Here's a bit more to explain the brinkmanship and absolutism: "Brinkmanship is being used to force the federal government to write a blank cheque for the pipeline, and indemnify Exxon against ecological disasters and further cost increases..."

"Absolutism (Bush-style "you're either with us or you're with the terrorists" framing) is being used to bully Canada into committing to keep our troops in the midst of the anarchy and civil war in Afghanistan. The PR from the military is increasingly using the term 'enemy' to describe anyone in Afghanistan who opposes the continued presence of foreign troops in their country. The ideologically rabid Harper Conservative minority government routinely uses the "if you don't support our war, you don't support our troops" line to disparage anti-war groups. And today a military spokesman lambasted the Canadian media for daring to publicize opinion polls showing Canadians' strong opposition to the war, saying it was "demoralizing our troops".

If we don`t take the power away from the Neocons. World war 2 will look like a picnic. And Hitler will seem like a pacifist.

Thanks gingembre, a very good article. As said, it applies to many other countries and Australia is definitely one.
The extreme lack of morals amongst our so-called leaders is something that amazes. If caught out on any issue, they lie. They rip off the poor and pretend concern. They allow business a complete freedom that is archaic in its principles (the global warming issue is exposing some of this). They attempt to evoke fear at every opportunity. They invent issues as smokescreens. They censor everything they can (how much is printed about what our troops are actually putting up with?). You could go forever.

Did anybody see that vile Anne Coulter being interviewed by Chris Mathews on Hardball? What an absolutely toxic personality she has. She accused John Edwards of capitalizing on his son's death.