The NSW Liberal Opposition Leader, John Brogden, has been caught sprouting a racist obscenity. Again. During an “alcohol fuelled night” – according to the Sydney Morning Herald that placed the story across its front page – Brogden pinched a journalist’s behind and called former NSW Premier Bob Carr’s wife, Helena, a “mail-order bride”. On July…
Showing all posts in June 2019
Provoking Islamic revolutions
The following letter appears in today’s UK Independent: “Sir: Let me see if I’ve got this right. I admit straight out that my grasp of the history of both Iran and Iraq is shaky, but I am relying on what I have learned this week. “In 1953 in Iran the Brits and Yanks conspired to…
Taking a look at ourselves
“There is no question that the Iraqi people suffered under one of the vilest dictators of the 20th century and longed for liberation. But a foreign power that, largely through ignorance, disrespects Arab pride, tribal custom, Iraqi nationalism, and Islamic sensibility has not been able to fulfill its promises of freedom and security. How the…
The Powell doctrine
“That’s not really a number I’m terribly interested in.” General Colin Powell, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, on being asked his assessment of Iraqi military and civilian casualties, April 1991. Let’s not forget that Powell, far from being a moderate, as many claimed during his time in the Bush administration, is in…
Peeling back the illusion
“Can we in the so-called ‘lone superpower’ face that we are now a nation of mercenaries?” Robert Jensen, Znet, August 23
“Perception” of occupation
The US military has dismissed calls by Reuters and other news organisations in Iraq about the arrest and incarceration of journalists. A Reuters cameraman has been held incommunicado for over two weeks and is currently at Abu Ghraib. Many reporters have been falsely accused by the US of knowing about insurgent attacks before their occur,…
Threats to freedom
Global Voices rounds-up the latest threats to freedom of speech around the world and includes Libya, Tunisia, China, Maldives and Belarus. Allow me to include Australia’s media in discussing the Israel/Palestine conflict. The Age today treats us to an editorial about the Gaza withdrawal. Note the “logic” of this: “Israel also announced plans to build…
Who to believe?
“Arab satellite news channels Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya have been forced to fend off accusations that they served up Israeli propaganda with their coverage of the historic evacuation of the Gaza Strip settlements.” “We understand when the international media fall into the trap of the Jewish settlers and run live coverage of the evacuation,” said Mr…
Danby update
Following the publication of a letter by Federal Labor MP Michael Danby in this week’s Australian Jewish News (for background and more information, see here), Crikey has placed this story of free speech as one of its top yarns of the day: 4. Loewenstein v Danby — Australia’s debate over Israel By Crikey reporter Sophie…