FC: Australia moves against spam (and a reply on supporting troops)

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

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From: "Mackenzie, Kate" <mackenziek () theaustralian com au>
To: "'declan () well com'" <declan () well com>
Subject: Australia to outlaw spam
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 14:49:55 +1000

Hi Declan,

It seems that the folks in Canberra have been getting overloaded with
Nigerian scams and Viagra ads..
The Aust government is acknowledging it will be difficult to police as most
spam received here is from overseas, but say they are in talks with the US
International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network, and approaching
the OECD and APEC about it too.


Spammers to face jail
Kate Mackenzie
APRIL 16, 2003

UNSOLICITED email will outlawed and spammers could face prison sentences,
after a dramatic about-turn from a federal Government taskforce charged with
examining the issue.

http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,6293171%5E15306%5E%5Enbv%5E,00.html


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From: "Nathan Cochrane" <ncochrane () theage fairfax com au>
To: <declan () well com>
Subject: An Australian perspective to Lisa Dean's comments
Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2003 14:18:42 +1000
Message-ID: <00a601c303cf$44439820$405002a0 () theage jfh com au>
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Hi Declan

I don't know Lisa Dean, or the group she represents. However the same
"support our troops" mantra is being sung in Australia from the PM John
Howard and down to the right wing commentators in the news. It's as if the
US Government had sent the same script to the Australian and British PMs, so
they could all speak with one voice.

The view is that you support the troops once deployed to avoid the myth of
the spat-upon VietNam veteran. That myth was debunked:

http://www.thevoicenews.com/News/2003/0228/In_Response/R03_Bernard-re_Barlow.html

The arguments from the supporters of the war here and overseas follow that
even if you didn't agree before the troops were sent, you should now support
them -- and by externsion, the war.

This logic is intellectually bereft.

An objection persists regardless of the decision to deploy troops. Rather
than nullified or voided, the objection is compounded.

Our troops are not zombies, or indentured serfs. They are free to make their
own decisions, and to question the legality and morality of the orders they
are given. It is their obligation not to follow illegal or immoral orders.

Several of our soldiers on the way to the Gulf recently refused anthrax
injections because they did not believe the assurances they were given that
they were safe. They were returned from active duty, but AFAIK were not
otherwise disciplined. It shows that troops can legally disobey orders that
are not sane.

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/02/13/1044927740605.html

So if the troops decide to fight in an illegal, immoral and highly
questionable war, then they do so without my support. That is their decision
and I do not support that decision so how can I logically and in good
conscience support them?

I can forgive them, but I can't support them.


What Australians said about the Australian troops who refused injections on
the way to the Gulf.
http://www.smh.com.au/yoursay/2003/02/13/index5.html





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