My Mumma Told Me There'd Be Days Like This...

John Howard arrived back from his overseas junket yesterday morning. By early afternoon, he headed into the National Security Council Meeting. Seemingly, without pausing for breath, he forged ahead fielding questions from left, right and centre (and answered with knowledgeable aplomb) and, most importantly, immediately dispatched troops to East Timor. Like him or lump him, it must be admitted he is quite an incredible individual. Not many of his age, or younger even, would be able to handle such an exhausting schedule.

Troubled times lay ahead in Dili...let's hope with the arrival of our troops the unrest and violence ceases. However, it's not going to be easy to achieve this, unfortunately. Nobody ever said creating a new nation would be an easy task but I guess one has dreamed that for once it would be. This is not to be. Portugal troops will be arriving in East Timor to assist next week. Let's hope reconciliation can be reached without the loss of more lives. Another 'pipe dream'...yes, probably! East Timor is in crisis and there appears to be no easy solution.