Libya

[Captain Kong]

I guess history always repeats itself...................
.
.
.Brother, Can You Spare a Dime," lyrics by Yip Harburg, music by Jay Gorney (1931)

They used to tell me I was building a dream, and so I followed the mob,
When there was earth to plow, or guns to bear, I was always there right on the job.
They used to tell me I was building a dream, with peace and glory ahead,
Why should I be standing in line, just waiting for bread?

Once I built a railroad, I made it run, made it race against time.
Once I built a railroad; now it's done. Brother, can you spare a dime?
Once I built a tower, up to the sun, brick, and rivet, and lime;
Once I built a tower, now it's done. Brother, can you spare a dime?

Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell,
Full of that Yankee Doodly Dum,
Half a million boots went slogging through Hell,
And I was the kid with the drum!

Say, don't you remember, they called me Al; it was Al all the time.
Why don't you remember, I'm your pal? Buddy, can you spare a dime?

Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell,
Full of that Yankee Doodly Dum,
Half a million boots went slogging through Hell,
And I was the kid with the drum!

Say, don't you remember, they called me Al; it was Al all the time.
Say, don't you remember, I'm your pal? Buddy, can you spare a dime?

[Les Woodard]

Ivan it is the MUA here Maritime Union of Australia and I for one am proud that they are still around after surving the onslaught that the liberal government took out on them while in power. That is why I can see this all being cancelled if the current leader of the opposition (Libs) gets back in. Sure the MUA did have a lot of power back then but think that they have learnt to compromise but not at the expense of their members. One can only live in hope that the worm has turned and things are going to get better for us all.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Ivan it is the MUA here Maritime Union of Australia and I for one am proud that they are still around after surving the onslaught that the liberal government took out on them while in power. That is why I can see this all being cancelled if the current leader of the opposition (Libs) gets back in. Sure the MUA did have a lot of power back then but think that they have learnt to compromise but not at the expense of their members. One can only live in hope that the worm has turned and things are going to get better for us all.

Hi Les

As I am not up to speed with modern Aussie politics (can't even keep up with our own useless lot) I was sincere when I said I hope it all works out for the good. My own experiences of the Oz waterfront were in the 60's and 70's and the WWF were a real pain, too many experiences to repeat as they are already in other posts on this site

My god daughters are Australian born and living in Brisbane so I have a vested interest in the well being of your lovely country.

So hope it all works out okay cobber

Ivan

[happy daze john in oz]

Les there is no reason why it should not work. The Libs sorted out the water front problems so that will not be a problem now. There is however one hitch, there are just about no Oz ships left, all our imports and exports are done on Chinese or other ships which are run at a much lower cost. I fear this is a bit of window dressing by a government who has lost the plot, but then again did they ever read the script?

[Les Woodard]

Have to agree with you there John about them not not ever reading the script as we have Juliar and ToNOy to concerned in the next election for them to do anything. Just maybe this one will slip past them. As for sorting out the wter front I must have been reading different papers than the ones you where reading. They had to compromise with the MUA in the end so no one had a total win. If I recall it was P Reith that was Howards puppet and was rewarded with a job in America so that he did not have to front the enquiry Like Patricks boss did. Or is this another re write of history like that lying toad J Howard who now says we went to war on Terroism when we went to war over WMD's and left the terroist stronghold of Afganistan alone. I am sure that if the shipping company wants the tax consessions that they will soon find ships to register here the same as the ones that where here where registered FOC. I just hope that ToNOy does not go into his usual negative mode but then he knows no other way.

[Capt Bill Davies]

I think this Libyan conflict came rather fortuitously for the west and provided an convenient distraction/smokescreen for the Syrian conflict. Interesting to note our reaction when the Libyan business subsides and we can focus on Syria.

I don't expect the west will be will be too keen to get involved.

[Les Woodard]

Nice debate on the box last night about how the west where supplying arms to Libya and now they are backing the rebels who are getting bombarded with the very arms that the west provided. Was it not also the west that backed Saddam at first along with many other dictators just to make money from arms. The other point was how we are gloryfing a few thousand troops that get killed while not mentioning the tens of thousand civilians that are getting killed in the proccess. Can feel the incoming already so will clarify one point. The troops have my full backing and those that have been killed deserve recognition that is not my beef and never has been. My beef is the way our so called leaders have no scuples in taking money from regimes for arms and then walk away for while to then waste our own troops trying to rectify it and worse to expect me to feel proud that they are there laying a wreath at the graves when it their inadequate handling that caused it all in the first place. We all know that in the end they will sit down and have peace talks to resolve the issue. Why the feck do they not try to find out what the cause of these conflcts are and sort it out peacfully? The answer lies in the fact that they do not want the truth to come out so bury it by having a war. Anyone noticed that now the middle east is having sudden changes in power that Israel is getting worried because the west is not in a postion to keep a lid on it anymore. Always has been a powder keg waiting to blow so interested to see how the west will handle this one. What is the betting they will try to do it with rhetoric for once because they will not be able to keep the truth coming out with this one.

[happy daze john in oz]

I think this Libyan conflict came rather fortuitously for the west and provided an convenient distraction/smokescreen for the Syrian conflict. Interesting to note our reaction when the Libyan business subsides and we can focus on Syria.

I don't expect the west will be will be too keen to get involved.

What does Syria have to off er the West, any oil there? No gold or rare minerals I cannot see the west taking too much interest.

[happy daze john in oz]

Nice debate on the box last night about how the west where supplying arms to Libya and now they are backing the rebels who are getting bombarded with the very arms that the west provided. Was it not also the west that backed Saddam at first along with many other dictators just to make money from arms. The other point was how we are gloryfing a few thousand troops that get killed while not mentioning the tens of thousand civilians that are getting killed in the proccess. Can feel the incoming already so will clarify one point. The troops have my full backing and those that have been killed deserve recognition that is not my beef and never has been. My beef is the way our so called leaders have no scuples in taking money from regimes for arms and then walk away for while to then waste our own troops trying to rectify it and worse to expect me to feel proud that they are there laying a wreath at the graves when it their inadequate handling that caused it all in the first place. We all know that in the end they will sit down and have peace talks to resolve the issue. Why the feck do they not try to find out what the cause of these conflcts are and sort it out peacfully? The answer lies in the fact that they do not want the truth to come out so bury it by having a war. Anyone noticed that now the middle east is having sudden changes in power that Israel is getting worried because the west is not in a postion to keep a lid on it anymore. Always has been a powder keg waiting to blow so interested to see how the west will handle this one. What is the betting they will try to do it with rhetoric for once because they will not be able to keep the truth coming out with this one.

Les it appaears to be a fact that every time the Us found it was in the middle of an economic downturn they went and found a war somewhere. that provided work in the munitions factories and soaked up some of the maybe unemployed who would join up. The truth will be what ever they want us to be told, not the truth. There are too many making big money out of all this for it to ever end.

[Les Woodard]

So true John and I am thinking that this time they are really deep in the do do's as they have started to many conflicts that another one just might see an end to their world dominance. I have this feeling that the Israel is going to be their undoing as they have been pandering to that place for so long that they are locked into it. How about this for a frightening thoght for you? Julia and Tony get together and produce a love child as they carry on like a couple of lovers having hissy fits do they not. Why the bloody hell do they not hand the leadership back to Malcom he would win the election hands down with many Labour voters going for him as well.