Tony Abbott & the Ten Commandments

28 January 2007

Tony Abott’s ongoing enthusiasms for both the Ten Commandments and Iraq war are touching. (“Abbott to tackle Rudd on faith”, 27/1.)

But in the context of that war, how on Earth might Mr Abbott interpret Commandments 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9 and 10?

He, his government and their US ally justified the invasion by bearing false witness against Saddam Hussein; vainly invoked the name of God in attacking Iraq; took no respite on the Sabbbath in doing so; covet Iraq’s oil; worship the false idol of consumption; and have done an awful lot of killing and stealing.

Given Mr Abbott’s extraordinary spiritual qualities, it may be that the Almighty has divulged to him sub-clauses the rest of us know nothing of.

I would ask him to make these public at the earliest opportunity.

John Macgregor

Chiang Mai