Women's day
Happy Women's Day, health minister Abbott. Just a reminder that undermining the independent choices of women has alienated nearly half the voting population. And, as a parent of an autistic child, whose expensive therapy is not subsidised by Medicare, I especially wanted to thank you — for nothing.
Jane Salmon Donovan
Lindfield, NSW 2070
Afghanistan
The invasion of Afghanistan after the attacks on New York and Washington was supposedly to close al Qaeda bases and training camps, and arrest those responsible. The Taliban were the closest thing at the time to a legitimate government of Afghanistan, but were not the enemy as such, except to the extent that they might obstruct such anti-al-Qaeda operations. However, soon after the invasion, we started to hear of the "enemy", and any captured prisoners, referred to as al Qaeda and Taliban.
Now we learn that another 400 Australian soldiers are going to Afghanistan, but there is now no pretence of fighting al Qaeda, and only a resurgent Taliban is mentioned. The Taliban probably still sees itself as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, so essentially Australian troops are there to help prop up a government set up by the occupying US and NATO forces. A government should stand (or fall) on the will of its people, and Australia has no right to bolster a government installed at the point of a foreign gun.
David Bastin
Nicholls, ACT
Brian Burke I
Given the hullabaloo about Kevin Rudd meeting Brian Burke, imagine the outrage when the federal government learns that George Bush's former defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld shook hands in 1983 with Saddam Hussein and boasted about helping restore full US diplomatic relations with the brutal Iraqi government. Rumsfeld will be black-listed for life (only kidding!).
Brent Howard
Rydalmere, NSW
Brian Burke II
John Howard accuses Kevin Rudd of misjudgement and inexperience because of his meetings with Brian Burke. What's Howard's excuse then for taking us into an invasion and occupation of Iraq which has made us complicit in the deaths of 655,000 Iraqis and has already cost Australian taxpayers $20 billion, with no end in sight? Howard, like George Bush, Tony Blair and Burke is guilty of criminal behaviour. Why don't you say it Kevin?
Gareth Smith
Byron Bay, NSW
Water tanks
Proposals by the NSW Greens to increase the use of rainwater tanks in homes (inadvertently) run the risk of creating a major tooth decay epidemic, especially among young children. Rainwater is not fluoridated. The criminal neglect of schoolchildren's dental health by federal and state governments means that the only thing that stands between a major epidemic of tooth decay (so recently highlighted in the news with the death of 12-year-old Deamonte Driver in the USA) and children in Australia is the fluoridation of our water supply
Jeff Richards
Stepney, SA
David Hicks
ABC News, March 2: "The US lawyer for Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks, says the federal government must challenge the American military over the terrorism charges laid against the South Australian."
We have watched this farce unfold for five years. We have seen Philip Ruddock make a pathetic fool of himself on SBS where he clearly demonstrated he had no idea on what to do about standing up to the illegal incarceration of an Australian citizen by the US administration. We have seen Alexander Downer talk absolute drivel on the matter.
We have seen the extraordinary lengths at which the Bush administration has gone to save face and make a pathetic case for their illegal activities, even to make retrospective laws, bastardise the rules of evidence and suspend the 700-year convention of habeas corpus to make a case. All this has cost the American people huge amounts of money and the loss of world-wide respect.
The last and only charge is now to be "providing material support to terrorism" — not to the "enemy".
The first person I learned of that provided material support to the attempted Japanese WWII invasion of Australia was the founder and leader of the Australian Liberal Party, Bob "Pig Iron" Bob Menzies!
We have seen John Howard steadfastly retain his stupid attitude towards David Hicks and maintain his puppet-like fawning towards George Bush, virtually guaranteeing his demise from parliament — not only by the Coalition losing the next election but by ignominiously being defeated in his own seat of Bennelong.
It's past time for Philip Ruddock to do what we wanted him to do years ago, that is, get David Hicks out of the illegal clutches of the US military and bring him home today, even if Ruddock has to exchange places with him!
Rob Williams
Caravonica, Qld
Iran
Various Western powers — the US, France, Britain, Germany — as well as China and Russia, are targeting Iran over its nuclear program. Although there have been some disagreements between them, mainly the reluctance of China and Russia to slap harsh sanctions on Iran, these countries have followed the US in accusing and campaigning together against Iran.
Last July, the US and its supporters in a joint initiative put forward a resolution at the UN against Iran. The UN Security Council passed the resolution, setting a deadline for Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment program and promised punitive measures if Iran defied the UN. Iran ignored the ultimatum and the UN suspended some technical aid and imposed some financial sanctions on Iran.
Conspicuously, almost all the countries pushing to punish Iran for alleged pursuing nuclear weapons are themselves possessors of nuclear weapons. The US alone has 10,000, as dos Russia. It is estimated that Britain has 200, France 350 and China 130.
While I am resolutely opposed to nuclear weapons and against the use of nuclear power because of the problems of safety and the storage of waste, I am astonished at the utter hypocrisy of the US and the other four countries on this issue.
This is even more glaring, when one looks at the country in the Middle East that really does have nuclear weapons. Israel is estimated to have 100-200, but does not admit it and does not allow any UN inspection of its nuclear instillations. Yet nothing is said or done to bring this close US ally to account and there are certainly no UN resolutions against Israel on the issue.
Does anyone need to wonder why this is the case. It seems to me that the situation with Iran is an excuse for the US to isolate and attack Iran and continue to entrench its control over the Persian Gulf region.
The US is the only country in history to have used nuclear weapons against people and has several times come close to using them again. I, for one, definitely do not trust nuclear weapons in the hands of the USA.
Steven Katsineris
Hurstbridge, Vic [Abridged]
Life after coal
There is life after coal for coal-industry workers — a much better life, a cleaner life and a more socially mobile life for workers' families.
When coal mines were closed in South Wales, the Welsh valleys didn't die as was forecast. Today people are moving into the valleys to live again. Public investment brought the University of Wales, good public transport to the capital Cardiff and town of Bridgend. Drab terraced houses are much sought after since they were renovated. There is a community spirit of hope, unlike the old miner spirit of defeat and hopelessness.
The same could happen to mining communities in Australia if the government made a commitment to invest in community growth rather than corporate industry profits.
Mary Jenkins
Bibra Lake, WA [Abridged]
After attending the TJ Hickey Rally in Redfern, NSW, on February 14 and hearing numerous shocking stories of harassment, intimidation and sheer brutality which the Aboriginal community is being subjected to by some unscrupulous people wearing blue uniforms disgusts me. Actions by human beings which cause grief and pain to other human beings and which have undoubtedly contributed to so many Aboriginal deaths in custody are deplorable. How dare anyone demand that new arrivals to this country undergo a citizenship test. Does this test ask the question, "How can you assist in the continuing genocide of Australia's Aboriginal people?"
Socialist Alliance is calling for all Aboriginal deaths in custody to be re-opened — they have my support and that those who attended that rally as was confirmed by a show of hands on February 14. It is time for a determined campaign to ensure justice is received by all families who have lost loved ones as Aboriginal deaths in custody. Justice has also been denied to the Redfern freedom fighters who have been wrongfully referred to as "rioters" and imprisoned as such following the action they were involved in following TJ's death.
Cheryl Kaulfuss,
member of Indigenous Social Justice Association (Melbourne supporters group)
Essendon, Vic.
[Abridged.]