…She brought in Carr to watch her back, instead he stabbed it.

This goes straight into my “quotations” folder! Good one!

Probably not, but when faced with the chop, one doesn’t know how anyone would react.
Though I feel she brought this upon herself. She brought in Carr to watch her back, instead he stabbed it.

Although the question is addressed to Otto who will no doubt answer it, can I butt in and suggest that John Howard would never have been in Gillard’s position.

…Australia lost a great deal of its prestige and diplomatic muscle when John Howard stepped down, and most Australians—even those who were Howard’s detractors at the time—recognize it…

so writes Michael Rubin in an article titled: Missing John Howard.

from here: http://www.commentarymagazine.com/2012/12/04/missing-john-howard/

As to “Bob Carr or even Julia Gillard [being] true friends of Israel”: after their latest performances, dear Otto Waldman, I dont think that they could be mistaken for even “false friends” of the Jewish people any more.

Let’s just say that I may be slightly one sided when it comes to Howard. His entire intellectual structure is simply impressive. Base on that consider the following:

– for years, as PM Howard was assailed by the media and the then Labor opposition re Howard’s degree of authority, hold on the Liberal Party leadership. On each challenge Howard standard reply was that he shall remain the leader of his party only as long as his party wnated him. The same might be said abt any political leader, true, but it is also true that the REAL hold on the leadership, meanining the support Hoaward had in the Party room, was incredibly strong, BEYOND any possible question and/or challenge. Remember the constant Costello “challenge” which never eventuated !!??
Now, Howard’s honesty in constance regarding support for Israel has never been questioned. This, together with the cathegoric authority Howard, his position in the same room, would have guaranteed – as it actually happened in FACT – a Liberal Party following its leaders , if you want, personal stance. To that it must be said that Howard’s powers of persuasion, his, again, intellectual impeccable construct, his unassailable logic, choice of arguments were decisive factors in assuring a true leader’s authority, position on Israel included, as a Government collective policy, so consistent with Hoard’s personal take. From some of the insiders’ it has been revealed that, when John Howard would present his stance to his party room they all listened and..learnt. Just one reson his own party never abandoned him, final ellectoral results notwithstanding.

Whilst I am with you wholeheartedly in your opinion of John Howard.

In all seriousness, do you really think in Gillard’s position, he would have acted differently.?

How can anyone maintain that Bob Carr or even Julia Gillard are true friends of Israel , as if they were in the same class as John Howard!!!!

Truth is that you do hear rubbish like that.