Wednesday, March 26, 2003

Henderson: Labor will not benefit from opposing the war
Labor cannot articulate a coherent policy in opposition to the war, giving the impression it has not thought the issue through properly and does not really wish to be in opposition to war. It is part of the crisis of democracy, where a clear-cut case of aggressive war and international lawlessness cannot find opposition in the established political parties, whether Labour, Labor, Tory, Republican, Democrat, or Liberal. Last night on Lateline Labor Foreign Affairs Spokesman Rudd explained that Labor's 'opposition' to the war means that it supports Australia's involvement in the war and looks forward to Australia participating in the 'victory'. A call for the troops to be brought home and for Australia's diplomatic support of the war to be terminated is apparently intolerable to the Labor party. Genuine democracy and genuine opposition to war and warcrimes can now only take place outside the established system, in minor parties like Greens and Democrats, and in mass protest by ordinary citizens.

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