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AUSTRALIA: The importance of being alert

Parrot Press | 05.02.2007 17:17 | Analysis | Anti-militarism | Terror War | World

HELP PROTECT AUSTRALIA FROM A FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN BASED ON FALSE FEARS AND AT YOUR EXPENSE!

Wars of aggression be alarmed!
Wars of aggression be alarmed!


John Howard has re launched the terrorism advertisements for his election campaign again, at your expense. The very idea that taxpayers are paying for fear and suspicion to prop up his government's election prospects is despicable. I don't think that it was just a coincidence that these ads have just started running again.

I think taxpayers are paying, once again for John Howard the war criminal coward, and his cronies, election prospects; however that arises?

I don't see that we have anything to be suspicious about or to fear, accept for what the Feds have dreamed up for the next false flag opp and or scapegoats, so why the ads now?

Ask and you shall receive

They're to prop up fear and for the needs of some politicians who feel insecure enough to feel the need to be re elected at our expense (adding to the daily propaganda about terrorist threats in the mass media) and to give leveraged to an election campaign for a war criminal who seeks death not peace. Who has asked for terror because of wars of aggression?

All the while the Australian government has terrorised our community more than any terrorist or even alleged terrorist in Australia's history.

===============================

Read this take on it from Polly Bush October 1 2004.

The importance of being alert
By Polly Bush Repost SMH

One of the hardest things to do as the leader of a country is to ensure the protection of its citizens, particularly in volatile times. Even during the different volatility of an election campaign, the incumbent leader can't ignore advice on matters of national security...

JH'ard: Mick, it's John.

Keelts: ... [gulp] ...

JH'ard: HELLO? HELLO? HELLO?

Keelts: Ah, yes, hello Prime Minister. I suppose I should be expecting a call.

JH'ard: Oh really? I mean of course, of course you are, we talk all the time, err ... what do you think I'm calling about this time, just out of friendly interest Mick?

Keelts: No it was just more of a general expectation ... perhaps the Foreign Minister has said something I should be aware of today?

JH'ard: Ah, yes Alexander, of course. No, no, that's all fine. I mean we've still got the embassy staff dusting down those little invading-each-other hypotheticals, not that I ever engage in hypotheticals as you would know well, errr.

Keelts: Right, good. So what can I help you with this time?

JH'ard: Ahhh, Mick, well, I was just wondering, in the wake of Iraq, err sorry, geez - mental note! I mean in the wake of Jakarta, do you feel Australians have got the message, not the text messages, but the message to remain on the lookout? Do you think Australians are still alert but not alarmed?

Keelts: Do I think the slogan's still working?

JH’ard: Ah, yes, if you like. Or, the hotline, if you like. Is the hotline still working?

Keelts: Well, yes, yes every little piece of information helps. But I suppose we did receive numerous jokes about Steve Liebmann and questions about how exactly the fridge magnet was physically comforting in the wake of a terrorist attack, but, no, phone calls certainly increased around the time the ads were aired and we can only encourage members of the public to assist us in reporting any suspicious activities.

JH'ard: Hmmm, interesting, very interesting discussing these matters of national security with my top man. From top man to top man, y'know?

Keelts: Ah, yes. I should add we've had a few calls these last few weeks questioning chemical and biological attacks on animals, with Lucy the sheep being seen hugging bungee jumping politicians all around the country, along with calls concerning an abundance of hoaxters wearing giant rat suits. And Peter Costello was nailed by that four year old ninja turtle, his security jeopardised in a minor way. Of course, there's been no real threat on that front, but I should add we are being kept busy Sir. So is there anything else?

JH'ard: Well, from what you've told me, and in the wake of Jakarta, it seems like it's in the national interest to re-engage Australians with the key messages of being alert, being on the lookout, being armed with all the right information. Then they, through reconnecting their consciousness with the hotline if you like, can better assist you in such inquiries. Of course, I can't ignore such advice in the wake of Jakarta. I can't ignore such advice in the wake of Bali, which of course, is what I asked Australians to lie back and think about before we contemplated going into Iraq, to save Iraq and the world from becoming a terrible hotbed of terrorist activity.

Keelts: Hmmm.

JH'ard: No it's really important we're agreed on this Mick. It's great to have such conversations on national security, such as the hotline, and you letting me know Australians, despite Australia being less of a terrorist target in the wake of Iraq, need gentle reminders, even in the midst of an election campaign, in assisting you in the important work you and me do in protecting Australians.

Keelts: Mmmm.

JH'ard: And I'm sure, in the interests of national security during these times, in times of low interest rates and a strong economy, but needless to say in times when tragedy can strike at any time - unless I pre-empt it of course – which is what I would do, in the interests of protecting Australia, just as I did in Iraq, which has made Australia a much much safer place. I would be a fool to ignore such feedback from you, and I'm sure the leader of the Opposition would have to agree in the face of your advice, that we need to remain vigilant in keeping Australians alert. It's our duty, particularly in the face of Iraq, errr, Geez – mental note, I mean Jakarta, and this long and bloody war on terror, that Australians remain alert about keeping you alert. Authorised by you of course.

Keelts: Uh-huh.

J'Hard: So I'm guessing more fridge magnets could be pushing it and it's a no to Steve Liebmann? What about Steve Irwin? And perhaps we went a little too hard on the 'be alert not alarmed' slogan last time, particularly with the accompanying cut out wallet card? What about a badge with a sharp pin, that of course you couldn't take on aeroplanes, but just had the message 'keeping interest rates low'? Or what about 'Strong on terror. Strong economy'? or just simply 'strong strong strong'? 'Strong - Hairier Chest'? Mick?

Keelts: [beep beep beep beep ... ]

HELP PROTECT AUSTRALIA FROM A FEDERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN

When John Howard launched the new newspaper, television and billboard terrorism advertisements last weekend, he said the necessity to do so during an election campaign was to reinforce the security awareness message to Australians based on advice from AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty in the wake of the Jakarta bombing.

"He (Mr Keelty) felt that consciousness of this hotline had diminished a lot over the past little while," Howard said (Sunday Age, September 26).

The $7.8 million ads, supported by Labor leader Mark Latham and authorised by the AFP Commissioner, have scrapped the irritating-Steve-Liebmann-echoing ‘BE ALERT NOT ALARMED’ slogan, replacing it with 'HELP PROTECT AUSTRALIA FROM TERRORISM', surrounded by photo images making up a map of Australia.

While the written messages have been simplified (particularly on the cheesy, alarmist and just plain dumb stakes), the images surrounding the new slogan do inspire questions over what to look out for. Some include:

- A St Kilda Road Tram and the Arts Centre Spire ... slapped over Cape York. If you see such a curious phenomenon, don't call the hotline. Instead, seek professional help, the same being for seeing Canberra's Parliament House in Melbourne, as another photo's placement dictates.

- A bundle of rolled cigarettes, presumably dope ... somewhere near Bundaberg. Highly possible, but does Robbo and Pete's bush bud harvesting behind the sugar cane fields account for an act of terrorism?

- A wad of cash being handed over, somewhere near the edge of the Nullabor. Is this an indication of the existence of a blackmarket Cocklebiddy wedge tail eagle trade?

- A van at some gates in an isolated area ... somewhere over Darwin. If the van is brandishing an ABC symbol and at the entrance to a port, report the sighting of potential bias against the nice-accountable-yet-always-unfairly-criticised Howard Government to your nearest media monitoring company.

- People crouched beside a suitcase next to a building ... somewhere over Perth. If they ask you "got a spare durrie and some spare change?" probably don't call the hotline.

- There's also pics of guns, overhead powerlines, satellites, parked cars, gas masks, bridges, planes, trucks, vans and people looking through binoculars. If the binocular wearers are at the MCG, SCG, the Gabba, or another sporting facility, again, it's probably safe to not call the hotline. Unless of course they're holding a gun and focussing on the box seats of politicians brandishing team scarves they don't really barrack for.

The timing of airing such ads during an election campaign, especially on a topic Howard likes to think he's the best at, may seem like a cynical ploy for the masses, however important the message. Still, the fridge looks a lot less cluttered, and the new bland Keelty approved commercials are far better being dulled down without the overwhelming colour and charm of Steve Liebmann. They're also far more inoffensive compared to the mountain of dumbed down electioneering advertisements currently on overkill.

 http://webdiary.smh.com.au/archives/polly_bush/000295.html

Related:

Recovered rocket launcher belonged to ADF

A Defence audit has revealed that a rocket launcher found in the possession of a New South Wales man was the property of the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

The weapon is one of seven rocket launchers that disappeared from the ADF.

Defence Minister Brendan Nelson says the audit found the rocket launcher was probably produced in Australia in about 1990 but was removed from Defence stocks "some years ago".

But he says it is not known from where or when the rocket launcher was stolen from Defence.

 http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200702/s1840712.htm

==============================

How do you believe liars? Is it just convenient?

In anycase if the rocket launcher did come from the war force then that is on John Howard watch. And asking people to be suspicious on the one hand but not being secure on the other, well? Because of slack security on military hardware - should mean that he's not going to secure your future? With or without his fear and suspicion public election campaign - and by keeping you living in fear based on false information - and just political tactics - is a criminal act - especially at taxpayers expense.

But what could we expect from a war criminal?

==============================

Man refused bail over rocket launcher charges, discrepancies?

Peter Debnam is also a 'chip off' the old neo-liberal rocket launcher 'war criminal', block, John Howard, who has a very good reason to hype up and generate fear in the community for an illegal and degrading war in Iraq. Sinister?

 http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2007/01/135990.php

Xenophobic rocket launcher, so why was it reported really?

Police say they are unsure if the claims, published in a 'Sunday newspaper', are true and they are now being investigated. [So why was it reported today by howard's 'abc' and the 'Melbourne age'?

 http://adelaide.indymedia.org/newswire/display_any/50226

Homegrown war criminal's 'a serious problem in Australia'

Jump, scream, run and hide the muswims are coming to get you! Everywhere I turn there is another terrorist. I opened the sugar bowl this morning and there was a terrorist cockroach just waiting to get me, after stealing my sugar mind you. So we must be very alert and very alarmed. How else would a war criminal get re-elected after a holocaust and what looks like a third interest rate rise this year? Mostly, Howard's goals can only be attained, amongst other things, if he pushes race hate buttons and whilst you continue to live in fear.

 http://adelaide.indymedia.org/newswire/display/44930/index.php

Community Speaks Out: War Crimes

We just can't believe that the country would not support this, we say this for all Australia but we also say this for the International community and all those dead Iraqi people.

 http://adelaide.indymedia.org/newswire/display/44367/index.php

War criminal doesn't deserve to lead Australians

I think a lot of the responsibility lies with the Australian communities themselves and they need to rise to that responsibility here and take action.

 http://adelaide.indymedia.org/newswire/display/44162/index.php


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