(Random visitors should note that, while I live in Australia, I am still an American citizen.)

I believe in the ideals that caused Roosevelt to utter those words, "united nations", in 1942. I believe in the concerns and desires that and brought the organisation fully into being in 1945. I believe in the things the UN stands for, its reasons for being. Does that make me a 'bad American'?

UPDATE: John Howard just committed Australia to George's War™. And he confirmed that Bush woul be making a speech in a few hours that would cover the 'when is it war' question.

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I don't believe in blind political following (sometimes labeled 'patriotism' far too easily and quickly. and mistakenly...) as a healthy human pursuit any more than I believe in it in one's religion. After all, man is the one usually doing the leading. And man is flawed. I believe in questioning, keeping ones eyes and ears open and keeping and eye out for the cliff's edge, not just having faith I won't be lead there. I've seen and heard people in my country deride and mock those who blindly follow and later turn around and state that not following your President's will was un-American, un-patriotic.

I don't believe in this war. I don't trust in George W. Bush's motives (nor do I believe we fully understand what they are) and I do not trust in his intelligence and morals. Here in Australia (I don't know how much actually gets shown 'at home') we've seen some very poor attempts by US officials to plead the case for this war, and we've seen most of that evidence crumble to dust when the light of scrutiny was played upon it. We've seen Bush on TV proclaiming the support of Australian troops after PM Howard has assured his people that no such committment has been made yet (and, yes, this says as much bad about Howard as Bush). History is rife with examples of leaders acting in their own interests to the detriment of their people; what reason do I have to believe the current leaders won't do the same? None. It's up to me to be diligent and questioning. And that's a right all Americans should be allowed to exercise without molestation or derision.

Recently a man received a note from an airport inspector who said that he or she "don't appreciate your anti-American attitude". Why? Because in his bag he had an war protest sign. Does wishing and working for peace make one un-American? A bad American? Well, I believe something different. I believe that not questioning, that following blindly or viewing the world through red, white and blue glasses makes for a bad America.

One thing's for sure, it makes America look bad in the rest of the world.

❑ Other thoughts...

So on the 16th (Aus. time), in my private diary, I said I believed the war would start by Tuesday. Now I'm certain of it. And the World is not happy about it.

• The Phillipines is growing reluctant and Arroyo is 'rethinking plans to hold joint military exercises' . You might not realise it, but America has a bloody past in the Phillipines which saw the slaughter of... you guesed it... Muslims.


• Pakistan is pleading for the US to allow more time and says Iraq is cooperating. Pakistani Muslims demonstrating all around the nation.


• China's new FM, despite having plenty of his own worries, is also pleading for the US to hold off.


• British commons leader Robin Cook resigns in protest, the first but possibly not last cabinet member to take a stand. Gets standing ovation for his commitment to vote against war. Andy Reed and John Randall have already left posts in the government over Blair's stance on Iraq.