Yo, Bush! My open letter to the President

YO, Bush! Welcome to Sydney.Forgive the informality, but you're a Texan and Australia is a pretty laid back as you'd know from the Aussies you've met over the years and though you're only visiting briefly, a lot of us hope you get to experience something of the flavour of the country we love while you're here.You've had an opportunity to see something of the Harbour, the Bridge and the Opera House and perhaps you'll get a chance to see Bondi and some other famous beaches before you leave. I certainly hope so. As you know from your escapades with your old mate John Newcombe, we're a pretty upfront, straight-forward bunch and we respect those who stand up for what they believe in and take their lumps when they have to.

Newk was famously in your car when you were arrested for drunk driving in Kennebunkport, Maine, nearly 30 years ago. He says you paid the penalty for trying to keep up with an Aussie. The fact that you can remember the incident, despite registering a blood alcohol content of .10 and that you did cut back on the beers from that moment says a lot about your strength of character. You'll be meeting the leader of the Federal Opposition, Kevin Rudd, later today. He's also fallen foul of the demon drink but unlike you, he can't remember anything of the affair. Not even semi-naked women pole-dancing. Notwithstanding his forgetful moments, Rudd has asked for time with you and will give you the benefit of his opinion of US foreign policy. You might want to state your position, but it really won't be necessary to respond as Rudd has already said he has determined the course of action he intends to follow when he is (as he has told business leaders) inevitably elected. Still, thank you for extending the courtesy of listening to him and providing him with a photo opportunity. As you said at your press conference yesterday, the US and Australia are engaged in historic and important work in Iraq and many of us hope your assessment that future generations will appreciate the "courage and sacrifice made by our respected countries in laying the foundations for peace" in that nation. How Rudd is able to separate the fight in Iraq from the struggle in Afghanistan remains a puzzle. Some in the West have tied themselves in knots trying to parse the gradations of human freedom, and define liberty, but there are some pretty simple guidelines which media gurus and academics always ignore (such as whether women are accorded equal status) that remain fair indicators. You would think that given Rudd's predilections for the odd night on the sauce, he would be supporting the right of Iraqi women to lead their own lives, whether or not they wish to go pole-dancing, but apparently not so. Freedom for Afghan women, yes, but Iraqi females will be abandoned under Rudd's policies. Your presence underscores the importance of APEC as a policy development forum but it is hoped that you get time to meet informally with the other heads of the other most powerful economies in the world, China and Japan, as well as talk to the leader of the world's largest Islamic nation, Indonesia, and, of course, Russia. As your refreshingly informal salute "Yo, Blair" at the G8 meeting in St Petersburg last July indicated, the heads of the world's great powers can get to know each other and communicate at a pretty relaxed level at these gatherings. Your lengthy friendship with our Prime Minister John Howard, is an example of the warmth of the relationship that can develop. You will have been briefed about the rent-a-rabble protesters, but be assured you needn't pay them attention. Every country has its wilfully misinformed and willingly ignorant. Tellingly, some protesters are opposed to APEC's encouragement of trade even though a report released by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade shortly before you flew in noted that the amount of poverty in the Asia-Pacific is shrinking as trade and globalisation create jobs. And finally, despite what you've been told about your friend John Howard's current level of popularity, your remarks about your mate will be warmly received by many Aussies. When you said you admired his vision and courage, you reminded them that he has made difficult decisions, unpopular decisions, because he believed them to be right, not because of what their possible effect on his popularity and he has stuck with them. As you said, "in international diplomacy, it is important to know a leader is being honest." It is a big thing to be able to say, as you did: "And the thing I appreciate about dealing with Prime Minister Howard is well, you know where he stands. You don't have to read nuance into his words and when he tells you something he stands by his word and I thank you for that." Those were simple words but they went beyond the diplomatic inconsequentialities that most leaders mutter and reflect a sincerity that is appreciated. Thanks for visiting, and enjoy the rest of your stay.