Jonathan, here is another report on the Australia stuff and this one also says it came
from his sister; does this relieve him of responsibility? Do you suppose she said it
without his permission? jt
Undermining Australia
Charles Krauthammer
September 24, 2004
WASHINGTON -- Of all our allies in the world, which is the only one to
have joined the United States in the foxhole in every war in the last
100 years? Not Britain, not Canada, certainly not France. The answer is
Australia.
Australia not only shares a community of values with the United States.
It understands that its safety rests ultimately on a stable
international structure that, in turn, rests not on parchment treaties
but on the power and credibility of the United States. Which is why
Australia is with us today in both Afghanistan and Iraq.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard has taken great risks and much
political heat for his support of America. There is a national election
in Australia on Oct. 9 and the race is neck and neck between Howard and
Labor Party leader Mark Latham. Latham has pledged to withdraw from Iraq.
This is a critical election not only for Australia, but also for the
United States. Think of the effect on America, its front-line soldiers
and its coalition partners if one of its closest allies turns tail and runs.
The terrorists are well aware of this potential effect. Everyone knows
about the train bombing in Madrid that successfully brought down a
pro-American government and led to Spain's precipitous withdrawal from
Iraq. But few here noticed that this month's car bombing in Jakarta was
designed to have precisely the same effect.
Where was the bomb set off? At the Australian embassy. When was it set
off? Just weeks before the Australian election and just three days
before the only televised debate between Howard and Latham.
The terrorists' objective is to intimidate all countries allied with
America. Make them bleed and tell them this is the price they pay for
being a U.S. ally. The implication is obvious: Abandon America and buy
your safety.
That is what the terrorists are saying. Why is the Kerry campaign saying
the same thing? ``John Kerry's campaign has warned Australians that the
Howard government's support for the U.S. in Iraq has made them a bigger
target for international terrorists.'' So reports The Australian (Sept.
18).
Americans Overseas for Kerry is the Kerry operation for winning the
crucial votes of Americans living abroad (remember the Florida
recount?), including more than 100,000 who live in Australia. Its leader
was interviewed Sept. 16 by The Australian's Washington correspondent,
Roy Eccleston. Asked if she believed the terrorist threat to Australians
was now greater because of the support for President Bush, she replied:
``I would have to say that,'' noting that ``the most recent attack was
on the Australian embassy in Jakarta.''
She said this of her country (and of the war that Australia is helping
us with in Iraq): ``We are endangering the Australians now by this
wanton disregard for international law and multilateral channels.'' Mark
Latham could not have said it better. Nor could Jemaah Islamiah, the al
Qaeda affiliate that killed 11 people in the Jakarta bombing.
This Kerry spokesman, undermining a key ally on the eve of a critical
election, is no rogue political operative. She is the head of Americans
Overseas for Kerry -- Diana Kerry, sister to John.
She is, of course, merely echoing her brother, who, at a time when
American allies have shown great political courage in facing down both
terrorists and domestic opposition for their assistance to the United
States in Iraq, calls these allies the ``coalition of the coerced and
the bribed.''
This snide and reckless put-down not only undermines our best friends
abroad. It demonstrates the cynicism of Kerry's promise to broaden our
coalition in Iraq. If this is how Kerry repays America's closest allies
-- ridiculing the likes of Tony Blair and John Howard -- who does he
think is going to step up tomorrow to be America's friend?
The only thing that distinguishes Kerry's Iraq proposals from Bush's is
his promise to deploy his unique, near-mystical ability to bring in new
allies to fight and pay for the war in Iraq -- to ``make Iraq the
world's responsibility'' and get others to ``share the burden,'' as he
said this week at New York University.
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"Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you
ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org
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