If we are lucky enough to survive the war with Iran and her allies that our leaders seem intent on provoking, Amber Holt's remarkably brave attempt to smear some egg on the face of Prime Minister Scott Morrison during his vote-buying visit to our region will be seen in its true light.
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The man in the White House who will be sharing dinner and prejudices with our PM in September declared recently that "If we wanted to fight a war in Afghanistan and win it, I could win that war in a week, but it would kill 10 million people". Donald Trump might be loose with his language, but his "B team" shares his apocalyptic vision. This is clear from the string of "provocations" in the Persian Gulf, including the pirating of an Iranian oil tanker destined for Syria. Contrary to statements from Western leaders and media, there is no prohibition on selling oil to Syria, and the UK's detention of the Iranian tanker is illegal. That Syria only needs to buy oil because its own oil is being stolen from the US-occupied east of the country and sold into Western markets through Iraq and Turkey adds an extra dimension to this criminal deception.
The consequence of the economic war on Iran, which will be worsened by a proposed coalition to "protect commercial shipping" - including oil tankers destined for Australia - will be a war, not just with Iran but with Russia and China, in which there will be no winners, but which Iran will not lose.
I am sad to see that Amber Holt is now made to regret her unpremeditated and solo "crime of passion", because we so desperately need her clear vision of peace and justice to cut through the spin and lies that have already enabled Western war crimes in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen, and now threaten us all with "obliteration".
David Macilwain, Sandy Creek
Littleproud ignoring crisis
The contrast in opinions from two National Party leaders in the media recently gives us an enormous insight into the different direction of governments at state and federal level.
On the one hand, NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro correctly states that "South Australia can no longer stay silent and bat away reasonable claims for them to pull their weight given the current water crisis in the Murray Darling Basin". On the other, Federal Water Minister David Littleproud continues his mantra of "there's nothing to see here", when presented with evidence of the crisis.
Rural communities can take heart in the strong stance from Mr Barilaro, which we look forward to being replicated by his Water Minister Melinda Pavey at next month's MinCo (Water Ministers) meeting. There are increasing calls for Victoria and NSW to withdraw from the plan, and it may take such drastic action for Mr Littleproud to accept that the plan desperately needs to be reset and fixed. Can you tell me any other government project that keeps proving to be an abject failure, and the Minister continues with a line of 'it's the best we've got'?
In the communities which are being devastated by this failed Basin Plan, it appears all we can do is hope that pressure from Mr Barilaro and his state colleagues will force the federal government to acknowledge there are serious issues. We want a plan that protects the environment, as well as our livelihoods and the social and economic fabric of our region.