SPECULATIVE "GRILLING"


From the ABC's World Today:

The ABC's Jon Faine gave Mr Ruddock a grilling.

JON FAINE: The irresistible conclusion for close observers of this entire episode, Mr Ruddock, is that this is a deal that has been quietly negotiated behind the scenes, presumably without any paper trail so it can never be revealed, so that at executive level, at Government level, between the US and Australia, a suitable outcome was explored and negotiated and then implemented by the supposedly independent military commission.

PHILIP RUDDOCK: Well, on the facts I don't think that's a conclusion you can draw. We were seeking expedition. We wanted the matter to be resolved. And if the parties elect to resolve it by a plea bargain, that's in their hands...

JON FAINE: There are so many unanswered things. Even this morning you're unable to explain to us any of the reasons for key features of this agreement being there.

PHILIP RUDDOCK: Well that's right, because I wasn't party to it.

Speculation based on an invisible paper trail. The ABC's meant to report the news; not make it up.