The government has form when it comes to unconditionally accepting everything that its told by the intelligence services. Now it seems that they're making up their own intelligence. (Take that any way you like.)
Our illustrious Foreign Minister is making up his own stories to frighten us before the coming election. Tom Allard reports:
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, yesterday made the astonishing claim that North Korea could launch a ballistic missile to hit Sydney, prompting incredulity among experts who said he had got his facts very wrong.
Although it's no secret that North Korea does have a missile program, they don't have the technology to build one to hit Sydney, some 10,000 km away.
After creating a storm and forcing a clearly surprised Prime Minister, John Howard, to deny that the Government was scare-mongering ....
Sure, John.
As the election draws closer, it's in the government's interest to make the population feel insecure. Expect the terrorist threat to be talked up, any hint of terrorist activity to translate into increased security alerts, and many reminders that only the conservatives have what it takes to make us safe.
And the final word goes to Alex .....
Mr Downer clarified his remarks, saying North Korea did not have the intention of striking Australia. But he did not resile from his claim that it could.
Alex, I'm sure the security analysts around the world will be beating a path to your door to study this new, previously unknown, North Korean capability.
