Ripe for visual analysis, PM in the midst of military might: perspectival view, looking up – Abbott, suited-up and wearing the blue tie of capitalist conservatism at centre with Left Hand in pocket where it belongs and Right Hand slightly raised, calmly reinforcing words of visionary leadership, a curious vermilion ‘one’ beside him, perhaps to indicate his significance for anyone silly enough not to know (is it a dropped chilli, an upright carrot on the tarmac?); a complimentary-coloured veritable green-suited forest of all-white troops at military ease, parted like the Red Sea, with a dusting on shoulders of pale blue Australian flags leading in to Abbott’s face and all focused on his every word; symbolic halo above Abbott’s head (although it does look as though its held up by the old wire-up-the-back trick), two big black wheels in line with his groin, diffuse light flooding the scene from above. We’re not simply talking tableau here folks, whoever took this photo is a genius.
ABC Radio National 02.06.15 ’Government reportedly planning ‘freedom of navigation’ exercise in South China Sea
The ‘South what Sea’?
While we’re into preaching ‘freedom’ and upholding the principles of ‘international law,’ what about the US Monroe Doctrine? And what is the primary function of Hawaii for the US – a holiday resort? And how far is Hawaii from the US?
Stennis Carrier Strike Group arrives in Hawaii
US naval base, Pearl Harbour, Hawaii
Joint Base Pearl Harbour-Hickam, Hawaii
USS Nimitz, Pearl Harbour, Hawaii
And how far are the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands from the UK?
Newsweek cover 19.04.82
The sinking of the Belgrano in the 1982 Falklands War. 323 crewmembers died.
Pearl Harbour images: 1st/2nd/3rd/4th
Falkland Islands War images: Newsweek cover 19.04.82/The sinking of the Belgrano, 1982
materialism, mysticism and art 
_and_her_embarked_Air_Wing,_Carrier_Air_Wing_Eleven_(CVW-11)_pull_into_Naval_Base_Pearl_Harbor,_Hawaii.jpg){kind=link}
Well said, Phil.
Australia is the US’s walking dog (meaning flunkey), as Mao Zedong had correctly pointed out decades ago. In two days, the western mainstream media is going to commemorate the 26th Anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989 on June 4th, which has already been proven with the US cable released by Wikileaks (https://wikileaks.org/cable/1989/07/89BEIJING18828.html), a pure fabrication by the western propaganda. Yet the western media is not tired of repeating the lie over and over every year. And what kind of “freedom” or “international law” exactly is the west trying to preach with a failed regime change attempt and a following smear campaign?
It is very sad to see people have to put up with a regime in the west that tries hard to convince everyone that life is not fair, and that evil is always having the upper hand with its never-ending lies and abuses. Yet just as plants yearn for sunlight, human spirit yearns for truth and justice. And it is my firm belief as a Chinese who is fond of the Chinese philosophies, that truth and justice never cease to prevail, even though they take time to unfold. Thank you Phil for shedding some light into this dark corner of humanity.
Best Wishes
Yi Ping Wang
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Hi, Yi Ping Wang,
thanks for your comment. I hope people (particularly Australians) who read this post also take a few minutes to listen to Fran Kelly’s interview of Hugh White this morning on the subject of the rising tension re- the South China Sea.
Best regards, Phil
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Cool, thanks Phil. Is it possible for you to provide a link of the interview? I am certainly interested in have a listen. 🙂
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Hi, Yi Ping Wang,
you could click on the link at the top of my post for the page it is on or you could copy and paste this:
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/government-reportedly-planning-freedom-of/6513778
Best wishes, Phil
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Cool, thanks Phil. I had a listen and it is very interesting, however I am not sure if I would agree with some of the stuff that they said, such as I think the US has never stopped creating tension with China in the recent times (or decades). The US is behind the umbrella revolution in Hong Kong, supporting Japan and Philippine disputing China’s territorial claims. The US is placing its focus on the Asia-Pacific region as this is the area where the most economic development will be taking place in the next 10 or 20 years. And it may consider it essential to grasp dominance in this area for its economy to keep afloat.
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Hi Yi Ping Wang,
I agree with your comment. I recommended Kelly’s interview of White because while his position is in no way ‘radical’, he stated on mainstream Australian media (although only a few percent of people in this anti-intellectual country listen to Radio National) a very important point which, essentially, you also made in your comment above – that the issue is not fundamentally about islands (either in existence or being built), ‘international law’ and ‘freedom’ (the old catchcry of US capitalism) in the South China Sea, it is about the status quo, power, influence and (market) domination.
Your point that ‘the US may consider it essential to grasp dominance in this area for its economy to keep afloat’ brings to my thoughts Engels’ prediction in 1894 – that the ‘freeing-up’ as I would put it of China’s economy (Engels wrote of the development of capitalism in China) will inevitably push those of the US and Europe to socialism.
Best wishes as always, Filippo
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Thank you Filippo for your very valuable insights. It is amazing to know from you what Engels wrote about the development of capitalism in China so long ago. And thanks for this post which brings to my thoughts the core of Malcolm Fraser’s recent book, Dangerous Allies: We need the United States for defence, but we only need defence because of the United State.
Best wishes
Yi Ping
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It would be really great when humans can learn to place collective success above individual success. And I think a worship of selfishness is what is really hurting the capitalist societies nowadays.
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The selfie-stick says it all. Phil
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Hi Yi Ping Wang,
Engels’ words are most interesting.
All the best, Phil
For those interested, I quoted Engels in this post.
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