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Down Under
Australia says won't apologise to Spain, Philippines
2004-07-27
Follow-up to yesterday's article.
Australia refused on Tuesday to apologise to Spain and the Philippines after blaming them for encouraging militants to issue threats by withdrawing their troops from Iraq.
"Are we not supposed to notice? Sorry. We don't have time to be that polite. We have more important things to do."
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Spain and the Philippines needed "to face up to the truth" that terrorists, who were using them as examples when threatening other countries with attack, were exploiting them. Spain summoned Australia's ambassador in Madrid on Monday to protest Downer's comments over the past two days, which it described as "unacceptable".
And if there's anyone who knows unacceptable, it's Zapatero.
What're they going to do if they don't accept them? Send them back?
"There's no point in trying to scurry away from the truth ... I am sensitive about the fact that terrorists use the examples of Spain and the Philippines in order to put pressure on Australia," Downer told Australian radio. "If you accede to the demands of terrorists they will exploit the acceding to their demand ... we are not going to apologise. We'll let bygones be bygones," he said.
"Just drop it now, and we won't dwell too much in the future on your lack of cojones."
Spain's Socialist party had vowed to pull troops out of Iraq and made good on its promise after unexpectedly winning a March 11 poll, three days after 191 people were killed in coordinated train bombings in Madrid blamed on Islamic militants. The Philippines brought its troops home early to save the life of a Filipino hostage. Australia's conservative Prime Minister John Howard last week defended his decision to join the war in US-led war on Iraq after a report criticised Australia's intelligence agencies and their assessments of pre-war information. He has said Australia's 850 troops in and around Iraq will stay as long as necessary. A poll has shown two-thirds of Australians support his stand. But the opposition centre-left Labor party, polling neck-and-neck with the eight-year-old government, has pledged to bring troops home by Christmas if it wins office in a cliff-hanger election tipped for October.
Posted by:Steve White

#17  When are Spain and the Philippines going to apologise to the rest of the civilised world for breaking ranks and surrendering - inexcusably - to terrorists? Australia has nothing whatsoever to apologise for.
Posted by: Bulldog   2004-07-27 5:51:31 PM  

#16  In other words :

AUSTRALIA : SPAIN / PHILIPPINES; F-OFF, MATES.
Posted by: BigEd   2004-07-27 5:47:30 PM  

#15  How is Australia to blame for Spain and the Philippines both exhibiting victim mentalities? Foreign Minister Downer has merely called a spade a spade. Too bad if appeasers dislike such candor. Only this sort of direct approach and frank language is of any use in fighting terrorism. Those who wish otherwise have their heads in the sand.
Posted by: Zenster   2004-07-27 5:19:29 PM  

#14  Australia: Piss off, ya Nancies.
Posted by: Rex Mundi   2004-07-27 2:42:54 PM  

#13  Belmont Club has some great commentary regarding all this.
Posted by: Lucky   2004-07-27 12:56:24 PM  

#12  No better lesson for you reap what you sow. You don't want to be called appeasers? Then don't be appeasers.
Posted by: jules 187   2004-07-27 10:26:51 AM  

#11  Why apologize? It's not like these wusses are going to do anything about it.
Posted by: BH   2004-07-27 9:55:21 AM  

#10  It's been said many times, but I'll say it again:

Aussies: no better friends in a fight.
Posted by: Mike   2004-07-27 8:39:12 AM  

#9  PD OT: This is when the meltdown started... from last year. LOL! I still await the Ashcroft threat.

He's not rich--actually works for a living unlike you GWB sycophants--and you should pay his malpractice insurance
Posted by: Shipman   2004-07-27 8:35:32 AM  

#8  
Keep it up, mates. Somebody's got to have some guts.
I think that the muslims proved that it doesn't take a whole lot of nadsack to stand up to those pussies.
Posted by: Victory Now Please   2004-07-27 8:00:48 AM  

#7  Spain is a once proud country chafing to be under the heel of the Moose Limbs again it would seem. Good luck finding your "own way" to deal with Islamo -Fascism. Spain now offically sucks. The Philippines are a freeking joke, what more can you say. Either of them getting upset over truthful comments is laughable.
Posted by: FlameBait93268   2004-07-27 5:01:31 AM  

#6  I'd say Jay's got this issue covered.
Posted by: .com   2004-07-27 1:28:25 AM  

#5  
Australia refused on Tuesday to apologise to Spain and the Philippines
GOOD!

Keep it up, mates. Somebody's got to have some guts.
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2004-07-27 12:55:14 AM  

#4  Down Under's leadership is leading with all the Right Stuff! Keep fighting for freedom! Bravo!
Posted by: Mark Espinola   2004-07-27 12:52:27 AM  

#3  Australia refused on Tuesday to apologise to Spain and the Philippines after blaming them for encouraging militants to issue threats by withdrawing their troops from Iraq. Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Spain and the Philippines needed “to face up to the truth” that terrorists, who were using them as examples when threatening other countries with attack, were exploiting them.

Wow. I absolutely must go back to Aus for another vacation. :)
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama   2004-07-27 12:49:55 AM  

#2  Who's supposed to be apologizing to whom?

Oh, right, the Philippine government is only apologetic to terrorists.
Posted by: someone   2004-07-27 12:23:38 AM  

#1  Spain summoned Australia’s ambassador in Madrid on Monday to protest Downer’s comments...

Why? He's calling it like it is. What utter losers.
Posted by: Rafael   2004-07-27 12:12:07 AM  

00:00