Australian troops mistakenly opened fire on the minister's bodyguards, killing one and injuring four others. The minister was on his way to meet Australia's trade representative. The Prime Minister, John Howard, regrets the Iraqi Trade Minister's bodyguard was killed by Australian troops but will not be "flinging out apologies" until he is told the full story of what happened.
Howard said until proven otherwise, he worked on the assumption that "Australian soldiers always do the right thing". He was confident the debacle on the streets of Baghdad would not harm Australia's trade with Iraq.
Howard lacks the easy going ‘charm’ of his best buddy Bush. In fact Howard exhibits all the worst aspects of the ‘Methodist fundamentalist’; don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t dance and don’t say sorry.
To be fair (which is no easy task when discussing this slimy toad) the traveling situation in Baghdad does not equate with quiet Sunday driving.
From the reports, the troops were escorting an Australian trade delegation from a meeting with the ministry. They were in convoy, and the APC had signs warning other drivers to stay back.
When an SUV, carrying un-uniformed men holding AK47s, approached at speed, ignored hand gestures and proceeded to overtake, the Australian troops reacted.
As the unidentified SUV began to pass the troops, fearing an attack, opened fore. The SUV veered into a pole, leaving one occupant dead and the others injured.
The Aussies didn’t stick around either. Experience says that this potential attack could result in a number of outcomes, including road bombs, ambush or a similar attack.
The bottom line is that the roads of Baghdad are bloody dangerous for everyone, armed or not.
But the thing that is really worrying, after the criminal actions of the Australians in the oil for food scam, is the trip was all about winning that wheat contract back:
Howard said the Iraqis told Australia's ambassador yesterday that it would not affect wheat deals. "The Iraqi trade minister told our ambassador that he greatly appreciated the letter, which Trade Minister Mark Vaile had sent to him and that he did not want this incident to interfere with the bilateral relationship or to affect our trade relationship."
Mark one up for the slimy toad. After playing a lead role in executing a trade war, and destabilizing a country totally, the main concern is still to hold onto the rights to those bloody wheat contracts.
When all is said and done, I really can’t understand what my country is thinking by holding onto an asexual, teetotal, ‘war for trade’ leader.
2 comments:
I didn't identify the picture for good reason. Now you've let the cat out of the bag and everyone will know :(
Is that a smile? After Knowing him man and boy (unfortunately) I never realised.
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