ISRAEL OUTRAGE

David Speers, Sky News Political Editor

25 February 2010

Kevin Rudd was suitably outraged today over the use of forged Australian passports by a group of undercover hit men and women who took out a senior Hamas leader in Dubai last month.

He didn't directly blame Israel, but he might as well have.

And in case anyone missed the point, the Israeli Ambassador was hauled in for a dressing down by the Foreign Minister.

The chest beating and table thumping was completely understandable.

For a foreign state to assassinate someone under the guise of another nationality, is an outrage.

No matter how evil they may be.

But chest beating and table thumping is all Australia is realistically going to achieve.

Despite the AFP and ASIO being ordered to investigate the identity theft, there's little chance the killing of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh will ever be officially linked to Mossad.

The Israeli spy agency knows how to cover its tracks.

Even if a link were to be proven, it's doubtful Australia would do much about it.

The Rudd Government's position on assassinating terrorists is vague.

"State-sanctioned assassinations are not a policy of the Australian Government," is all Foreign Minister Stephen Smith would offer on this question.

But the Rudd Government hardly shed tears over the assassination of Jemaah Islamiah's bomb maker Noordin Mohammad Top.

And if the CIA took out Osama Bin Laden, it's hard to imagine any condemnation from Canberra.

Unless, perhaps, Australian passports were forged in the process.

Share your thoughts on this blog:

Comments are moderated and will not appear until they have been approved.

Alexia, Nottingem (8 September 2010 8:35PM) wrote:
Prove me wrong but in your country Jewish domination over the law and order, than everything else is frightening. When it comes to the media control is absolute. As I said, prove me wrong - http://new.home.tripod.com

Leo, Sydney (31 July 2010 12:49PM) wrote:
Journalists nowadays seems more interested in only sensational issues, immaterial if its true or false. We need more people like you Mr Speers. Keep up the good work.

Ed Vanco, Sydney (30 May 2010 9:38AM) wrote:
The Prime Ministers "table thumping" outrage directed at Israel, appears to be more precisely directed at obtaining a seat at the coveted "Table" belonging to the UN Security Council.

Carlyle, Brisbane (18 May 2010 5:21PM) wrote:
Somehow chest thumping & Rudd in the same sentence just does not gel.

David, Sydney (29 April 2010 8:52PM) wrote:
I see Mr Speers you are sticking to the questions fed to you by the Liberal Party. Guess you have to toe the Murdoch line. Pity you have no self respect as a Professional Journalist and think for yourself. Fortunately you are as transparent as glass of water. Your approach to interviewing Labor and Liberal politicians is a joke as you smirk and nudge nudge wink wink to your Liberal mates, but try to be the heavy when interviewing Govt members. You obviously live in a fantasy world where all viewers are stupid. Try to seek balance, you may feel better as a jurno even if your bosses don't like it.

Chandi, Melbourne (16 March 2010 9:10PM) wrote:
The whole operation has been made to look like the Mossad - it's obviously a set up. If the investigation takes a different direction and Mossad is cleared no doubt we will suddenly have silence from the media on the subject.

Charles, Melbourne Epworth on (2 March 2010 2:25AM) wrote:
walk through the childrens ward and balance your conscience with your support of stokes rudd conway - please david you write well your style can improve our political reporting however only if it is principle based and honest. End of lucid moment staff want me back in bed do they think what happens to me actually counts.

Gookepetmor, (2 March 2010 1:56AM) wrote:
She couldnt hear over the roar of energy to tell if she made a sound. Like him, Hyle was naked save for the robe that had seen better days. Why worry him? Didnt matter that only Lanthan was touching her. His were smiling down at her, pride brimming in the swirling red and black. They sat on the dusty floor of a wide cavern. She had neither seen nor asked after Tykir, Lanthan, nor Brevin. Smiling, too happy to remain still, Eyrhaen pushed up onto all fours over Hyles hips. Or even project emotion on him. Id like it if we could start again. Angrily, she dashed tears from her eyes, stepping toward the outer door. I cant apologize any more tonight. Her lips parted under the soft caress of his breath, but he didnt kiss her. Both Brevin and Tykir burst out laughing. When he slapped her again, she complied, twisting over. He dragged open his eyes. Now that he was here, she was unsure how to begin. He adopted a teacher tone to replace the pained one. Tears spilled from the eyes she closed. Even if he had, she would have been his.

Charles, Melbourne (26 February 2010 7:50PM) wrote:
David statistically I should not be around to annoy you any more however I am having a lucid moment and so I have decided to write. Although I have been through a double course of radiation and I am slightly confused I cannot believe a journalist who I thought was value just does not get it. Order must be built on knowledge truth diligence and hard work. Chaos is built on lies filth greed and laziness. Chaos is easy and popular you buy votes and spread lies. It is the press responsibility to ensure the truth not to promote political prostitution - because the mathematical truth is chaos has no boundary no seam and can therefore have no firewall it will continue until it has completed imploding the only thing you can do is protect yourself with the truth. Probabally will not see if you publish this I hope you do