<< back to archive index Other Speeches Date: 22nd October Subject: George W. Bush's Visit - Stop The War Rally "I am here on behalf of the Australian Democrats to send a message to George Bush and the right-wing conservatives that run the U.S! That message: "John Howard does not speak for Australians!!!" We opposed the war on Iraq. We oppose the use of pre-emptive strikes. When Bush took America to war, he had to get support from the U.S Congress. However, in Australia, The Senate voted against Howard's decision to follow the U.S. to war. But Howard took us to war without the support of the Australian people, and without the support of the Australian Parliament. This is the first time it ever happened in Australia! The Democrats want to change the law so that no Prime Minister can ever do that again. Bush and Howard boast of the liberation of Iraq. But lets look at the facts: Saddam Hussein has not been found. No Weapons of mass destruction have been found either. Howard lied!!! He has lied to the people of Australia. He has lied over the reasons why we needed to support the U.S. in a war on Iraq! People continue to die and Tens of Thousands of families are still in mourning. The world is a not any safer, and is now a less secure place to live in. And there is John Howard and George Bush backslapping and congratulating each other. John Howard stands by silently while Bush divides the World. Howard is silent while Bush pursues new nuclear weapons. Well, unlike John Howard, the Democrats do not, nor will we ever support the administration of George Dubya Bush! Bush has declined to answer any questions from Aussie journalists. Maybe Colin Powel and Condaleeza Rice thought that the line of questioning might be too hard for Dubya! There were "exclusive" interviews from Paul Kelly of the Australian, who commented on how tanned, fit and confident the President was. Laurie Oakes, received no answers to his questions either. A bit like question time in State Parliament really! There is no general news conference, and no Aussie journalists travelling with the President - just 4 White House journos. Last week the Senate passed a Democrat motion aimed at the visits - not just of George Bush but of the Chinese President as well.The Senate noted that the United States had more than 10,000 nuclear warheads, while the Chinese have around 400! Neither country has signed the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty! Yet another gleaming example of US hypocrisy! The Senate asked the Howard Government to urge the foreign leaders to sign the treaty.Maybe it's time that we, the Australian people demand, an inspection of US military instations looking for weapons of mass destruction! This is an obvious threat to global stability! But, do you think Howard will do that? Do you think Howard will say, "Look mate, you already have the ability to destroy the world many times over, how about laying off on the military might thing and doing something about the real causes of terrorism like poverty, lack of education and support truly democratic governments, instead of tin pot dictators!" Do you think Howard is going to say, "What about those Australian citizens locked up in Guantanamo Bay? How about either following the law or sending them home to Australia?" No, of course not! Howard isn't going to say any of that. He is going to say "Yes Mr Bush sir, thank you Mr Bush sir". Howard doesn't speak for Australians. The Howard Government plans to continue to follow the United States in to wars on the other side of the world. They said it in the Defence White Paper, they said it in the Budget. More overseas operations and more operations in Coalition with the US. Australia's whole defence policy is labelled 'made in the USA'. Billions of our taxes are going to be spent on new 'made in the USA' fighter jets designed for military actions on the other side of the world. This is not about defending Australia or even for low-level conflicts in our region. This is bad foreign policy! Howard says 'all the way with the USA', The Democrats say 'No way' They broke international law in an unprovoked military strike and said it was for defence. They build more powerful weapons and say it is for security.They took us to war and said it was in the cause of disarmament. What rubbish!! We couldn't stop Bush, Blair and Howard doing it this time, but we will never stand by silently. America is the most powerful nation on earth and George Bush is abusing that power. The Democrats have their roots in the moratorium movement against Australian involvement in the Vietnam War. 30 years on and another Federal Government still playing second fiddle to another US president. We don't want a PM who is a lackey to U.S. Interests. We want a PM who looks after Australia's interests! That is why the Democrats Don't Back Howard and the Democrats Don't Back Bush! "

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