*Ø* Blogmanac | More chinks appear in Aussie gov't's armour



Opposition welcomes Fraser's comments on Iraq
"Australia: The Federal Opposition has welcomed comments by former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser comparing the Iraq war to the conflict in Vietnam.

"Mr Fraser voiced his concerns about the situation in Iraq saying it is clear the Americans are no longer in control.

"Labor leader Mark Latham has said he is worried the latest violence in Iraq could see Australia caught up in a long-term engagement, similar to Vietnam ..."

Source: ABC

[Note that Fraser was not only a long-serving Prime Minister of Australia, of the same Liberal party as the present Howard Government that committed troops to invade Iraq. He was also Minister of Defence during some of the years that Australia was in Vietnam. That's what makes his comments the more remarkable.]


Iraq should cost PM his job: ex-Liberal president
"Former Liberal Party president John Valder says Prime Minister John Howard deserves to lose the next election over his decision to go to war in Iraq.

"Mr Valder has told ABC Radio's AM program that there is a case for the leaders of the international coalition to face war crimes trials.

"'If you go into your neighbours' [house] ... and smash the place up ... on perhaps some precept or other that proves to be wrong, of course you'd go to court and go to jail,' Mr Valder said.

"'I've got to say that applies to the leaders of Britain, the United States and Australia.'"
Source: ABC