'Infuriated' Alexander Downer tried to get US officials to mask Australian inaction on East Timor

Discussion in 'Australia, NZ, Pacific' started by scarlet witch, Aug 29, 2019.

  1. scarlet witch

    scarlet witch Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I had to post this because I'm following the revenge trail :lol:

    https://www.theguardian.com/austral...cials-to-back-up-response-to-east-timor-leaks

    So Downer didn't want to help East Timor, I'm going to go all out in my criticism here and point out that it does appear that Australia's reputation for "helping" seems to be more due to the US telling them to get of their ass.

    They are doing the exact same thing to South Africa, here's their low commissioner brushing off the white farmers
    http://www.politicalforum.com/index...of-the-protest-29-4-2019-south-africa.555019/

    and the Australian response to asylum for South Africans.
    http://www.politicalforum.com/index...ss-south-africa.559195/page-2#post-1070802621

    Clearly Downer is every bit the self absorbed and cold hearted Diplomat he appears to be, in line with Turnbull and Bishop (clearly no shortage of these), if it weren't for the US Australia would have done nothing in East Timor.

    My question is how will Morrison handle these type of problems going forward.
     
    Last edited: Aug 29, 2019
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  2. scarlet witch

    scarlet witch Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    She's adorable,Shirley Shackleton ... Marise Payne couldn't ignore her... good for her. Points in my book to Marise Payne

     
    Last edited: Aug 30, 2019
  3. garry17

    garry17 Well-Known Member

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    I am not sure it is as cut and dry as this, BUT I do agree with the self-absorption of Downer( in many cases).

    I will hold my opinion on this particular aspect of East Timor until all is out in the open, Including the accusations of spying. There is alot to come out.
     
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  4. a better world

    a better world Well-Known Member

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    Morrison will attempt to ignore them, as far as possible.

    As for Downer, he is every bit the cultural supremacist as the likes of Pompeo and Bolton, and possibly Trump.
    eg, Downer is so ideologically blind he can ask (last year, in a tweet): "why do the Left hate Israel"?

    No doubt a rhetorical question, but the Left of course want justice for both sides, eg, as in UN res 181 and 242.

    But the (tribal/nationalist/conservative) Right blocked the necessary UN machinery required to administer international law, and so the opposing sides are still at war, 70 years later. And then the Right turn around and claim the UN is useless.....

    Yes, Shirley certainly told that security guard in no uncertain terms where to go; fortunately, he demonstrated some degree of wisdom...
     
    Last edited: Sep 1, 2019
  5. Steady Pie

    Steady Pie Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I support their independence from Indonesia, but that's up to them to maintain.

    If the options are intervene or let the Indonesians take over, I'll go with the latter. Sorry. We need to be independent ourselves.
     
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  6. garry17

    garry17 Well-Known Member

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    Now before you go jumping up and down, I don’t agree with your point here but simply because to me it does not seem right…

    However,
    https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/09/05/timo-s05.html
    2 decades later majority of East Timorese are living in poverty while Australia squanders the richness of their resources for it’s own purposes.

    How much did Downer have to do with contracts that severely benefits Australia while being detrimental to East Timor. I wonder if this has been just one of the causes that pushed Downer to block US intervention.

    I don’t know but perhaps scarlet has something here… I am not sure we can just lay it all at one person’s feet. I honestly think Morrison will have to address this problem well before next election. I don’t think he can just breeze through as the UN slowly puts pressure on Australia and the spying finally builds to crescendo.

    I believe Australia will not only have to act to help address the issues of poverty but if Australia wants to be a leader in the Asiatic region it will have to get off its freckle and start addressing the poverty surrounding it from trade deals Australia brokered in its own interest without thought of long term objective and prosperity of all…

    It may be up to East Timor to maintain its own independence, but if Australia refuses to assist in making fair deals and continue in the current Australia will be found lacking in its own region…
     
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