Writing in The Age, Tim Colebatch tells us 'why Howard won't fight the hangman':
"Yet for all the disgust Australians feel about the hanging of Nguyen, the ties between the two countries are too important for our Government to publicly embarrass Singapore. It is our key ally in the region, and played a big part in getting Australia invited to join the regional clubs: the Asian Regional Forum, the ASEAN free trade area, and now the inaugural East Asia Summit. In diplomatic terms, we owe it favours, not vice versa. John Howard and Alexander Downer are right not to capsize that relationship." Of course, that is if your only interest in life is the almighty dollar and not the means and circumstances by which and under which it is made.
And in another part of the same paper:
Howard made clear yesterday the match between his XI and the West Indies would go ahead — and he will attend it. He said he did not believe the public would want it abandoned, adding: "I have a duty as the host to go.
"I think the Australian people will understand that I didn't set the date of this man's execution," he told the ABC. "I had wished there was no date set for his execution."
The point he does'nt seem to get is the world (especially Singapore) is watching us and if our leader is out there satisfying his obsession with cricket how seriously was he in the first place about seeking clemency. It begs the question.
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