Burning the Australian Flag

[donnashuggy]

Is going a bit far isn't it?

Or is it fair enough do you think?

[cherry*135]

Opinion - The Australian

Paul Kelly

.....But there is also flexibility in Yudhoyono's demands. He did not seek an apology. He wants an official explanation for Australia's spying. He wants new protocols and codes of conduct governing intelligence and other matters. The threat to act against Australia remains alive.

[poddster]

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@izabsmiling wrote:

Just watching abc news24.It was suggested that a phone call now in reply to the letter rather than something in writing may be the better way to go...so that it doesn't become public .

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A phone call so that it can be tapped and put on youtube and twitter and all the social media ?

Be serious

[just_me_karen]

I knew Abbott was a hopeless leader, but until now I didn't realise how weak and insipid he is.

He's "man" enough to slam a wall next to a woman's head and guffaw at sexist jokes, but not man enough to protect his own country by apologising for the insults to our neighbour. What a loser 😞

I personally think it's a reflection of his xenophobic attitudes. I'd bet if NZ had been offended because we'd spied on their PM's wife & party members, Abbott's response would be entirely different.

[izabsmiling]

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@poddster wrote:

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@izabsmiling wrote:

Just watching abc news24.It was suggested that a phone call now in reply to the letter rather than something in writing may be the better way to go...so that it doesn't become public .

---

A phone call so that it can be tapped and put on youtube and twitter and all the social media ?

Be serious

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

the bloke on ABC24 was serious.

[cherry*135]

Obama is said to have sorted out the US spying issue with the German Chancellor over the phone (she phoned him). I don't think there is anything wrong about that. More personal and they can chat about it..rather than a formal letter (which can be leaked to the press or anyone anyway).

Perhaps Prime Ministers/Presidents/Chancellors landlines are bug tested and spy proofed.

[polksaladallie]

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@Anonymous wrote:

IMO they do not like us and never have done .

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Completely irrelevant.

[icyfroth]

There must have been some serious concerns re the Bali Bombings for the Aus government to authorise the Indons leadership phone tapping.

[icyfroth]

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@i-need-a-martini wrote:

I don't think that a couple of students halfheartedly burning 99c plastic flags outside the embassy in Australia in Indonesia is of any consequence really given that they have made no statement about why they are doing it. Sounds like a couple radicals who needed an excuse - Yogyakarta students tend to protest at anything given a slice of a chance.I suspect that this is the reason there are 400 police/miltary riot police on standby there at the moment.

 .

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erm...the news last night showed uniformed personnel, police, military, security whatever in the crowd actively taking part in the flag burning, hardly just a cpl of students.

[icyfroth]

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@polocross58 wrote:

Poddster, for what it's worth, I'm in agreement with what you've written

If it were up to me, I'd be telling the corrupt top teir that any more nonsense, demands or posturing from them and they could forget ever getting another cent from Australians.

We're not their largest foreign aid contributor. They can live without us quite easily.

https://www.devex.com/en/news/indonesia-s-top-10-donors-responding-to-the-promise-of-transformation/...

It's us that needs Indonesia.:

"Australia's trade with Indonesia is worth more than $14 billion, made up of more than $11.1 billion in goods and $3.3 billion in services, according to Tim Harcourt - the economics fellow at the Australian School of Business.

Mr Harcourt said Indonesia is often thought of in terms of "boats, beef and Bali" but it's one of Australia's top 12 trading partners across a wide range of sectors."

http://www.news.com.au/business/markets/why-australia-shouldnt-mess-with-indonesia/story-e6frfm30-12...

Next, I'd be putting Aussie spies in Indonesia to unmask ALL those behind the people-smuggling racket they have going there - regardless of rank or political position.  Then I'd be handing ALL the  names etc. to Wikileaks to ensure they're outed, worldwide.

Yes it would be interesting to know what intelligence was gained from the phone-tapping incident.

And then I'd be turning back the boats using Aussie navy gun-boats.  No negotiations, no apologies

If Indonesians believe we're good enough to hand them billions, they need to work out that he who pays the piper calls the tune.  And they'd better begin respecting Aussies right now and taking us seriously.  Labor governments appear to have convinced Indonesians (and plenty of others) that Aussies are a soft touch and can be walked all over.  Time we showed them they're wrong about that.  And that time starts now.

Except wer'e all alone out here in Pacific Rim and I can't see any of our neighbours coming to our aid.

[polocross58]

And that's your only concern ?

Self interest ?

Self interest before principle ?

So you'd rather we hand them billions of Aussies' hard earned dosh ?

Just to keep you under the illusion of 'safety, security' ?

Keep dreaming