Back when I was just a lad a meeting occurred that set off a chain of events that resonates to today.
Now I’m not one for conspiracy theories, but sometimes, especially when there are multiple sources and seemingly real outcomes, one has to ponder. I want you to imagine the following conversation held between a former PM and a wanna-be PM.
"Now my boy, there is one thing you must recall. I too was young, principled and full of beans. But I tell you this, my lad, because I love you like a son. Don’t offend the yanks. They’re a rather slimy lot who will do you in as quick as wink at you. Remember that my boy and you will go far". Now lets put that in some context.
Way back in 1975 John Kerr, whose links to the US intelligence community ran deep, was summoned to the offices of the Defense organisations and the message was passed on from the CIA that he had to get rid of Gough, at any cost. Being a humble servant of his long time paymasters he engineered the dubious constitutional crisis that led to the, now famous, ‘Dismissal’. The Honorable Member for Wirriwa was thrown out of office and the Fraser caretaker government was sworn in.
In a book released in 2001, William Blum details the exploits of the US government and its interventions, via its various agencies such as the CIA and the FBI, into the workings of foreign, sovereign governments. Blum’s book is titled "Rogue State: A Guide to the Worlds Only Superpower". Blum’s work, which traces a century of US interventions in the political and social life of other nations, and the work of others – even the Nine network’s 60 Minutes program picked up the ‘Dismissal’ / CIA story in 1982 – provides an historical framework into which we can insert the current ruling parties, their leaders and their various responses to their perceived position in the world.
Why, we must ask did Deputy John run after Bushwacked George’s imperial adventure? Why was it that Mr. Ladder of Opportunity (we must follow the 3rd Way) Latham back-flip, flip-flop and generally prostrate himself at the feet of US ambassador Schieffer to apologise for his statements against the US last year? Don’t forget that Schieffer is part of the Bush Junior inner sanctum. Its also worth remembering that Bush senior is the former head of the, you guessed it, CIA.
Its important that we ask these questions because I can almost hear Gough saying to his protégé, "Now my boy, there is one thing you must recall …" as he outlines the political realities of living in a world dominated by the bullying ruling class of a foreign nation with a history of pre-emptive strikes.
Now, of course I will be vilified for being "anti-American" or "un-Australian". But surely, to want to protect our country from the ravages of a real rogue state should elevate those who oppose the sniveling, groveling stance taken by our political leaders, to the level of real protectors of the "Australian Way".
Latham has been pulled back into (the US) line by his mentor and Howard would never dare deviate from it. Both have learnt the lessons of history. The US has an established history of overthrowing recalcitrant governments or assisting in the establishment of brutal regimes that will not hinder the selfish goals of its ruling elites. Think Greece, the Philippines, Albania, Guatemala, Iran, Iraq, Indonesia, Cambodia and the list goes on and on.
There really is not much left to say except, our ruling parties have learnt the hard lessons. Gough was just the first. He opposed US policy on principle and was deposed and thrown out because of it. I would suggest that after his little (imaginary) chat with Latham, we can only expect Labor to continue the same groveling foreign policy should there be a change of party at the next election.