Johnny Come Lately.

New Zealand(N.Z) based blogger has an enlightening post, on the hypocrisy of New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark regarding the political landscape of Fiji. Clark is not alone in this arrogant display of diplomacy as another N.Z blogger addresses in this post: redrave: Imperialism pushes Fiji towards another coup

Alexander Downer, the mercurial Australian Foreign Affairs Minister, is fresh from denouncing the road map to democracy outlined by Fiji's interim Government; if that wasn't too much of a bone to chew on, Downer grandstands on the issue of Iraq, subsequent to the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair announcing the withdrawal plans from Iraq.

The Australian Newspaper published an article covering Downer's comments, whilst defending the political motives in Australia's own troop surge to Iraq.

Without a doubt, the early departure of Britain from Iraq will force Australia to pick up the slack-an indication that the Howard Government was not adequately paying their full price in troop deployments, considering the outstanding US military assistance to Australia, a Geo-political form of Quid Pro Quo.

Melbourne Herald Sun online feedback underlines the resistance to the Australian troop surge, from a wide swath of opinions.

This is the excerpt:

Downer denies 'political' troops boost


FOREIGN Affairs Minister Alexander Downer has denied the move to send more Australian troops to Iraq is based on a purely political decision.

He said the groundwork for the deployment of up to 70 more soldier trainers began well before Prime Minister John Howard's verbal stoush with US Democrat senator and presidential aspirant Barack Obama.

Yesterday's announcement came ahead of a visit this week by US Vice-President Dick Cheney, and amid the continued popularity of Labor leader Kevin Rudd's plans to bring Australian troops home.

"Well we have to roll our eyes every morning when we get out of bed and know that we have our political opponents who are always making party political points against us, whether they are the Labor Party or the Howard haters," Mr Downer told ABC Radio today.

"It's not true, it is nothing to do with that, obviously the chief of the defence force had been working on this for quite some time."

Mr Downer said the boost to trainer numbers would ensure Iraqi troops could assume control of the country "as quick as possible".

Mr Downer also said he understood opposition to the war in Iraq.

"I know it is not popular, but at the end of the day when you're the government you have to try to do the right thing by the nation's security."

Early last week, Senator Obama rejected Mr Howard's public criticism of his Iraq withdrawal policy by highlighting the low level of Australian troops compared to those from the US.

Australia's decision to send in more military trainers, is considered another blunder by the former head of Australia's special forces cadre- SASR, according to Sydney Morning Herald article.

It appears that much of the upcoming elections (in the UK, US and Australia) will hinge precariously on Iraq and that particular subject will either make or break aspiring candidates. If anyone understands the political fall-out of Iraq, it should be the Italians. BBC news reports the resignation of Italy's P.M. News of this resignation further reminds readers of the political retribution facing the leaders of Australia and UK, for their sins in Iraq.

According to an article from Political Affairs magazine, quoting an article from the Guardian newspaper that, political polls show an overwhelming disdain for the Howard Government and their policies. The Opposition Leader, Kevin Rudd described John Howard as a risk to National Security in an article by Melbourne Herald.

This is a micro-excerpt of the article from Political Affairs:

Howard’s big gaffe was the criticism of the US Democrat Presidential candidate, Barack Obama because of his opposition to the Iraq war. If Howard’s claim that Obama’s opposition would encourage terrorists was valid, the same must be said of the majority of the American people and those Democrats and Republicans who last week overwhelmingly voted for the phased withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.

Howard’s statement is yet another example of his arrogance and willingness to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries without any consideration for what is appropriate in the relations between one country and another. It is part of the Howard Government’s pre-emptive strike policies by which he claims a right to send police and troops to other countries to take over government responsibilities and to control their police and troops – as is being done in the Solomon Islands and East Timor and as he would like to be able to do in Papua New Guinea and Fiji.

Club Em Designs

Game Theory

The delegation of the new interim Government to Asia, reported by the International Herald Tribune article may be a leading indicator of the changing tide of alliances. This story was corroborated by CNN web article and Sydney Morning Herald.

Perhaps this Fiji delegation to Asia may be well appraised of China's recent demonstration of their satellite-killing technology which was denigrated by Australia and New Zealand, wary of the threats this technology represents. China's Space program could well envelope the entire Pacific with well placed relay and tracking stations that will indeliably cast a looming threat to the interests of Western powers into the region.

This ratcheting up effect in diplomatic posturing, may include a ban of New Zealand manufactured products as reported by Stuff-N.Z. The widening chasm between the two nations stem from the incident, where an official nominated as the C.E.O for Fijian Prime Minister's office was denied entry into New Zealand.

Although, Australia had issued counter warnings to this retaliation, reported by Fiji Live article; this charade will be weighed accordingly against the offers made by the Asian nations to Fiji. This is the excerpt Fiji Live article:

Fiji neighbours retaliate against threats
Tuesday January 23, 2007

Interim PM and army commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama
Australia has warned Fiji that any threat to introduce trade and travel restrictions by its interim Government will have adverse effects on its people.

A spokesman for Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs says any retaliation will only harm Fijians as it won’t have any impact on Australia or New Zealand.

The Department says Fiji’s threat to introduce certain restrictions against Australia will not have the desired effect.

Fiji’s interim Prime Minister and military commander, Commodore Voreqe Bainiamarama responded by saying he would retaliate against exports and expatriates from both countries if travel bans on members of the military, interim and its executives stay in place.

New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark also voiced similar sentiments saying its sanctions will stay. She says her country’s position is the same as those of Canada, the US, the European Union and Australia.

New Zealand has also said that a move by Fiji to ask for assistance from Asian countries would not go well. Clark reacting to Commodore Bainimarama’s claim that Fiji would move to Asian countries if the metropolitan neighbours continue to impose sanctions.

Clark told National Radio that whilst holding talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in the Philippines just over a week ago reassurance was given that China supported New Zealand's actions in the Pacific.

"China indicated through him they were very concerned about instability in the South Pacific and specifically indicated considerable support for what New Zealand was doing in the region.

"The New Zealand Government position is very clear - that is we are waiting to see from those who have seized power in Fiji what their proposals are for a pathway back to constitutional government, and that of course would include some very clear signals that political freedom and freedom of speech and media are to return to Fiji.

"We haven't seen these signals yet," Clark said.

Clark reportedly said New Zealand stood its ground after the 2000 coup by keeping sanctions in place until the Commonwealth removed Fiji’s suspension which came about 18 months later.

Commodore Bainimarama yesterday announced that a high powered delegation comprising of ministers, senior officials and selected business people will visit China, India, Malaysia and Indonesia in an effort to diversify Fiji’s network of sources for import, tourist, investment, technical cooperation and inflow of aid.

He accused Australia and New Zealand of bullying Fiji and threatened retaliation after chief of staff Parmesh Chand was denied entry to New Zealand to visit his family.

Whilst extending a hand in diplomacy, Commodore Bainimarama warned both nations that "if diplomacy does not work, then my government will be left with no option but to adopt retaliatory measures."

Fijilive

Radio NZ article reports of antipodal perspectives to Australia's recent warning of difficulties in store for Fiji's interim Government, from the Fiji Human Rights Commissioner who highlighted the ever growing contempt within Fiji and the Pacific against the foreign policies of the Trans-Tasman countries tainted with a neo-conservative agenda.

The same agenda displayed in the invasion of Iraq, now being a hotly debated issue in the U.S, resulting in the record low approval ratings of the current President who is due to launch his revised plans in the annual State of the Union speech to the American people.



Club Em Designs