SouthAussie
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It has been suggested that the Dutch PM Rutte and the Australian PM Abbot are playing Good Cop, Bad Cop.
Rutte is the good cop, because that is all the situation allows for this moment.
Abbot is the bad cop who does not care about Putin and Russia, he can shout his heart out - but is it happening?
Keep your eye on the ball, and the two FM's who are travelling the world together.
I don't understand Abbott at the best of times. It isn't that Australia is sending troops that bothers me. I do think the AFP has a legitimate role (assuming the relevant parties agree), and that the Australian military has a role in protecting them. But I'm genuinely scared by Abbott and the govt's rhetoric. This hard-line stance is the same that they've taken with refugees, which I'm opposed to. Why are Abbott and Bishop being so tough? I don't believe they had to take this approach to get Australian victims home. I just see them using this situation to win support in Australia, but I'm worried about how this is going to play out in Eastern Ukraine of all places. I'm worried for our members of the AFP and the military. And I'm worried about what Australia is dragging itself into.
I tend to lean towards ZaZara's suggestion of a good cop/bad cop scenario at this point. The Dutch and the Australian reps are travelling together, and speaking at the same venues. The Dutch taking the softly, softly approach .. the Aussies loudly reminding all that there is military back-up at the ready. We are a country and people far removed from Europe, we can afford to be the bad cop.
Julie Bishop was saying earlier that SAS could be there this weekend, but they are not there ... although they are, no doubt, close by in case we are needed to get investigators out imo. The rebels are allowing more freedom at the crash site, they are speaking more sensibly with the OSCE. Looted items are mysteriously reappearing. Fatima's parents were even given access to the site to lay flowers and ruminate. Things are happening very slowly, very carefully, but step by step.