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Can an opposition leader ever get diplomacy “right”?

Tory Maguire

by Tory Maguire

30 Jul 02:00pm

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Filed under: China, Diplomacy, International Relations, London, Mitt Romney, Poltiics, Tony Abbott

38 comments

It’s always entertaining when a political figure with no real responsibilities other than winning votes makes a high-profile foray into the delicate world of foreign affairs.

Please Lord let me not put my foot in it again… Picture: AP

Unshackled by anything resembling real authority over such things as military or security policy, opposition politicians are free to blunder in to say, Chinese-American geo-political sensitivities, without concerns they might accidentally spark an explosion in the Taiwan Strait.

You only have to look at how quickly Bob Carr hit the “delete post” button on his Thoughtlines blog when he went from interested private citizen to Foreign Minister in the blink of a cursor.

US commentators are currently caught up in a national cringe over Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s journey out of the 50 states.

Romney committed the cardinal sin of publicly questioning London’s readiness to host the Olympic Games, causing London Mayor Boris Johnson to pop his bicycle clips in outrage.

Maureen Dowd called Romney’s assessment, which was pretty much the assessment of every observer in the lead-up to the Opening Ceremony, “shockingly ill-considered, if undeniably true.”

According to Dowd, a Fox contributor described it as: “Beyond human understanding, it’s incomprehensible.” That’s a pretty low bar for beyond human understanding he’s set there.

Tony Abbott could have had a word to Romney before he set off for Blighty.

Last week he became the mocking target over his speech in Beijing lecturing the Chinese about democracy and warning about Chinese state-owned interests buying up Australian assets.

Bob Carr called it “dangerously dumb” and headline writers everywhere dusted off the “bull in a china shop” chestnut.

But these trips are never about real diplomacy and always about how it reads back home.

If Abbott had gone off to China and minded his p’s and q’s no one here at home would have noticed.

And while Romney was ticking off Boris in London, he also hosted a fundraising dinner that raked in $2 million.

You either sneak in and get no traction, or make a fuss and cop the mocking.

Most commented

38 comments

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    • cameron W says:

      02:09pm | 30/07/12

      I am most disappointed that there are no references to the Olympics in this article!

      Reply

    • Knemon says:

      02:31pm | 30/07/12

      Did you even read it? wink

    • AdamC says:

      02:12pm | 30/07/12

      Maureen Dowd’s description of Romney’s comments are spot on. (Sadly, I have brokena habit of never agreeing with anything that, normally unreadable, columnist has to say.) Perhaps Romney is yet to learn that, in diplomacy, sometimes you should not say something precisely because it *is* true. I must say, though, they have been a very accident-prone games so far. Empty seats are not a good look.

      Trying to equate Tony Abbott’s eminently sensible, and reasonably well-received, remarks with Romey’s gaffe is just typical, lazy, Abbott-hating Australian ‘journalism’. Disappointing, but not at all surprising.

      Reply

    • Maryjane says:

      04:31pm | 30/07/12

      I can’t resist sharing this comment from American humourist Dave Barry,  about Mitt Romney. 
      “Mitt immediately got into hot water by committing a gaffe, which is the word we use when a supposedly experienced politician makes the stupid mistake of saying, out loud, what he actually thinks.”

    • MD says:

      02:19pm | 30/07/12

      “That’s a pretty low bar for beyond human understanding he’s set there.”

      It’s Fox News, it needs to be quite low.

      Reply

    • Mahhrat says:

      02:27pm | 30/07/12

      I know I’m going to sound like an ALP lapdog, but I’ll just have to rest assured that I’m not.

      Now, then:

      Every time this bloke does anything other than be an attack dog against the LNP, he breathes in, opens his mouth, and promptly bites off his own damn toe.

      Seriously, anyone right of the line, you expect us to vote for the party that supports this peanut?  He’s no better than the peanut the ALP have leading them.

      If this is the quality of politician I’m supposed to be happy lead my country, and the quality of the debate we get out of both sides, you’ll just have to excuse me while I help vote in even more independents.

      Reply

    • Damian says:

      02:45pm | 30/07/12

      Yeah we all prefer the current PM’s crying to the US Congress about her childhood love of the US , announcing an East Timor detention centre without telling the Timorese or her “we are us” speech. She’s fantastic NOT. What about the previous PM calling the Chinese “ratf***ers” that’s the kind of PM we need.

    • Yak says:

      03:03pm | 30/07/12

      With you here Mr.Mahhrat.

      Out here in the Goldfields, with new electoral boundaries, we had the choice of a descent local bloke or Wilson Bloody Tuckey. Thank God most voted for the local lad, Tony Crook.
      He has done a sterling job and as such I would not hesitate to vote independent again.

      Tuckey stated that an Independent wouldn’t achieve anything for the electorate but has been proven wrong. I assume having a minority Govt has assisted this outcome, but I would rather my elected representative representing his local constituency other than just “toeing the Party line”.

    • n_dude says:

      04:35pm | 30/07/12

      @Yak
      I wonder how that would work if everyone voted independent and not just a few ountry areas? I must admit I feel it better to vote independent given the quality of candidates from either major party, but would that deliver actual outcomes for the country or would it be more a bunch of local councils trying to get the best for their own people.

    • Chris L says:

      04:40pm | 30/07/12

      I think you missed what Mahhrat was saying Damien. He’s not cheering on Gillard or Rudd. He’s pointing out that Abbott is not an improvement and he’s right.

    • Richard says:

      12:01am | 31/07/12

      You can’t be serious. Abbott goes to China and encourages them to be more democratic, and points out that Liberals prefer private sector entities to run businesses rather than governments (especially foreign governments), and you think he blundered? You think its a faux pas?

      Get a grip Mahhrat, seriously. Abbott has done us proud. And apparently, the van-guard of progressive thinkers and economists in China agree with him as well. Because all he did is speak the plain truth, like he almost always does.

    • Craig says:

      07:30am | 31/07/12

      Also agree.

      It seems the major parties are drawing from ever smaller and more inbred DNA pool, where the merest hint of talent is enough to get you exiled.

      At least independents are drawing from the broadest DNA pool available - the Australian public.

      Our political class, of course, does not understand the issue - too much political and not enough bloody class.

    • Richard says:

      11:26am | 31/07/12

      @Mahhrat, Yak, n_dude, Chris L. and Craig please point out exactly what you think Abbott has done wrong in this situation. I just don’t accept Bob Carr’s frame here (which Tory clearly has uncritically) that Tony Abbott has said anything untoward or unreasonable. Bob Carr incidentally seems to be just a one trick pony. All he can really do is attack Abbott, but in terms of actually doing his job of trying to represent Australia’s interests on the international stage, he’s been nothing but an ineffectual serial blunderer (not withstanding Mal Farr’s ludicrous fawning article on him a few weeks ago).

    • earl says:

      02:45pm | 30/07/12

      The reason no one trusts politicians is because they stop speaking the truth and what they really think. Why do they do that I wonder???

      Is it because its better to use pollie speak, spin and untruths to avoid criticism and whipped up media indignation? No wonder we get the leaders we deserve if all we do is waste energy pulling down any sense of honesty and truth. Classic examples include Abbott’s honest assessment of exaggerating in the heat of debate or under questioning.

      Reply

    • Gordon says:

      05:42pm | 30/07/12

      yes…pollies use teflon blather because as soon as something unscripted comes out it’s Oooh! Aah! from media and all the opinionistas.

    • BruceS says:

      02:46pm | 30/07/12

      The fact that he upset Maureen Dowd, proves he was correct, but not PC.

      Reply

    • Joan says:

      02:47pm | 30/07/12

      The real and existing dangerously dumb thing was Gillard yanking Carr out of his slumber in retirementville and putting him straight into top job as Foreign Minister - and even more dangerous are his incomprehensible yabberings and blatherings which are more dangerous than sum total any USA or Australian Oppostion leader statements. As for Abbott on China - he gets a big tick from me. and what Romney says - who cares in Australia - not me-  USA is a lost world cause on its way out under Obama or Romney anyway.

      Reply

    • Super D says:

      03:37pm | 30/07/12

      That’s the truth of it Joan, Carr is massively out of his depth.  He’s not made the transition from armchair know it all to Foreign affairs minister at all well.

      Romney was simpy restating the consensus on London’s readiness.  Anyway here are 10 things more offensive to the UK that Obama has done but don’t rate as news because he’s not a republican.

      http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2012/07/28/Obama-Top-Ten-UK-Gaffes

    • andye says:

      04:36pm | 30/07/12

      @Super D - Oh whine, whine whine. It is a bit rich to complain about left wing bias in the USA when the king of news is a strongly conservative channel that generally only criticises republicans for not being conservative enough.

      It is terrible when some outlets have a different opinion, is it not? How dare they!?

    • Matt says:

      03:17pm | 30/07/12

      Mitt Romney is not an “opposition leader”, he is the republican presidential candidate. This should be basic stuff for a journalist!

      Reply

    • Cars says:

      05:44pm | 30/07/12

      So you’re saying he’s the leader of the opposition?
      OK, got it.

    • PW says:

      06:07pm | 30/07/12

      The Yanks have different names for things but in practical terms Leader of the Opposition is pretty much what he is.

    • PW says:

      06:09pm | 30/07/12

      The Yanks have different names for things but in practical terms Leader of the Opposition is pretty much what he is.

    • ChrisW says:

      03:31pm | 30/07/12

      So Abbott was wrong to tell the Chinese what they already know we think?
      They tell us what to do in China. They tell us how we are going to conduct business there - very definitely on their terms and not ours.
      We have an equal right to tell them what to do in Australia. We have a right to tell them how they will conduct business here. It will on our terms and according to our laws.
      Romney was less than diplomatic but I note that the Australian news media has also been highly critical in the lead up to the Olympics. The number of negative “human interest” stories delivered was unbelievable.  One journalist actually told me that it was a “marvellous opportunity to bash the Brits” and that he intended to make the most of it.  Hardly a professional attitude but apparently perfectly acceptable to his news service.

      Reply

    • Borderer says:

      04:22pm | 30/07/12

      Doing business in mainland China is difficult as they literally change laws and protocols so that you can’t do simple things like retrurn your equipment back overseas or withdraw operating capital. The big joke is we make it so easy for them and worry about hurting their feelings…. do business with them a couple of times, see how you feel about it afterwards.

    • Joan says:

      06:23pm | 30/07/12

      Borderer: `The big joke is we make it so easy for them and worry about hurting their feelings…. ` Yep thats Carr policy for you-  turning Australia into lap dogs of Asia Pacific. Since Carr has been in charge of foreign affairs he has shown he is too scared to stand up for Australian wants and needs because it may upset Indonesia or China in particular.  The only person standing up for Australian wants and needs and dares to do it is Abbott.

    • JoniM says:

      04:19pm | 30/07/12

      “One journalist actually told me that it was a “marvellous opportunity to bash the Brits” and that he intended to make the most of it.  Hardly a professional attitude but apparently perfectly acceptable to his news service. “

      Of course it is !
      There is no greater service to Australia than to bash the Brits on the sporting arenas of the world !
      We will never forgive them for their cruel “cannon fodder” jokes they played on the Aussies at Gallipoli and throughout Europe in WW1.
      We will never forget their dirty bodyline attacks on our cricketing heroes.
      So we take delight at every opportunity to embarrass them at sport or at their iconic institutions like their loopy royals.
      It is a key to our national identity and it should be a pre-requisite to test all migrants wanting to settle here, that they have the committment to learn about it and to swear allegiance to this spirit of Pommie bashing, and to promise to carry it on through our generations !
      God save the queens !

      Reply

    • Mattb says:

      05:17pm | 30/07/12

      Yes, Mitt made a complete arse of himself in London and was swiftly put back in his place but I’m more concerned about he comments in regard to those two childish nations we call Isreal and Palestine and the othe one we call Iran. Sounds like old Mitt, if he win the presidency, and its a bigger ‘if’ with each passing day, is going to allow this festering sore not only continue but he’s going to poor petrol on it and give it a good old scratch.

      Jeruselum isn’t Isreals capital, it never has been, and the way both Isreal and the Palestinians act over this city, nether of them should be allowed to lay claim to it, seriously its like watching two immature children fighting over a cubby house based on the differing interpretation of a fairy tale FFS. Picking a side, like Mitt has done, just shows how he’s no better. Its about time the sane nations stood up and condemmed both the antagonists in this fight and demanded an end to it. The sad part about it is 90% of ordinary Israelis and 90% of everyday Palistinians want the bickering to end, once again its the 10% of deeply religious extremists that cant give up the fight.

      As for Iran, sounds like another futile search for “WMD’s” is on the cards if Mitt wins office. I wonder if the Australian Government will blindly follow the Americans into that one too…

      Reply

    • jg says:

      05:20pm | 30/07/12

      Well, in comparison to Rudd calling them ratfuckers….

      Reply

    • Sinbad says:

      06:05pm | 30/07/12

      Swearing is one thing.

      But the Wikileak reports said PM Rudd urged USA to prepare for war with China. Such type of behavior is called double headed snake.

    • Against the Man says:

      06:02pm | 30/07/12

      Looks like Tony Abbott has egg all over his face again this time relating to the supposedy dreadful effects of the carbon tax that have not eventuated. Thank god for Labor. Thank god we havnt got Abbott as PM.

      Reply

    • aTg says:

      06:57pm | 30/07/12

      A much more sensible post atm.
      I’m still waiting for Whyalla to be wiped off the map.
      What a fool Abbott is. There is no way he will ever be PM.
      6000 Abbott encouraged asylum seekers arriving and hundreds of deaths because Abbott can’t keep the dummy in his mouth long enough to support off-shore processing.
      What a dullard and dead end for Australia.

    • Against the Man says:

      08:54pm | 30/07/12

      Against the Man (Real One) looks like you haven’t received the memo aTg from the last Queensland election and poll, the A-L-P is finished. Cowards like you have allowed the ALP to become what it is today smile

      ps: The more you post as me, the more pathetic and scared it makes you look hahahahhaha

    • Jay says:

      07:22am | 31/07/12

      From the country that gave us George W (bubya) now they give us a mormon capitalist who paid the barest minimum in taxes and wants to ramp up a war against Iran and double the military budget. Trouble is the credit card is maxed out..

      Reply

    • Geronimo says:

      10:46am | 31/07/12

      For The Abbott, being let out to play is his brain’s favourite way of learning.

      Reply

    • Augustus Caesar says:

      01:58pm | 31/07/12

      Of course that old, old man Gillard dragooned into the Senate to be Australia’s Foreign Minister, Bob Carr, has never, ever either when he was just a newspaper hack, one of NSW’s worst Premiers or since he has been warming that Senate seat, said anything inappropriate has he? What was all that garbage he spilt out when the Slipper/Ashby scandal hit?
      Is there no end to the lies & distortions of the ALP & it’s supporters in The Punch?
      aTg says: that Abbott is responsible for the 6000 Asylum Seekers & 100s of deaths.
      How wrong can anyone get? It was the previous Howard Government which put a stop to those boats.
      It was the Rudd-Gillard Government & the Greens-controlled Gillard Government which abandoned a policy which worked. The boats started coming again & the drownings began again. Remember if it had not been for the Gillard Government that boat which so mysteriously managed to slip past the Australian Navy & Air Force in our waters & of which Gillard says she is so proud of the surveillance they provide, which smashed into Christmas Island. If she had not abandoned the Howard system that disaster would never have occured.
      Blame Abbott for anything you like but at least be honest when doing so

      Reply

    • alan says:

      02:18pm | 31/07/12

      yes MIT ROMNEY said somethings that u.k. people did not like,but he was RIGHT.the london mayor ows him an apology.it was the mayor who was WRONG.
      1 /THE INDIAN GIRL in the indian section, COULD HAVE BEEN A PAKISTANI with abomb belt on.
      2 /seatings all gone wrong,he was so RIGHT.
      he,s the type of President America wants ,to get them out of debt,and make America GREAT again.how many mistakes has OBAMA made, by just sitting on the fence.OBAMA IS JUST A CHEER LEADER.he alone has made AMERICA WEAK….

      Reply

    • Ron Vincent says:

      02:09pm | 02/08/12

      Fancy Bob Carr calling someone “dangerously dumb”. He may be educated but common sense has eluded him. Tory ” Labor’s Friend” Maguire is way off track or hasn’t she noticed that foreign countries and companies are buying us out left, right and centre. I for one would rather have our future PM speak out. Foreign companies can own a certain amount of land, BUT NOT FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS.

      Reply
 
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