by
Sam Roggeveen
12 February 2008
Strange column from Canberra press gallery stalwart Michelle Grattan today. The thrust of the piece is that Prime Minister Rudd's first reaction to the latest Timor crisis — to send in more troops and police — is only a gesture and may not even help very much. She even quotes Hugh White approvingly, who says this move is closer to the Howard Government's military-centric short-termism than the more considered approach Rudd promised. Yet Grattan's opening two paragraphs sing hosannas in praise of Rudd's 'instant', 'strong', 'quick' and 'robust' reaction. What gives?