Back in 2004...

In Sydney, former intelligence analyst turned Greens political candidate Andrew Wilkie addressed a rally of about 2,000 people.

He says Iraq is on the cusp of a civil war, with dozens of civilian deaths for every reported death of a soldier.

Mr Wilkie says it is not just Al Qaeda causing the ongoing violence, although the Australian and US governments would like people to believe the terrorist group is responsible.

"Instead it is a complex combination of jihadists coming in, as they did come into Afghanistan during the 1980s when the Soviets occupied that land," Mr Wilkie said.

"But there is also a guerrilla war against an army of occupation and we're on the cusp of a genuine civil war, caused directly by the invasion."

He condemns the Federal Government for trying to argue Australia faces no heightened risk of terrorism as a result of our involvement.

"We all now live with an increased risk of terrorism of this Government's making," he said.

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2007 — Gus: Yep... More than three years later, our priminister and his minions still feed us the same old. "until the job is done..." bushit with no idea what the job is.

Finding Saddam's WMDs? They knew Saddam did not have any... but they lied about it. We knew that.

Creating democracy in Iraq? Proper democracy (rule of the majority) in Iraq would give the power to the Shia — something the US did not want. In a country where harsh religion rules the belief system, things are not going to be so rosy... Thus the US created a convoluted hodge-podge triumvirate so the US "friends" (the Sunnis, those led by Saddam — who was put in prison and hanged) would also have a say in the affairs of the country... and the Kurds ("good" people in Iraq for revolting in Iraq, but "terrorists" for doing the same thing in Turkey... confused?)... but, fair enough. So this convoluted hodge-podge triumvirate was really ill-thought out and still walks on three legs. In any case things after the "liberating" invasion were going to go arse up by releasing all kinds of relentless anger and revenge. So why invade in the first place? To get closer to Iran? To create a mess in Iraq? To get closer to the oil wells? To show one can lie and get away with it?

But the most tragic part of this indulgence from the coalition of the willing (US, UK and Australia) was the murder (no other name for it) of many civilians continuing to this day by accident, desire or mis-management of information... And now, there is a trend to fudge things a bit by having to give the appearance of the occupation a different more palatable look... "The US should reduce its troop presence in Iraq so as not to appear an "occupying force", a key 20-member US security commission has recommended."

Despite their grand parading of motorcades and Nazi-like super-tight security, despite their words that rang hollow from the start, the Johnnee and Bushit of this world would have to carry on bullshitting themselves in order to carry on with that sort of grand aplomb. They've muck up big time and still ask us to trust them some more on issues of humanity they have no idea or no inclination to really understand... No they are the monkeys at the top of the tree and that's were we put them. Shame on us.

But the Chaser team redeem us by their fantastic stun, whereas the police's dark glasses may have  been to dark to see the word JOKE written on the Chaser's obviously fake identity badges...

Meanwhile people and soldiers are still dying in Baghdad for a whim and a lie... 

 

 

OPEC summit'

Mr Bush has also laughed off mistakenly calling the APEC summit the 'OPEC' summit during a speech this morning to business leaders.

After being introduced by Mr Howard, he quickly corrected himself after wrongly calling APEC, 'OPEC', which is the peak body for oil exporting countries.

"Good Morning, or should I say g'day," he said.

"Mr Prime Minister, thank you for your introduction, thank you for being such a fine host for the OPEC summit - OPEC summit, he invited me to the OPEC summit next year - the APEC summit."

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Gus: I'm laughing about it too... as long as Mr Bushit doesn't push the red button instead of the green one on, mistakenly... This fellow is a worry... he invited me to the OPEC summit next year???

That sums it, doesn't it? 

Bin Laden 'to issue 9/11 video'

Osama Bin Laden is said to be preparing to release a video message to the American people to coincide with the sixth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.

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Gus: Too late mister Laden... The Chaser team got there first...

Video shows Bin Laden 'in false beard' By Leonard Doyle in Washington Published: 08 September 2007

The US government is analysing videotape that appears to show Osama bin Laden in a false beard, marking the sixth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

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Gus: the fashion is catching... False beards are popping everywhere... Even Osama is copying the Chaser bloke...

The US Secret Service has admitted that proper procedures were not followed when a couple gatecrashed a state dinner in the White House.

The organisation's director Mark Sullivan said it was "deeply concerned and embarrassed" at Tuesday's incident.

An investigation found the couple should not have been allowed in, despite going through screening.

The couple, Virginia socialites Tareq and Michaele Salahi, apparently say they were entitled to be at the event.

Previously, another Secret Service spokesman Jim Mackin said charges could be brought against them.

The couple, who were not on the guest list, went through security checkpoints at the dinner hosted by President Barack Obama.

They later posted photos of themselves on Facebook.

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See toon at top... Even with obviously fake ID saying "this is a FAKE ID" "Bin Laden" got as far as Dubya's Hotel in Sydney... The Chaser put the stint on their TV show and got one of the highest TV ratings in Aus...

Paul Keating once referred to the Australian Senate as “unrepresentative swill”.

But for an equivalent description of the US Senate you’d have to pass Keating and go directly to Kevin ‘Bloody’ Wilson. And then give him Tourettes.

Because the US Senate is a massive joke - and not a witty, urbane Oscar Wilde kind of joke. More like a painful, soul-destroying Little Fockers kind of joke. To explain why, let’s take a step back…

What is the Senate supposed to do?

Like the Australian Senate, the primary purpose of the US Senate is as a house of review. The House of Representatives passes a bill laden with pork. The Senate adds more pork. And then everyone leans over the president’s shoulder grinning like idiot stalkers while he/she signs it into law.

However, unlike the Australian Senate, it doesn’t stop there. The US Senate is also responsible for confirming many of the president’s nominees for federal positions. These include everything from the Federal Reserve Board through to the principal deputy under secretary for personnel and readiness. (And yes, that position does exist. I checked.) Not to mention the approximately 900 judgeships they also have to confirm, including those for the Supreme Court. The complete list is here. Enjoy.

http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/42702.html

Chas Licciardello is a comedian and member of The Chaser comedy team. see toon at top. His prank (and the Chaser team) as Bin Laden during the APEC summuit in Sydney was priceless.

Just two days before Prince William and Kate Middleton are due to tie the knot, ABC TV has been forced to cancel The Chaser's one-off live coverage of the event due to what it says are restrictions imposed by the royal family.

The Chaser's Royal Wedding Commentary was due to air on ABC2 from 7:00pm AEST on Friday, offering viewers a satirical take on the royal wedding.

But now the live special - promised to be "uninformed and unconstitutional" - has been reluctantly pulled due to restrictions imposed over the Easter break.

ABC TV was initially advised by the BBC, and subsequently by Associated Press Television News (APTN), there were no coverage restrictions that would prevent The Chaser's wedding commentary.

But new conditions of use issued by APTN over the Easter break state footage cannot be used "in any drama, comedy, satirical or similar entertainment program or content".

ABC TV director Kim Dalton says he is disappointed.

"The national broadcaster has acted in good faith in its negotiations around ABC2's planned coverage with both the BBC and APTN," he said.

"We're surprised and disappointed at this very late stage to be informed that any satirical or comedic treatment of the marriage of Australia's future head of state has been banned."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/04/27/3201554.htm

Long live the republik! See toon and story at top...