Strange times
What strange times we live in. In the 1970s, I disagreed with Malcolm Fraser's ideas and opposed his conservative government's policies. In the 1980s and '90s I agreed with Peter Garrett on a range of political and environmental issues, including protection of Tasmania's forests, support for human rights, against nuclear power and weapons and against the US bases in Australia.
While I haven't changed my ideas on these vital issues, these days I find myself agreeing more with Malcolm Fraser than Peter Garrett on various current political issues. These two men seem to have undergone a role reversal.
While Garrett's viewpoints and utterances on the forests and military bases issues are disappointing, the tide of community opinion in Australia is rapidly changing on an array of significant political problems and Garrett will increasingly be out of tune with the sentiment of most Australians and left behind.
Steven Katsineris
Hurstbridge, Vic
US spy base
As national co-ordinator of the Australian Anti-Bases Campaign Coalition, I wish to express how appalled we are by the announcement that the federal government has secretly agreed to set up a new United States base at Geraldton in WA.
We are sure Australians do not want to supply intelligence and communications for more Bush administration invasions or to host bases that spy on our neighbours and training areas for Australian soldiers to practice fighting under US command.
The federal government has dropped all pretence about "joint facilities" and is calling the new base, the first of several planned facilities, a United States military base.
Defence minister Brendan Nelson's claim that the government will have full knowledge of all activities at the base is unbelievable.
We already have over 40 US military facilities in Australia. We cannot afford more. This is a case where less is best!
US bases make Australia a target for nuclear and terrorist attacks. They increase the US hold on Australian foreign policy. They undermine Australia's security and add even more to the already out-of-control Australian military budget which is running at $55 million every day.
In the most recent budget, the military got more money than education. These bases do not make Australia safer but they make us poorer.
Around the world, US bases have become the centre of major social problems. Australia is no different. An Anglican Church report from Hobart details frequent sexual assaults on young men and women by US service people. US MPs assaulted Aborigines in Ipswich during 1997 war games and two US servicemen were tried for rape in Darwin in February 2004.
There are also major dangers to our environment of pollution from repairs and maintenance programs and from weapons firing.
The Australian Anti-Bases Campaign Coalition condemns this outrageous agreement and vows to fight it in every way we can. Our coalition and other groups are preparing for a major campaign against another new US base at Shoalwater Bay in Queensland. In June this year there will be protests against the huge joint military exercise called Talisman Sabre 07.
We call on the government to rescind this agreement and hold a public inquiry into the US military presence in Australia.
Denis Doherty
Glebe, NSW
David Hicks
For some years, socialists, Greens and Democrats have been campaigning for habeas corpus and due process for David Hicks.
Until recently, the Coalition government has shown acquiescence to whatever the US government has decided to do.
A change has now taken place. Sections of the legal fraternity as well as some of the Coalition backbenchers have started to express their disapproval of the Howard government's reluctance, until recently, to offer even the mildest criticism concerning the cruel treatment of Hicks, and its disregard for international law.
The evidence available now indicates that public opinion is changing from indifference to democratic and legal principles to concern for their application. The motive of the Coalition government is not to lose votes at the election from people who they would expect to support them.
The changed leadership in the federal Labor Party is a more formidable force than its immediate predecessor. This can be witnessed during question time.
The public should be reminded of what former Liberal Party leader Billy Snedden wrote in his autobiography: "The Liberal Party is not a Liberal Party in the philosophical sense. The Liberal Party is a conservative and reactionary party."
The 11 years of the Howard government is living proof of the correctness of this opinion.
Bernie Rosen
Strathfield, NSW
Congratulations
Congratulations on Green Left Weekly's 700th issue. Enclosed is a $100 donation in appreciation of your great work for social justice.
Jim McGarvin
Melbourne
Cheney visit
On the morning of February 24, my neighbour was in St Patricks Cathedral, corner of Gloucester and Cumberland streets. When Mass was over at 8am, to her horror she walked into a squad of police officers who were hiding inside the cathedral with all their riot gear on in support of the cavalcade of Dick Cheney, which was going past. Have we gone back to World War II — church and state as one? Shame on you NSW Labor Party. Shame on you Catholic Church.
Jools Graeme
Five Dock, NSW
Malcolm Turnbull
Environment minister Malcolm Turnbull needs to develop further understanding in the area of uranium mining. He portrayed those who are opposed to uranium mining as "ideologically motivated" on the ABC TV's February 25 Insiders program. He was referring to the left of the ALP and the Greens.
However, just consider the implications of more mines and yellow cake exports. It is simply very dangerous to produce large quantities of radioactive waste and increase the likelihood of more nuclear weapons in a very uncertain world.
What is so difficult about saying that we are not in the business of endangering the world? Essentially that is a conservative position. It would set a great example.
What kind of a conservative is Malcolm Turnbull really? Finding excuses like "moral responsibility to produce energy" as a pretext for making money has nothing to do with leadership.
The new leadership of the ALP might reflect on their own dubious position. The uranium issue is not an energy issue or a left v right issue either. What is seriously at stake here is the safety of the world.
Klaas Woldring
Pearl Beach, NSW