Australia's habitual liar

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mr_superficial

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Post Number: 82
Registered: 06-2004

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Friday, September 10, 2004 - 09:42 am:

I expect all politicians to lie and, usually, the only impact is to my hip pocket.

Tragically, the Member for Bennelong's explicit and implicit lies (listed below) have already had a much deadlier impact.

“Why we are a bigger target”, by Richard Woolcott, former Australian ambassador and secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. (Taken from The Age newspaper, Fairfax Publications, 10-9-04)

There are 13 myths that surround Australia's decision to join the American invasion of Iraq.

1. Saddam Hussein threatened the United States and, indeed, Australia.

2. "Everyone" believed that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction that he was prepared to use.

3. Iraq had a "usable chemical and biological weapons capability" and was developing nuclear weapons, as John Howard told Parliament on February 4, 2003.

4. The invading forces would be greeted with flowers once Saddam was overthrown.

5. Australian policy was the disarmament of Iraq, not the removal of Saddam. John Howard also said that if Saddam got rid of his WMDs, he could remain in power.

6. Terrorist activity would be weakened as a result of the war in Iraq.

7. Australia has not become a greater terrorist target because of our participation in the invasion.

8. The deployment of our forces to the Gulf before hostilities was not a commitment to involvement in hostilities.

9. There was an established link between al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein.

10. There was a connection between the September 11 attacks on America, and the Iraqi government.

11. The Flood Inquiry "cleared" John Howard of any misuse of intelligence material and of "heavying" the intelligence agencies.

12. "Complete and full sovereignty" would be transferred to an interim Iraqi government on June 30. (Announced by President Bush on May 28 and, predictably, echoed by John Howard and Alexander Downer the next day.)

13. A reconstructed, democratic, pro-US Iraq would be the likely early outcome of the invasion.

"One swallow does not make a summer". (Aristotle)

"But it definitely provides an incentive to ask her out again" (Mr_Superficial)