Seriously

I like this guy John Howard (Prime Minister of Australia).

Today, London was again struck by terrorists. Fortunately it appears that only one person was injured, but it’s too early to tell what actually transpired. Coincidentally, Australia’s Prime Minister was meeting with Tony Blair in London, and together they fielded questions at a press conference. While neither man wanted to comment on the specifics of the attack (answers were yet to come from any investigation), the journalists, naturally, wanted only to address the events of the day. Questions were answered in the non-committal, dignified way we all expect under such circumstances…. Until one of the reporters (from an unknown agency), asked Blair if he felt responsible for the attacks London has endured during these last several weeks. The question obviously suggested that England’s participation in the Afghan and Iraqi wars was the reason for the terrorism. Blair dodged the question skillfully. Howard did not.

Mr. Howard pointed out that terrorists have attacked the United States, England and Australia prior to the action taken in Afghanistan and Iraq. Recall that the destruction of the World Trade Center was the second attempt to bring it down. Australia was attacked before its involvement with East Timor, and both Australia and England were targets before they became involved in the coalition led by the United States. He further noted that the Islam leaders who pervert the teachings of the Koran are our enemies, and that until we hunt them down and kill them, we will continue to experience the work of terrorist throughout the world. This is paraphrased and the Prime Minister said it far more eloquently than I have relayed it here, but the notion is sound and our course of action should be clear.

Following Mr. Howard’s comments, at the conclusion of the meeting, Mr. Blair looked at the woman who asked the question and rightly pointed out that it is the terrorists and only the terrorists who are responsible for their homicidal actions.

What a shame that people (maybe Americans in particular) have such short memories and are so short sighted.

I try to keep these posts on a lighter note, but some things should not be left unsaid.