"We are accustomed to John Howard's now offensive obsession with wrapping himself in cammo and invoking the Anzac legend to his political advantage at every opportunity. Plainly, the elaborate ceremonial for Private Kovco was a media stunt by a Prime Minister desperate to duck the public relations disaster of the bungled return of the body and anxious to shore up waning public support for the Iraq war.
Veterans have told me they were dismayed by this excess. Howard should know that it demeaned the sacrifice of thousands of more deserving Australian service dead - including prisoners of war of the Japanese - who were never farewelled in such clouds of glory."
So writes Mike Carlton in his column today in the SMH. He's right! In trying to somehow get around all the issues, on so many levels, arising from the death of Private Kovsko, the Federal Government has acted disgracefully - again, in so many ways. Read Carlton's "take" on the whole sad affair here.
Veterans have told me they were dismayed by this excess. Howard should know that it demeaned the sacrifice of thousands of more deserving Australian service dead - including prisoners of war of the Japanese - who were never farewelled in such clouds of glory."
So writes Mike Carlton in his column today in the SMH. He's right! In trying to somehow get around all the issues, on so many levels, arising from the death of Private Kovsko, the Federal Government has acted disgracefully - again, in so many ways. Read Carlton's "take" on the whole sad affair here.
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