Ark's Ark

The US President has declined a customary joint press conference after his address to the Federal Parliament tomorrow.

The media event, which normally allows two or three questions from Australian media and an equal number from the visiting press, would have been the only official opportunity for Australian journalists to quiz Mr Bush on the Iraq war and its aftermath.

It would also be the only opportunity to ask the US President about the two Australian citizens being detained without charge at Guantanamo Bay.

Australian journalists have also been denied any place in a so-called “close-up media pool” that will follow Mr Bush on all his official stops on the day. All positions in the four-member pool have been allocated to members of the White House press corps.

The US Secret Service rejected an application from the Canberra press gallery for equal access, on the basis that the journalists did not have the required US security clearances. The Secret Service then declined to allow the journalists to apply for those clearances; no reason was given.

A marquee has been set up in the grounds of The Lodge to allow the American journalists to file their stories. No Australian media will be allowed on the grounds.

A member of the team put together by Mr Howard’s department to make press arrangements for the visit conceded yesterday that Australian media will learn of events at Government House and The Lodge from news reports filed in the US.

Asked why there would be no joint press conference with Mr Bush and Mr Howard, the spokesman said: “Because it isn’t on the itinerary.”

Mr Bush and Mr Howard had joint media conferences both times the Prime Minister visited the US this year.

Bush: First of all, you’re a pretty darn good reporter. Secondly, it’s probably best that I not reveal what the prime minister and I are going to talk about until after we talk about it.

However, having said that, Thailand and the United States are very close friends. The level of cooperation has been really strong, particularly in matters of common interest. We have a common interest to make sure our countries are secure from terrorism. As you know the Thai government very capably – I emphasise “capably” – brought to justice Mr Hambali, the planner of the Bali bombings in Indonesia, the killer of hundreds of innocent lives, and I really – and it was a piece of really good work. My only point is that we value our relationship and friendship on this key matter.

Of course, I’ll be talking economics, as well. Our non-Nato ally status is something I want to speak to privately first with the prime minister – and not on your TV screen, if you don’t mind, but it’s a very good question. [Laughter]

Sometimes, public opinion in Thailand, like in your country, does not always support what the government does. You may admire the prime minister for being supportive of the anti-terror campaign, but there are people in Thailand who are not happy with that. They are against the war in Iraq and against your policy of pre-emption. There are people who plan to stage a demonstration to demand that you be arrested during your visit to Bangkok. How do you respond to these critics?

[Laughter] Well, I’m – first of all, a society that allows for people to express themselves is the kind of society I admire. I don’t expect everybody to agree with my policies. And I appreciate the fact that they are able to express themselves. I’m not so sure I agree with their desire to have me arrested.

Look, some people disagree with my decision to take action against a thug who had been torturing his own people – we’ve discovered mass graves with hundreds of people that had been buried there, but it’s also a man who used chemical weapons.

And the United Nations – I didn’t act alone. The critics must understand that I was acting in concert with the UN, which for years had said disarm. And, finally, I went to the UN and said wait a minute, this is time to – let’s take care of this man one way or the other, and give him a chance to disarm, and he didn’t. So I said there ought to be serious consequences for not disarming and we acted.

I’m going to tell you something. People have got to understand I’m not going to forget the lessons of September 11, 2001. These are cold-blooded killers that received their support from different governments, and this nation will act to protect our people. And just like I hope the people of Thailand would expect the prime minister to act to protect the people in Thailand.

There is an increased recognition among South [-east] Asian countries that Prime Minister Thaksin of Thailand is gradually emerging as a new regional leader. You have met him. You have talked to him. Do you see him being different from the other Asean leaders?

Well, I certainly don’t want to compare him to other leaders, I think that would be unfair. But I do see him as a very strong leader and a very capable leader. He’s got a good grasp of the issues. He understands how economies work. He is not afraid to make tough decisions. He stands his ground in the face of criticism. And so I think he is a very interesting, dynamic leader.

There are people in Thailand who doubt whether we made the right decision to send Thai troops to help in the reconstruction of Iraq. With mounting casualties on the part of the American troops, there are people who doubt if it’s worth the risk or not.

Yes, well, I think of course in a free society, there are doubters. But people ought to understand that a free and peaceful Iraq is necessary for world security. A peaceful society in the midst of a part of the world that’s been troubled is going to, for the long run, help – will help change the world in a positive way. And, therefore, the idea of helping to rebuild a country ought to be something the Thai people accept.

You’ve got to understand the people in Iraq lived under incredible tyranny and torture and rape rooms – the kinds of things the people in Thailand reject. These people were – the tyrant brutalised them and at the same time built up weapons and didn’t spend the money on social services.

And so not only are we making the world more secure and peaceful, we’re actually making life better for people who had been brutalised by this man. And surely the people who respect human rights and decency understand the need to help.

Earlier, they cursed the world’s most powerful leader and said they hoped his spirit would perish.

The Northern Peasants Federation rallied outside the US consulate in Chiang Mai against what they called Washington’s manipulation of the farm agenda.

Thailand and the US are likely to start free-trade talks soon.

Protesters stuffed a photograph of Mr Bush in an earthen pot in a spirit-sealing gesture before throwing the pot into the Ping river.

It is quite outrageous the Australian people are being treated in this way. It is quite outrageous that the presiding officers of this place should be so obsequious to the faceless people of other countries who come in here and dictate what shall or shall not be the arrangements for visitors. Mr President, this is not Beijing, this is not Baghdad, this is not Dallas. This is Canberra. You should have shown more respect rather than simply bowing at the knees to the dictates of the secret services of other countries …

“We love this country and we love our democratic system. We do not want it invaded, curtailed or cut back by the way other people run theirs. Rather than telling us what to do and how we might present ourselves in our corner of the world, President Bush should come here and learn how he might better present himself to the rest of the world by seeing people as equal and by spending some of the largesse of the US on helping others who don’t have anything, rather than on armaments and unilateral decisions as to how to run the world …”

Brown would not give an inch. He insisted the Senate president give a “categorical assurance” that no “foreign personnel” would be allowed into the Parliament during the Bush and Hu visits “bearing arms”. The President, Senator Paul Calvert responded: “Established procedures have existed for many years on this matter. They have not been departed from in regard to the forthcoming visits. I hope the Senate will understand that I will not expand on that.” What Calvert was saying was code for yes, US and Chinese security agents would be carrying concealed weapons, both inside and outside Parliament.