Comments on: Bidding farewell to our worst foreign minister

By: nic

nic — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Sorry, I thought this was Crikey, not Green Left Weekly. Although the presence of Marilyn makes it kind of hard to tell at the best of times. Bernard, you are 80% of the reason why I will not renew my subscription.

By: David

David — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

at a girl, Marilyn. You followed up B Keane admirably!

By: eric a. blair

eric a. blair — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

JamesK please justify the invasions of both countries without the usual neo-con spin (“WMD, War on Terror, Ruthless governments etc) how about OIL /GAS /RESOURCES, btw I do believe there was the greatest opposition worldwide in history to the invasion of Iraq or was that just a bunch of 16 million do-gooders in Feb 2003?- i do believe it’s you’re war mongering, blood letting types that need their heads read..

PS -While we’re on alexanders litany of lies let’s not forget Mamdouh Habib and David Hicks.

By: Ian McFadyen

Ian McFadyen — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Why doesn’t Crikey just come out and admit it’s the official propaganda website of the Labor Party. Downer was one of Australia’s best Foreign Ministers - possibly the best - certainly the best since Paul Hasluck. The worst was that blathering equivocator Gareth Evans.

By: Nic

Nic — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Well David, the proposition is that Downer was the worst foreign minister in recent decades. If you agree with that proposition, then the onus is on you to prove it. Why don’t you list out all the relevant foreign ministers from, say Whitlam’s government to the present date, create a list of each of their achievements and shortcomings and then get back to us. In the absence of you doing that, it is pure hyperbole to allege that he is the worst.

By: JJ

JJ — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Christopher Paaayne. Heir apparent?

By: John Kerr

John Kerr — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Now you will have time to read!
The attached are my sentiments exactly.

By: Jack

Jack — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

I reckon Rudd’s behind the appointment. Opposing him as the foreign minister, Rudd’s patience (ethical snobbishness as a diplomat) must have been in short supply once too often, I figure. And, what a grandiose way of ridding us all from Downer by lobbying the UN to take him on (count the number of times Rudd has been hailing the possibility of Downer’s UN appointment in recent months), and getting him jailed, together with the monks (weren’t they the Franciscans or the Cappucins?) on Cyprus

“Hail, hail, the Last True Ottoman enters Cyprus!!”

Thus ends “Rudd’s Sweet Revenge on Alex”. Downer can’t harm anyone on the island, and it’s such a contained mission, that he will have zero influence on international affairs, pushing some confused neo-Bush agenda….

By: Roger Kirby

Roger Kirby — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Bernard Keane, Howard hating gone mad !

By: Dr Harvey M Tarvydas

Dr Harvey M Tarvydas — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

I totally agree with you. You remind us what we really should be accounting in assessing his performance. You understate the multifocal ugly criminality of Australia dancing the slaughter with the essence (he has no axis) of evil Bush on Iraq’s grave represented in the White House Ball Room by our sexily stockinged Alex. For anyone of substance a stockinged appearance would have been an enjoyable fun interlude relegated to its place by impressive dealings in matters of state. Alas for Alex that’s it, the only impressive moment (of his state) the other performances bring shame and guilt to us all while we look for a competent to express our sorrow for where Alex led us. There is one single excuse for Alex. He could be the victim of mental damage of severe chronic stress syndrome caused by that recently decorated ex Boss of his.

By: Nev Parker

Nev Parker — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Islamic terrorism was only a minor threat? I’m glad you’re not responsible for any decisions concerning our security, although if you were we could probably move through airports a lot quicker

By: David

David — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

I still await the list of glorious acheivements Downer has showered on this country over 12 years of poncing around the world. Nothing from the detractors of Bernards article. A few smart arse critical comments, obviously learnt reading the nonsense in the Labor bashing blogs of Akerman and Bolt. Coming from there to here is like moving from the slums of Bangladesh to the Ritz. While not wishing to see paying readers of Crikey go, its good riddance to a few on this particular topic.

By: greg

greg — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

well said Bernard & well said Marilyn, the apologist come out full force yet turn the blind eye to all that happened under his watch (see Marilyn’s concise list) - talk about jobs for the boys (well girls too given the farcical appointment of another ex-cabinet member, Ms Vanstone)! Downer lives up to his name, the DFAT mole summed him up correctly -arrogant, self important twat - he leaves a legacy of the longest serving foreign minister who oversaw the litany of lies, deceptions, kowtowing to Indonesia, inaction on human rights issues and general US arsekissing of an unprecedented scale. his appointment is so farcical i cannot wait for the real players in the issue to speak candidly of lord downers appointment after a few months in the job. Lynda of Mayo put it so well yesterday “His past 7 months of seat-warming has been an outrageous waste of taxpayers’ money” - here, good riddance to silver spoonned garbage. unfortunately he’s now an extra problem that the cypriots didn’t need.

By: Richard Laidlaw

Richard Laidlaw — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Bernard, you write some bullsh*t mate, but your take on Alexander Downer is so over the top that your fishnets are showing.

By: Sean

Sean — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

It’s a shame we can’t upgrade the comments area to full forum capability, largely to eradicate the simplistic and coarse neocon doggerel that gets entered — like the US Repubs, no intellect and all smear. And which would allow the thinking people to edit their ripostes with the even greater brilliance of afterthought…

By: Tony Papafilis

Tony Papafilis — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

I know it won't budge your anti-Lib, anti-Downer views but I can't let you go in smearing Downer by comparing him with that walking ego working in a sheltered workshop, Gareth Gareth Evans.

I remember Gareth trying to orchestrate himself a Nobel Peace Prize gig over Cambodia though it was never clear as to what he thought he did in Cambodia to deserve any personal praise. By comparison, Downer, without ever seeking personal glory, was critical in Liberal decisions to send troops to help people in East Timor, Solomon Islands, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Australian political history will have a space of pride for Downer's contribution. Unfortunately for Gareth, he is most likely to be remembered for his personal indiscretion but thankfully that won't find space in our history books.

By: Bernard Keane

Bernard Keane — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

You know, there are some days when I look at what I wrote and wonder if I went too far, let my emotions get in the way of an objective assessment, let my feelings derail a good argument.

Today ain't one of them. Truth be told, I let the bloke off lightly. Our participation in the Iraq War remains a stain on this country that will take a long time and I lot of good work to remove.

What's funniest are the people who think this is a left-wing critique. More or less the same critique has been made of the Bush Administration by American conservatives - old-style Republicans who despise the way their party has been turned into an arm of the neo-con movement.

By: eric a. blair

eric a. blair — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Bob Murphy & Nic -good riddance guys - such bullshit apologists for such a self-important idiot as Downer -countless crap ons about Bernards reporting yet no acknowledgment of Downer’s policies -yes we tend to look at iraq a bit more than a project in cambodia because over 1 million people are dead because of it ! “howard haters” geez its just so easy to dismiss any criticism with a label, one size fits all eh - take the blinkers off and go back to lapping up your lattes as you fondle over janet, piers and andrew.

By: eric a. blair

eric a. blair — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

dear John (Ryan)
Actually your view point has been quite fashionable for the past 12 years in every Murdoch & packer owned media outlet, not forgetting those bastions of objective ideals channels 7 & 10! You obviously seemed to have glued the rose coloured glasses onto your head not being able to see that downer & howards actions in both Iraq & Afghanistan has greatly lessened our security not increased it. Anyone who believes that invasion of both of these countries is legitimate needs committing. another furphy is the idea that only competent people are sent to the UN - please pry the glasses off!

By: John Ryan

John Ryan — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

This may not be a fashionable point of view, but I think Alexander Downer served Australia extremely well. He had one rule, which was “Put Australia’s interests first.” In difficult times he supported a policy which ensured that our best and strongest ally, the USA was totally committed to our security. I’ll swap that level of security any day for the academic right to have differences of opinion - which make no damm difference. If he was a bad as the commentator made out, then he would not be going to the UN.

By: Bernard Keane

Bernard Keane — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Wish you lot would work out whether I’m left wing or right wing. I’m still replying to yesterday’s attacks about voluntary voting. Sigh.

By: Lucy

Lucy — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Who knew the Crikey readership contained so many unreconstructed Howardite neocons? I always thought Downer was an object of ridicule even within the upper echelon of Lib circles. This is all very enlightening.

By: David

David — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Nic I couldnt better Marilyn and Bernards list of Downers antics, they sum the person up perfectly. Incidently thought you were leaving, waiting for a ticket perhaps?

By: JamesK

JamesK — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Dear Eric Blair, It must be so terribly difficult for you with your supreme intelligence and humanity to live in this community (in which you presumably live) where the overwhelming majority “needs committing”. Still your arrogance will carry you through.

By: Dom Romeo

Dom Romeo — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Has Downer yet mastered the Greek and Turkish words for ‘smear’? That seemed to be his favourite term whenever taken to task over anything - of course, trying to take him to task over ‘Children Overboard’ was a ‘smear’ on the Navy, and trying to take him to task on his department’s failure over the Bali Bombing was a ‘smear’ on ASIO and the like.

Furthermore, what are the Greek and Turkish translations for ‘gaffe’? They’ll be required sooner rather than later.