THREAT ASSESSED

Former Liberal Party president John Valder hangs an eternal bucket of blame over Prime Minister Howard's head (my bold):

"Don't forget, Mr Howard, that if ever there is a terrorist attack in Australia, it is you personally who must take the lion's share of the blame for it as a result of your rushing to support George Bush in the Iraq war."

Any terrorist attack, ever? Anyway, we all get the point: involvement in Iraq has increased the terrorist threat here in Australia.

In view of the heightened threat, Antony Loewenstein's reaction to the recent arrests is curious: coverage of the arrest of terrorist plotters is characterized as "media hysteria"; the press is accused of providing too much coverage of the alleged plot; and intelligence, government and police sources are accused of providing nothing but "spin".

Loewenstein is cynically trying to manipulate the situation to put Howard in a lose - lose situation. If, on the one hand, there is a successful terrorist attack within Australia, it will be Howard's fault because he got us involved in Iraq. On the other hand, the government is accused of hyping the terrorist threat for political gain, with it hinted that those arrested weren't really much of a threat at all.

But, Loewenstein sabotages his propaganda campaign by accusing those who he aims to persuade, the public, of being "too afraid or gutless to question 'reality'". See, Lowy, if you're braver and smarter than the public, they'll know without you having to tell them. I mean, your fellow travelers may lap this shit up but the man in the street ain't gonna buy it.