Editorial:

Australia's servile, fawning Prime Minister

Every patriotic Australian would have cringed with shame as Prime 
Minister John Howard sunk to new depths of groveling when in Washington 
last week. For servility, slavishness and toadying it went even further 
than Harold Holt in the 1960s when he coined the slogan, "All the say with 
LBJ" during the Vietnam war.

Holt's crawling to the then US leader was in support of a dirty war. 
Howard's present day fawning is also motivated by support for the 
aggressive, warmongering policies being pursued by the present US 
administration. Howard went all the way in supporting Bush's call for "pre-
emptive war" and is obviously prepared to commit Australia's military and 
naval forces to anything that the US wants.

As with the Vietnam War, it is also likely to end up badly for the US (and 
Australia), despite the US being on a "roll" at present. It is obvious that 
opposition to the course being followed is steadily building, not least in 
the US itself.

The more Australian governments are seen to be acting as the deputy sheriff 
of the US in the Asian region (and further afield), the more difficult will 
Australia's relations with its Asian and Pacific nations become. This will 
have long-term trading and military consequences for Australia. Australia's 
exclusion from the discussions between the European Union and Asian 
countries on trade questions is already an indication of the direction in 
which the wind is blowing.

As a "reward" for his abasement, Howard has been elected as the Chairman of 
the US International Democratic Union (IDU) which ties him even more into 
the role of American stooge. This organisation has nothing to do with 
democracy but a lot to do with interference in the affairs of other 
countries as the US attempts to force them to submit to its economic and 
political dictate.

As the IDU's charter reveals, it is about promoting the virtues of free 
enterprise and defeating the evils of socialism. It is not about democracy 
but about preserving capitalism.

Neither Howard nor Bush has any democratic credentials anyway. Bush did not 
even win the Presidency of the US. He was appointed by a majority decision 
of judges of the US Supreme Court following a dodgy vote in Florida. This 
reality did not stop Howard from speaking of the US Congress as "this great 
chamber of democracy" although it is packed with millionaires and 
bankrolled corporate interests.

And now, the Howard Government, mimicking the US, is attempting to enact 
"terror laws" which would destroy many of the democratic rights that Howard 
likes to prattle about. This legislation can justifiably be branded as neo-
fascist.

Then there is the question of trade. Howard left Australia spitting chips 
about the decision of the US to pay huge subsidies to the US farm lobby and 
to increase tariffs on imported steel products. US farm subsidies could 
seriously jeopardise the interests of Australian farmers but instead of 
going into bat for Australia's interests Howard began talks about a "free 
trade" agreement with the US. Instead of joining with other countries that 
are also affected by these US decisions, Howard is attempting to sell them 
out and go it alone with a bilateral trade agreement.

Howard also took the opportunity to declare his reservations about the 
establishment of the International Criminal Court, although Foreign 
Minister Downer and other government representatives had toured the world 
advocating the Court. But one word from the US and Howard toes the line.

Prior to this the Australian Government had brought down on its head 
considerable odium for its refusal to ratify the Kyoto environmental 
protocols, thereby lining up foursquare with the US on this issue as well.

One thing is certain, not even the rulers of the US appreciate the sort of 
groveling that Howard displays. His meeting with Congress was attended by 
only 10 per cent of Congress. Ninety per cent stayed away and the audience 
had to be made up of White House staff and interns.

The press likes to portray Howard as "centre-right". In fact, both he and 
Bush are of the extreme right, ultra conservative and neo-fascist. They are 
very dangerous. In terms of culture and a knowledge of worldly affairs both 
are morons.