They cannot use the threat of war and invasion as a way of trying to leverage and negotiate other changes they may be seeking. That is not how free nations, democratic nations, nations in favour of peace should behave. We’ve seen this before…”
– In Iraq, for example. The Prime Minister announces we shall not fight them on beaches, landing grounds, fields, streets or hills
I suspect this is a “when did you stop beating your wife” question from a Fauxfax journo. (I’m not going to read the story at the CanT, I value the contents of my stomach.)
Fakefax journos would see this as a perfect gotcha against ScoMo, since if he denied it they could paint him as lying. And if he vacillated they could make him sound weak.
No one in their right mind would expect the ADF to be sent to Ukraine. In the case of Iraq the ADF went there not for Iraq but to indebt Bush. And Howard very carefully arranged the commitment so that our only casualty was a guy who had an accident with a forklift. The payoff in ANZUS alliance brownie points was worth it, something we still desperately need in view of China’s recent arseholery.
I think if you’re campaigning on the Opposition’s ‘weakness’ on China and Russia, it’s fair to ask what Australia intends to contribute to the phony war against Putin. Turns out the answer is nothing. Zip.
There are no “free nations” left.
TBF, the ADF is far too busy attending diversity and toxic masculinity seminars, and helping out with the logistics in aged care homes to go and fight a war.
How can ScuMo send the troops. Who would staff the old folks homes?