This September the US Air Force, with NASA providing back up, plans to begin testing their new HiFire jets at Woomera. Described as the "jewel in the crown" of scramjet technology, (HiFire is an acronym for Hypersonic International Flight Research Experimentation) their anticipated short-term application is much faster cruise missiles.

from the pauper ABC …..

PM denies IR laws hurt NSW Liberals

Lord Mayo of Adelaide (aka Downer the “Clowner” or “Fishnets” to his friends) has been a member of the federal Parliament for 23 years & is Australia’s longest serving Foreign Minister, having held that portfolio in the rattus government for the past 11 years.

This time last year, in my blog the missing “bonesman” (see http://www.yourdemocracy.net.au/drupal/node/2839), I introduced bushit’s Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary to Australia, Robert D. McCallum.

from the ABC …..

Costello continues attack on Labor's broadband plan

Federal Treasurer Peter Costello is continuing his attack on the Opposition's $4.7 billion high-speed Internet plan.

‘Yep, you did it, George - mission impossible accomplished.

Unbelievably, four years of a bungled occupation have managed to make Saddam Hussein's tyranny look good in comparison with "liberated Iraq."

from the ABC …..

Labor to again press PM on Iraq withdrawal

Debate about an exit strategy for Australian troops in Iraq is expected to continue in Federal Parliament today.

from the underfunded ABC …..

Kelly lashes out at states over housing affordability

from the ABC …..

Bush urges patience as Iraq war enters 5th year

By Kim Landers

from our ABC …..

Liberals move to overturn Aldred preselection

Senior Liberal Party figures are moving to overturn the preselection of controversial former federal Liberal MP Ken Aldred.

from Al Jazeera …..

Pakistan changes tack on top judge [AFP]

The chief judge of Pakistan's Supreme Court has been put on compulsory leave, not suspended, the government has said amid increasing protests over his removal on March 9.