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"The British ambassador to Rome, Sir Ivor Roberts, described President George Bush as 'the best recruiting sergeant ever for al Qaeda'."
"Where did he make the comment?"
"At a closed conference of about 100 British and Italian diplomats, politicians and journalists in Tuscany."
"So it wasn't meant for the public."
"Heavens, no. Keep the public in the dark appears to be the consensus of most politicians and, naturally, the bureaucrats in democratic countries these days. Unless of course elections are on their minds. And we thought we were different! Anyway it was leaked to an Italian newspaper, provoking embarrassment in London."
"What exactly did he say?"
"His words are, 'If anyone is ready to celebrate the eventual re-election of Bush, it's al Qaeda, whereas it is clear that the Palestinians hope that a Kerry victory will unblock the situation.'"
"So what about Bush's allies?"
"Don't think it applies to Australians, the third pillar of the triumvirate. I think Australians see terrorism more in their backyard, in Indonesia and Philippines, and don't make major policy moves in the Middle East if you know what I mean, so al Qaeda is hardly likely to celebrate a Howard victory quite as much as a Bush victory. As far as Blair the Poodle is concerned general elections are not scheduled till the middle of next year and things may change by then but don't forget Blair would always be a Poodle to Bush so again not even half as important."
"But the real test would be in October when Australia has scheduled the national elections. If Howard is reelected then I think Bush and Blair the poodle may have a better chance of being reelected too. It would show their own public opinion has swung in favour of pre-emption."
"I don't think you can say that. I mean the Americans don't really care what is happening in the rest of the world. True, the British do, but I don't think they have taken to their Howard, the leader of the Conservatives. But maybe they will go for Charles Kennedy of the Liberal Democrats."
"Hope so. These three are bad for world peace I think. They have between them been responsible for so many fatalities, unnecessary fatalities, both amongst those they were ostensibly trying to protect, average Iraqi and Afghan citizens, but also within their own ranks, their soldiers and now it seems their citizens as well - what with the hostage crisis in Iraq."
"So what about other leaders who supported Bush?"
"Musharraf?"
"Right. Is his reelection going to be what al Qaeda wants?"
"I don't think al Qaeda has any opinion about him."
"Well let me tell you he has been a target of theirs a couple of times and..."
"Possibly, even probably. But then he was never elected or reelected. He just took over so I guess they know he will stay for..."

Copyright Business Recorder, 2004

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