"It's easy to imagine that when the Americans came to Afghanistan, they must have seen what Augustus had seen in the German forest, or what King Leopold had seen in the uncharted recesses of the Congo: a space beyond the recognisable world, a dark, lawless space; an incoherent, incomprehensible space. A space where anything could happen. And somehow, in turn, imagination became reality. The act of seeing a space where anything could happen helped create a space where anything would happen. Afghanistan became a space in the image of the improvised and irregular CIA and Special Forces units. A space without uniforms, where it's unclear who is working for whom. Where violence is like the architecture: ad hoc, informal."
Well if that was not enough, the stories untold, the old man in the alcove shouting through the night to the ship off New Zealand, warning it of impending danger. The boys huddle in their threatening groups. We were so young, so blessed. The ornate top of each iron railing was painted a different colour, silver, pastel pink, orange, green, luminescent and metallic. These colours were a signal. He sat down and gassed him; all was embarrassment. They had been coupled, organised, he lied and he lied. He said his family was wealthy because he wanted them to be. That wasn't the answer.
The privilege of wealth that surrounded them, the pockets of Eastern suburbs wealth which made for opportunity everywhere, we were right sailors, every night was filled with opportunity. He had made so many mistakes. Not remarrying was one of them, every step filled with hesitancy. The whale breached again, far off now. Security was all he could think of. Oh, sailor boy, sailor boy. Sometimes these memories were of the most beautiful people. When everything was lost, utterly lost. "Old man take a look at my life, I'm a lot like you..."
We stirred. The plans were almost complete. We weren't going to throw it all away, the fabulous opportunities. Each thought circled in upon itself. The barren heart. High overhead the flight of migrating birds. The plan was well hatched. They were going to remove all the sources of discomfort, all the oppressors. They handed out the Socialist Left Green Weekly on corners, thrusting them into passing people's hands. They were so convinced in their beliefs. He was jealous of them.
What had come to past, what was now evident for all to see, here in the crowded dawn, was how duplicitous our politicians had been. Our former Prime Minster John Howard has just received an Order of Australia, despite the mess that he made in so many areas. We used to watch him at endless functions, sitting at tables, working a room like no other. Now that he has gone history is being rapidly rewritten. But all the hope that had been built up in the wake of his pursuer is now rapidly dissipating. He was so cold.
It couldn't have been that bad, sir? We couldn't have been that dissatisfied with the dishonesty poured upon us everyday. Our timing was exquisite. We were running to hide. The thought disorder was endemic, they were in hiding. He couldn't see the value of it, these secret thoughts. The story that he had so grandly wanted to tell. The story of a nation struggling into the 21st century. A story of decay and defeat for common decency. A story of decay and noble deconstruction. The story of the introduction of multiculturalism to destroy the mainstream culture. A story of propaganda, coercion, embarrassment, pain.
Their noble roots were set in a struggling colony, here at the end of the Earth. Far from Europe. Far from America. Isolated in almost every way, geographically, culturally, spiritually. The outline of eucalypts against a heat dusted sky, the settling of dusk, the musky smells, the sound of children playing in the streets in the 1950s. Something Wicked This Way Comes was read avidly at the time, and now seemed prescient, a future foretold. If all was lost, where were they? In a quiet street, in a quiet place, plotting their angry revenge.
Your hatred will only curdle yourself, he warned. He had had so much faith, his trust in their leaders betrayed. One after another they disappointed us, Whitlam, Fraser, Hawke, Keating, Howard, now Rudd. There had been so many moments of betrayal, so much double crossing, so much feathering of nests and the creation of illusions, that he didn't know where to begin. Sailor, sailor, burning bright, in the forest of the night. Oh show me, show me, the white flash of flesh, their drunken breaths. They had searched for the truth and found only dissatisfaction. They had believed, briefly, the social justice rhetoric of the day, and had been entirely duped. Now it was a different era, and once again they were being duped.
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/09/clinton.supporters/
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- While Sen. Hillary Clinton was endorsing Sen. Barack Obama, some of those weighing in on her campaign Web site were less willing to concede.
As Clinton wrapped up her remarks Saturday in Washington with a plea for supporters to work "as hard for Barack Obama as you have for me," many were posting messages saying they would never vote for the presumptive Democratic nominee. A few even called on her backers to visit Sen. John McCain's campaign Web site.
"I love her and will vote for her in 2012, but it's McCain all the way now," wrote one within moments of the former first lady's address.
Whether that sort of statement signals a defection to the presumptive Republican nominee, a voter less likely to make it to the polls on Election Day or just a bit of low-grade, post-primary grumbling -- it's the sort of sentiment that makes for a nagging, low-grade anxiety among nervous Democrats and brings a gleam to the eye of McCain.
As Democratic leaders met last month and decided to seat Florida and Michigan at half strength at the convention, angry Clinton supporters who had backed her plea for the seating of full delegations from both states began to chant, "Let's go, McCain!"
And as Clinton's presidential bid wound down, some of her loudest supporters began insisting they would consider voting for McCain if she were not the Democratic nominee.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/09/obama-deals-with-economy-and-mccains-views/
Obama Deals With Economy and McCain’s Views
By Michael Falcone
Calling Senator John McCain’s approach to economic issues, “a full-throated endorsement of George Bush’s policies,” the presumptive Democratic nominee, Senator Barack Obama offered a preview of his plan for restoring the health of the American economy.
In a speech in Raleigh, N.C., on Monday Mr. Obama made an appeal to those Americans who are suffering the most because of the economic downturn, proposing a $50 billion jolt of fiscal stimulus as well as an expansion of unemployment benefits.
Mr. Obama also renewed his call for a $10 billion Foreclosure Prevention Fund to help those at risk of losing their homes and pledged a “get tough” approach to predatory mortgage lenders.
“The principle is simple,” Mr. Obama said in prepared remarks. “If the government can bail out investment banks on Wall Street, we can extend a hand to folks who are struggling on Main Street.”
The Democrat placed the blame for the country’s economic turmoil squarely on what he called George W. Bush’s “tired and misguided” fiscal policies, but saved most of his firepower for his general election challenger.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601081&sid=ayuiXbGgV7jQ&refer=australia
Former Australian Prime Minister Howard Gets Nation's Top Award
By Laura Cochrane
June 9 (Bloomberg) -- Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard will receive the nation's highest civic award, the government said today as it announced the Queen's Birthday Honors list.
Howard, who led Australia's government for 11 years, joins billionaire Kerry Stokes and Bill Kelty, former secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, in receiving the Companion of the Order of Australia.
More than 450 people, including doctors, soldiers, teachers, sportsmen and charity workers, were named on today's list, which is based on a U.K. system of honors to mark service to the community.
Howard was honored for achievements including economic and social policy reform and promoting Australia's interests internationally. Australia's A$1 trillion ($961 billion) economy grew at an average pace of 3.5 percent under his government's leadership, which was ended by Kevin Rudd's Labor Party in November.
Stokes, the chairman of Seven Network Ltd., was honored for his service to business and philanthropy. Kelty was named for helping to establish Australia's compulsory pension contribution system, which is now the world's fourth biggest pension pool.
Reg Grundy, entrepreneur and creator of Australian television shows including ``Neighbours,'' was also given the top award.
Catholics on a holy procession through the streets of Sydney.
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