Gormless Pillock caught napping yet again
Harold Hark
5 September 2003

Yesterday, in that weakly, far away voice he has when first questioned over something he knows nothing about, John Howard tried to assure the ABC's PM that everything was relaxed and comfortable in the LalaLand he oversees as Prime Soporific. (Today, after looking into the matter for perhaps the first time, he was all peppy and full of that phoney confidence he thinks will make us believe he has a firm grip on things.)

He was being asked about the Al-Qaeda suspect, Abu Dahdah, who has been held in a Spanish prison since shortly after the September 11 bombings, and his links to two alleged operatives in Australia. The ABC broke the story and shortly thereafter managed to waken the Prime Minister from his self-satisfied, incumbent-for-life slumber long enough for him to issue denials of incompetence.

The question, put by ABC's PM on 4 September 2003 was this:

"Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper ran a front-page story in November 2001 saying the terror suspect had telephoned a Muslim leader in Australia.

So why haven't the Australian Federal Police or ASIO been to Spain to interview the prisoner?"

Howard replied that these "persons of interest" were known to government agencies for "some time" and his authorities have already sought permission from their authorities to interview the man in Spain.

LOUISE MAHER: When did they do that?

JOHN HOWARD: They did that a little while ago. I'm not going to say exactly when, but it's my understanding that it had been done a little while ago, it's my understanding it'd been done a little while ago. [Hark: If you listen to the audio, his repetition sounds like a man who had just stopped himself from nodding off.]

LOUISE MAHER: Can you tell us the time gap between when the Australian authorities were made aware of these links and when they sought permission to interview?

JOHN HOWARD: I would not be able to tell you that without further checking, no.

But today we find that even though Alexander Downer has stated that "our intelligence agencies have known about Abu Dahdah for simply years and years," authorities only made a formal request to interrogate the Al Qaeda suspect the day after information was presented to them by the ABC. The very organisation this government wants to silence. We can surely see why.

From the PM report:

KEVIN RUDD: This is the Prime Minister who talks about national security, day in, day out. A Prime Minister who is first class at the rhetoric of national security.

From THE WORLD TODAY (three hours ago):

SIMON CREAN: We've now got an example where again the Government highlights the threat, it fails to act, and then it blames someone else. Now, yesterday, the Prime Minister told Australian radio that that request had gone in some time ago. It now transpires it went in only on Tuesday.

Now, of course, what the Government then tries to say well these are operational matters. It's up to the Federal Police. But have a look at this newspaper report in the Herald Sun on the 1st of August, 2002, where Daryl Williams, the Attorney-General, has confirmed ASIO is aware of Abu Dahdah's connections to Australia but Mr Williams' Office has refused to release details about what investigations have been conducted or whether individuals have been spoken to about calls they may have received from Abu Dahdah.

So in other words, 13 months ago, the Government knew through the Attorney-General that Abu Dahdah had been in contact with Australians. Why didn't the Government act?

This is a Government that always wants to talk up the threat of security, talk up the fear, but it never acts. They have had in place legislation now that gives significant new powers to detain and question people who are suspected, and they have not sought to use it, despite the fact that there's been this information in the public domain and certainly to the knowledge of the Government.

And yet Howard knows nothing, hears nothing, sees nothing, and most certainly speaks nothing, unless it is to rouse himself to parrot the latest Orwellian hearsay on further modes of terrorist attacks. His favourite as I write is shoulder-held missile launchers.

He is the man who has put a nation's sheep to sleep, generously tucking them in and giving a little peck to their cheeks. But every so often he tip toes in to whisper his subliminal message in their ears: "You are afraid, you are very afraid. But I will protect you. I am the only one who can save you from your nightmares. The enemy is coming but if you keep voting for me no harm will come to you. Trust me."

The Howard Government only cares about national security--or any other issue--so long as it benefits their re-election chances. Has there ever been such a cynical manipulation of a gullible electorate? I think we may have a genuine archetype here.

But even those who support him are starting to twitch in their (what will amount to an eight year) sleep. The question is, when will the dozy Silent Majority wake up? Because when they do, the Little Charlatan will be toast.

Meanwhile, the only supporters who have truly remained steadfast through these miserable, monochrome years are the terminally senile who populate our retirement homes. He is their darling. Their dazzling white dentures shine from grizzled faces as they sing "My Way", the retirement home anthem that legitimises a less than honourable life of meanness and intolerance.

You can bet Little Johnny will have it sung at his funeral, if it isn't already sung at his birthdays.

John Howard betrays his country every day in every way. He is an empty vessel which is constantly being filled with the whispers and nudgings of darkness, of evil. He is the Mephistopheles of the Illiberal Party, and of Australia, and his ministers are grey little Fausts who have sold their souls to him for a few years of strutting power.

What can the rest of us do to rid the nation of this walking, talking, above all sleeping, heart of darkness? Speak relentlessly to our friends and acquaintances, and even strangers, who support him. Remind them of the caged children, of the lies, the corruption, the cronyism, and above all, the incompetence. Tell them in no uncertain terms that he has treated, not only us, but they themselves, with contempt, that they have been taken for mindless mugs at every turn. They will fight back on the day, but in their hearts they will know you are right. And they will vote.

"Gormless Pillock" originally referred to Jeff Kennett, said to have been inspired by Monty Python. Gormless: clueless; Pillock: idiot.

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