The nation's federal politicians today
resigned themselves to dark days ahead as Australia was on the
brink of war against Iraq.
MPs and senators spent two days debating war, with parliamentary
sitting hours extended to allow everyone a chance to speak.
While all politicians accepted war could be just hours away,
they were divided on Australia's involvement in US-led action.
War talk turned into cross chamber spats with tempers flaring as
the deadline for military action loomed closer.
US President George W Bush on Tuesday gave Iraqi leader Saddam
Hussein until midday Thursday Australian time to leave his country
or face war.
Australia has committed 2,000 troops to any action.
Cluster bombs, the effectiveness of protective suits for
soldiers, the Iraqi regime's rape of women and talk of bloody
warfare peppered speeches in both houses of parliament.
Labor went on the attack, accusing Prime Minister John Howard of
Nazi-style politics after he cancelled question time for the second
day running.
That left Defence Minister Robert Hill in the hot seat defending
the government's stance against anti-war critics in the Senate.
Labor frontbencher Wayne Swan accused Mr Howard of using Gestapo
tactics.
"Australians today are watching this parliament," Mr Swan said.
"They are watching it because they want to see that their
parliamentarians are looking after their national interest.
"They don't want to see some sort of Gestapo tactic that we're
getting here today from this government.
The government should be forced to answer questions about the
cost and conditions of the defence force deployment to the Gulf, he
said.
"Why has the PM decided to go AWOL on question time? What has he
got to hide?" Mr Swan said.
Labor frontbencher Mark Latham challenged 24 coalition MPs who
opposed the use of embryonic stem cell research to cross the floor
of parliament against war.
Opposition Leader Simon Crean slammed Mr Howard for failing to
step up security in Australia in response to international warnings
about a heightened risk of terrorism at a time of war.
"In agreeing to go to war they have done nothing to address the
increased risk of terrorism in this country," Mr Crean said.
Australian Greens Senator Kerry Nettle was reprimanded by Senate
President Paul Calvert for sporting an anti-war t-shirt in
parliament.
She was warned against entering the chamber with a slogan
emblazoned t-shirt after a handful of coalition senators heckled
her for criticising the government's commitment to war.
But most politicians - reluctantly or otherwise - accepted
Australian troops would be embroiled in the US-led conflict by
week's end.
Australian Democrats Senator Lyn Allison raised the spectre of a
nuclear cloud.
But Queensland Liberal Senator Santo Santoro said Australia had
to call Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's bluff and the nation
should support its troops regardless of differing views on war.
"These are dark days but Australians have always looked after
their mates," he said.
Aust federal pollies debate Iraq as war looms

By Linda McSweeny
CANBERRA, March 19 AAP - The nation's federal politicians today
resigned themselves to dark days ahead as Australia was on the
brink of war against Iraq.
MPs and senators spent two days debating war, with parliamentary
sitting hours extended to allow everyone a chance to speak.
While all politicians accepted war could be just hours away,
they were divided on Australia's involvement in US-led action.
War talk turned into cross chamber spats with tempers flaring as
the deadline for military action loomed closer.
US President George W Bush on Tuesday gave Iraqi leader Saddam
Hussein until midday Thursday Australian time to leave his country
or face war.
Australia has committed 2,000 troops to any action.
Cluster bombs, the effectiveness of protective suits for
soldiers, the Iraqi regime's rape of women and talk of bloody
warfare peppered speeches in both houses of parliament.
Labor went on the attack, accusing Prime Minister John Howard of
Nazi-style politics after he cancelled question time for the second
day running.
That left Defence Minister Robert Hill in the hot seat defending
the government's stance against anti-war critics in the Senate.
Labor frontbencher Wayne Swan accused Mr Howard of using Gestapo
tactics.
"Australians today are watching this parliament," Mr Swan said.
"They are watching it because they want to see that their
parliamentarians are looking after their national interest.
"They don't want to see some sort of Gestapo tactic that we're
getting here today from this government.
The government should be forced to answer questions about the
cost and conditions of the defence force deployment to the Gulf, he
said.
"Why has the PM decided to go AWOL on question time? What has he
got to hide?" Mr Swan said.
Labor frontbencher Mark Latham challenged 24 coalition MPs who
opposed the use of embryonic stem cell research to cross the floor
of parliament against war.
Opposition Leader Simon Crean slammed Mr Howard for failing to
step up security in Australia in response to international warnings
about a heightened risk of terrorism at a time of war.
"In agreeing to go to war they have done nothing to address the
increased risk of terrorism in this country," Mr Crean said.
Australian Greens Senator Kerry Nettle was reprimanded by Senate
President Paul Calvert for sporting an anti-war t-shirt in
parliament.
She was warned against entering the chamber with a slogan
emblazoned t-shirt after a handful of coalition senators heckled
her for criticising the government's commitment to war.
But most politicians - reluctantly or otherwise - accepted
Australian troops would be embroiled in the US-led conflict by
week's end.
Australian Democrats Senator Lyn Allison raised the spectre of a
nuclear cloud.
But Queensland Liberal Senator Santo Santoro said Australia had
to call Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's bluff and the nation
should support its troops regardless of differing views on war.
"These are dark days but Australians have always looked after
their mates," he said.