Posted by Dunder on November 29, 2006, at 4:38:40
In reply to John Howard, posted by Declan on November 27, 2006, at 14:20:28
> John Howard, in Ho Chi Minh City recently, said this:
> "I supported our involvement at the time and I don't intend to recant that. I believe that in public life you are accountable for the decisions that you take. I mean, I didn't hold any position of authority then but I supported the reasons for Australia's involvement and nothing has altered my view that at the time on the assessments that were made then I took that view and I took that view properly and I don't intend to indulge this preoccupation that many have in recanting everything that they supported when they were in positions of authority. I think in public life you take a position and I think particularly of the positions I've taken in the time I've been Prime Minister. I have to live up to the consequences of those both now and into the future. And if I develop reservations, well I hope I would have the grace to keep them to myself because I think you take a position and you've got to live by that and be judged by it, and that's my position."
>
> Beyond irony, hey? In Ho Chi Minh City.Oh! the irony indeed.
My interpretation is that he is basically saying. "Everyone makes mistakes but one must never admit it". I think that politicians in general would earn a great deal more respect and trust if sometimes they were honestly to say "Look, I think I/we made a mistaken judgement on this occasion".
poster:Dunder
thread:707882
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20061123/msgs/708514.html