Fremantlebiz - Paul's Letter from Australia

Iraq update versus the Melbourne Cup

Saddam Hussein is dominating the news this week. After a bizarre trial in Baghdad over the past twelve months or so, a process which has involved the murder of innumerable participating lawyers, he has been found guilty as charged and sentenced to hang. He will appeal, and this will serve to validate the existence of the court he claims is invalid. "The media" seem to think he will be strung up some time early 2007.

President Bush of the USA, no slouch himself with executions when the was Governor of Texas, seemed pretty pleased with the news. According to him, the verdict was an outstanding example of democracy at work. His exact words are on the Whitehouse website. There is sure to be a satirical version on Whitehouse.org, but when I checked today it was not up.

In Australia there has been considerable TV footage of Iraqis rejoicing at the prospect. It appears they are as murderous in their hearts as was their hated former ruler. They openly state that hanging is too good a punishment for him. One woman I saw being interviewed advocated burning him.

I don't suppose his death is going to change anything for the better in Iraq, at least not in the short term. The factionalised community violence is raging more ferociously than ever, and US troops are getting an extraordinary hammering. Their death toll on Cryptome today has reached 3,052, but as usual there is a few days lag to catch up with the real figure.

The other Iraq mortality figure I have periodically cited over the past couple of years has been Iraq Body Count. Its estimation of the number of Iraqis killed since the invasion by the "Coalition of the Willing" to depose Saddam Hussein's regime, is currently between 45,477 and 50,466.

So now there will be a media debate in Australia over whether Saddam Hussein should or shouldn't be hung? The TV pollsters will go into overtime, and make a profit because there is a charge of about 50 cents for people to make phone votes to TV stations. The amazing thing for me is that so many individuals participate in these scams.

But no matter what anyone says. I think Mr Hussein is about to experience his last Christmas. For him, its not going to be a happy new year. His execution may well be a two edged sword. The revenge factor will surely bring rejoicing amongst his enemies, but it may well promote him to martyrdom, which is apparently what he would like. I watched footage online of his verdict being read. His response was predictable. He denounced the court as an agency for foreign aspirations and punctuated his counter accusations with the phrase, "Allahu Akbar." These will probably also be his last words when he steps onto the gallows.

But in Australia today there is something else on the agenda. It's Melbourne Cup day again, sponsored by the Arab owned, Emirates Airlines. It is the occasion for low workplace productivity, excessive alcohol consumption and mindless gambling in connection with what may be the most unpredictable horse race in the world.

I have drawn two horses in the family sweepstakes being run by our youngest daughter (8). The horse are sure to be losers. Numbers 24 and 23. Even their names are ominous - Efficient and Maybe Better. Next week they will be Kitty Kat and Special Value Chum.

My teenage daughter who started with the chartered accountants yesterday was informed that there is to be a Melbourne Cup barbecue lunch today for all the staff on the company's top floor balcony, which has views of the Swan River. She has also been told that the annual Christmas party is coming up. It will be in the form a luxury chartered cruise on the same river.

© MMVI Paul R. Weaver.

About the writer

Check out each month's subject index on the Calendar Page for my "common-man" monologues about survival in 21st century Australia – plus a little history occasionally. An original essay is added most days as part of an undertaking to write a couple of million words.

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