Progress report

“Prince Ranariddh claimed the King [Sihanouk] told him that he would only retake political power on three conditions: that there be one party, no media freedom, and no human rights organizations.” -- Sue Downie in the September 9-22 Phnom Penh Post. Sihanouk is king of Cambodia as a result of the UN-imposed peace agreement that was trumpeted at the time as “restoring democracy” to the country.

Overtones

“The Secretary-General is already at loggerheads with the US over who will control the UN force that will take over in the second phase of the operation [in Haiti]. Dr Boutros-Ghali does not want the UN force to be led by an American commander as he thinks that that will reinforce the colonial overtones of the operation.” -- Sydney Morning Herald, September 22.

Stability

“Stability is in effect here. The US military presence has already had a stabilising effect.” -- US military spokesperson Colonel Barry Willey, asked by journalists to explain why US troops looked on passively as Haitian cops beat demonstrators.

Give and take

“These days you can go to [the ALP national] conference with the uncertainty eliminated ... You know who has got the numbers in every single debate.” -- Labor left MP Gerry Hand.

Stacking?

“The branch provides the sinews of war around election time. There can be a long period between elections, so what are the branches for?” -- ALP president Barry Jones.

Dilemma

“We can't be shaking our fists at the party in power, because we are the party in power.” -- Barry Jones on the responsibilities of office, or something.

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