2005-06-22
Australian Government Responds
The Australian government has responded to my request for a declaration of war on Iran! Here it is in full (I just deleted some blank lines and my ISP email address):
22 June 2005
Mr Paul Edwards
Dear Mr Edwards
Thank you for your e-mail to the Prime Minister of 29 May 2005 expressing your concerns over Iran. Your e-mail was referred to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Downer, and I have been asked to reply on his behalf.
The Australian Government shares your concern about the human rights situation in Iran. We take every opportunity to encourage the Iranian Government to implement its obligations to promote and protect the human rights of all people in Iran. In December 2004 the United Nations General Assembly adopted a further resolution on the human rights situation in Iran. Australia voted in favour of the resolution. Its adoption underscores our concern, and that of the international community, with the human rights situation in Iran, including suppression of freedom of expression, ongoing discrimination against women and minority groups, including the Bahai community, Christians, Jews, Kurds, and serious deficiencies in the administration of justice.
Thank you for bringing your views to the attention of the Government.
Yours sincerely
Octavia Borthwick
Director
Middle East Section
I'm quite happy with this response! It outlines the fact that the Iranian government is on their shit list too, and in no way excuses them. As for the declaration of war, see what they DIDN'T say. They didn't say "we can't attack a country without provocation". They didn't say "any declaration of war would have to be made by the UN to be legitimate". They didn't say "we must respect cultural differences, sovereignty and the right to self-determination". They instead did the STRATEGIC thing to do which is keep mute until such time that Iraq is no longer tying up the resources that are potentially required to topple Iran. And I know exactly what will happen if the Iranian government tries to get security guarantees from the Australian government:
Q. Would you consider attacking Iran?
A. Australia prefers diplomatic, not military solutions to conflicts. (ie avoiding the question).
Q. Are you planning on attacking Iran?
A. Australia has no plans, I repeat, no plans, of invading Iran. (ie you can't plan things like this too far into the future, you need to react to the current enemy (Iraqi insurgents) and formulate a plan at the appropriate time - this strategic ambiguity also means that nothing can be leaked that would give away the long-term underlying strategy).
So, I'm pretty happy with that. Mullahs look out. Your days of terrorizing and enslaving the Iranian people are numbered.
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22 June 2005
Mr Paul Edwards
Dear Mr Edwards
Thank you for your e-mail to the Prime Minister of 29 May 2005 expressing your concerns over Iran. Your e-mail was referred to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Downer, and I have been asked to reply on his behalf.
The Australian Government shares your concern about the human rights situation in Iran. We take every opportunity to encourage the Iranian Government to implement its obligations to promote and protect the human rights of all people in Iran. In December 2004 the United Nations General Assembly adopted a further resolution on the human rights situation in Iran. Australia voted in favour of the resolution. Its adoption underscores our concern, and that of the international community, with the human rights situation in Iran, including suppression of freedom of expression, ongoing discrimination against women and minority groups, including the Bahai community, Christians, Jews, Kurds, and serious deficiencies in the administration of justice.
Thank you for bringing your views to the attention of the Government.
Yours sincerely
Octavia Borthwick
Director
Middle East Section
I'm quite happy with this response! It outlines the fact that the Iranian government is on their shit list too, and in no way excuses them. As for the declaration of war, see what they DIDN'T say. They didn't say "we can't attack a country without provocation". They didn't say "any declaration of war would have to be made by the UN to be legitimate". They didn't say "we must respect cultural differences, sovereignty and the right to self-determination". They instead did the STRATEGIC thing to do which is keep mute until such time that Iraq is no longer tying up the resources that are potentially required to topple Iran. And I know exactly what will happen if the Iranian government tries to get security guarantees from the Australian government:
Q. Would you consider attacking Iran?
A. Australia prefers diplomatic, not military solutions to conflicts. (ie avoiding the question).
Q. Are you planning on attacking Iran?
A. Australia has no plans, I repeat, no plans, of invading Iran. (ie you can't plan things like this too far into the future, you need to react to the current enemy (Iraqi insurgents) and formulate a plan at the appropriate time - this strategic ambiguity also means that nothing can be leaked that would give away the long-term underlying strategy).
So, I'm pretty happy with that. Mullahs look out. Your days of terrorizing and enslaving the Iranian people are numbered.
# posted by Paul Edwards @ 18:48 
