakeshott wants both sides of politics to sign off on the reforms before he and fellow independents Tony Windsor and Bob Katter announce whether they'll back Prime Minister Julia Gillard or Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.