As Mark has elaborated below, Howard’s announcement today of some 50 to 70 additional “troop” “instructor” deployments in Iraq may have sounded like dubious numbers.
Howard stated to reporters in Perth today that “having trainers helps the Iraqis stand on their own two feet.”
“Once properly fitted, those trainers allow the Iraqi people to run like the clappers away from explosions and sniper fire.”
However, when pressed, the Prime Minister would not elaborate how many of the instructors would join the 30 Australians at a training facility near Tallil and how many would be deployed elsewhere.
An interview on the ABC’s Lateline program revealed a key frontline position for the Australian experts.
The evidence is quite clear that not even the Iraqi Comb Minister is competent. This suggests that between 11 and 15 of the Australian “instructors”, including those skilled in trimming, styling, buffing and product, will be deployed to Baghdad.
This figure will depend on the seasonal variations of what one Iraqi minister’s media secretary has referred to as the ‘winds of combover terror’ around the walls of the Green Zone.
Reports that the image-savvy Nouri Al-Maliki has requested an audience with one of the “instructors” behind Peter Debnam’s recent campaigning have not been substantiated.
I detest such sneering, snivelling, commentary about middle-aged Emos.
Heh
The urge is willing but the surge is weak.
But good on Howard for still keeping our lads out of real danger.
Indeed.
He didn’t seem to think that it would make any difference whatever if Australia withdrew from Iraq, though.
They probably had to cue him in on Australia anyway.
“Austria? Are they part of NATO now?”
“No Minister, Australia? Kangaroos? No? AC/DC? No? Kylie?”
“Ah yes! Is she here? Better The Devil You Know, hey?”
“Would you like some hair gel Minister?”
“No! You want I should look like Donald Trump?”
It sounded to me like it didn’t matter when we left, so long as we were courteous enough to tell them when:
Don’t be concerned, it’s just another Training Team, folks.
1962…………. 2007. Those PNAC people(Project for a New American Century) need reassurance that as far as doomed, undeclared, overseas wars are concerned, Bum-Boys-R-Us, right?
Yes, indeed, my fellow Ah-Sees, Howard’s mimicing mini surge is vitally important for Australia’s “We Fawn Harder� international image. Besides, PNAC Point Man, Torture Dick Cheney is popping in to give Johnny The Abaser, Amnesty Phil, (things that)Batter Alexander and Brendon the Brave a special public stroke or two later this week, before delving deeper Down Under to cast his rod in Van Dieman’s Land.
“Australia’s Military Involvement in the Vietnam War by Brian Ross.
This posting is the first of two intended to provide an overview of Australian military operations in Vietnam, commencing from the deployment of the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam in 1962…………..�
What’s the point of bestowing god’s gift of democracy upon Iraq, if you can’t send in the right advisors in an initiative “specifically designed to help the Iraqis look after themselves”(JWH 19/2/07)?
I did love his hair.
Is the emo subculture big in Baghdad?
Forget the trainers,What about Tony Jones.Now here is a man that has gone up in my estimation,how the hell did he keep a straight face interviewing that dork.?Still I still reckon before Howard had his make over, his eye brows fluttered in the wind.
Now Mr Olmert would never be so silly as to stand in high wind for an interview like that.
But Alex on Lateline tonight was just fabulous. There were tears and involuntary micturation here at Casingbroke Manor. The best way to watch Lord Downer is with the subtitles for the deaf turned on. It’s an instant transcript… priceless.
Yes Mark, it is. Nouri Al-Maliki is the father of Hope Al-Maliki. She’s hurting a lot right now [link]
Come to think of it he was kind of emo person. Did anyone see his Chuck Taylor Converses? Hey! Maybe THAT’s the trainers he was talking about…
Dolly was polishing up his lines on Lateline tonight.
On Rudd:
Oh Kim. We all know you’re Miss Fancypants and have been to Pirate School and all that, but I think quoting Lord Downer as an expert on unincomprehensibility is against the rules. Isn’t it?
Longer Kimberella: It’s the irony, dude!
Tony Jones drew blood early with short sharp thrusts, then handed the stiletto to the Man from Mayo who grabbed it by the pointy end and cut himself some more.
Tony’s broad grin at the end was that of a very satisfied cheshire cat who goaded him with a “first time this year, Mr.Downer”. Heavily implied was: “come back real soon and I’ll give you a bit more of what for, minister.”
Dolly’s corporophagic facial-fixee finale left me feeling deeply satisfied. Wouldn’t miss the next bout for quids. It’s wonderful to see a pro like Jones so clearly relishing his work.
Holy shit, EC, you’re even disgusting me. I’m going to wash my hands now, a lot.
Dolly’s last dial-shot sure looked like a shit-eating grin to me, DD.
Don’t be disgusted, have another sherbet, son.
I know. I was being ironic.
Isn’t Dolly from the same neck of the woods as obs? That might explain why he’s a weird dude.
A perfect symmetry or just nice timing… Howard announces another 70 troop trainers, days before he hosts VP Cheney who won’t be at all displeased. For his part the Vice President has gone fishing just as his former chief of staff, Scooter Liddy faces a jury returning a verdict on his alleged perjury. Liddy’s defence is that it was the VP himself who gave him the information that led to the disclosure of a CIA undercover agent, Valerie Plane. Remember, she was the wife of ambassador Wilson who muddied Cheney’s Iraq invasion plans over WMD’s and Saddam’s access to uranium from Niger. Tasmania is about as far away as Dick could get from the Washington press corp courtesy of the Pacific sheriff.
From the NYT: “Theodore V. Wells Jr., Mr. Libby’s chief defense lawyer, countered [the prosecution’s case] with an intensely emotional defense ending in a choked sob.”
“If it turned out that what he said was wrong that doesn’t mean he is a liar,� Mr. Wells told the jury. “It means he may have misrecollected what happened.�
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
I luuuuuve it. Perjury is such an ugly word.
Yes Sir Henry. The jury retires tomorrow. And the reason for Cheney’s absence from the States is…?
Lack of US media pool reporters in Tassie? Just at a guess…
Kim, I am shocked at such a naked display of cynicism
Yet, Christine, I don’t have a nickname like “Scooter”.
What’s with that anyway?
Actually, I’m wearing underpants. Just to make sure that Dick doesn’t find the map of tassie.
I condemn that awful pun I’ve just made.
Wrong thread!
I see your point Kim. As he’s going fishing it could be quite painful and dangerous.
Is there more to it than meets the eye in this Adelaide conection? (Or am I just being disgusting?)