My adopted countrymen can be bastards quite a lot of the time, especially when talking to and about New Zealanders; but every now aand then they do something that lets us forgive them.
Senators ordered out as Bush praises war effort
Mr Bush said he could not imagine anyone believed the world was better if Saddam Hussein retained power in Iraq.
``Surely not anyone who cares about human rights and democracy and stability in the Middle East,'' he said.
``Today, Saddam's regime is gone, and no-one should mourn his passing.''
At this point in his speech, Mr Bush was interrupted by Australian Greens Senator Bob Brown, who was then ordered from the chamber by the Speaker. And when Senator Kerry Nettle was also ordered out for protesting, Mr Bush lifted his voice and said: "I love free speech." [Pity he doesn't do something aboutit at home]
Senator Brown refused to leave the chamber when asked to do so by an official and later shook Mr Bush's hand while Senator Nettle attempted to push some papers into Mr Bush's hands, which he refused to take. Leader of the House Tony Abbott moved for the Greens senators to be suspended.
BTW, thanks US taxpayers for sending 680 of your citizens to visit us on at least 3 jumbos parked today at Canberra airport. Also thanks for screwing up our flight schedules.