Mr Rudd Bans China's Blue Security Wiggles

HAVING watched Bobbies (and Bobbettes) in the past do nothing as Islamic extremists advocated violence and murder on the streets of London, it wasn't a surprise to see foot soldiers of another incarnation of thuggery - the Chinese police state - arrogantly bossing around the public surrounding the Olympic torch in the same city. Kevin Rudd says the Blue Goons will be banned from doing the same in Australia. He seems to understand that Australians won't tolerate similar scenes on our streets. And it looks as though my extinguishment ideal has been achieved in Paris - twice! Simon Jenkins in the Sunday Times has had enough of the ridiculous torch and all it represents:

Today’s London publicity stunt for the Chinese regime should be ignored by the public and any reputable athlete or politician, unless to register a fierce protest. The four-month "journey of harmony" of the Olympic torch (or many cloned torches) through 21 nations is an exercise in political laundering. It is appalling that the prime minister is to "greet" his torch in Downing Street. This tour has nothing to do with sport. It has been staged by the Chinese government, not the International Olympic Committee, with "celebrity runners" in each country approved by the commercial sponsors, Coca-Cola, Lenovo and Samsung ... Politicians should go nowhere near these Games except in protest. Leave them to sport. Today and at every stop along the way, the torch and its bearers must suffer a tunnel of shame, parodying its protestations of peace, brotherhood and justice. This is an opportunity to publicise and protest against the world's greatest dictatorship. The BBC's 400 Olympics staff are on the mother of all junkets, in contempt alike for China's oppressed and Britain's licence-fee payers. It will be shocking if such a media bonanza ignores its wretched political environs. China last week welcomed the British government as a member of something called the Olympic family. If this is a family, I hope that for the next four months it is an intensely unhappy one

Now it's time for Mr Rudd to stop watching what other leaders do and make up his own mind about whether or not he'll attend the opening ceremony of the Games (1936 Redux) in Beijing. It's a genuine test of character and independence. Can he make a hard decision and can he finally do something - anything - to emulate his supposed heroes?