[Green-Activist] Howard: "I am profoundly cynical"

[Roy Garner]

Dear activists,

It's not often that I agree with Prime Minister John Howard, but I have 
to confess that I wholeheartedly endorse his self-assessment, as 
reported Thursday 19th October on ABC radio.  Howard said: "I am 
profoundly cynical".

The admission came in an interview on Howard's commitment to the 
ongoing war in Iraq, dressed up as a practical exercise in bringing 
democracy to the people:
	
	"One question later I went on to make it very clear that we remained 
rock solid in our support for a democratic Iraq," he said.
	Mr Howard says he wouldn't object to Iraq's neighbours helping 
coalition forces stabilise the situation in the war-torn country.
	Former US secretary of state James Baker is expected to call on 
President George W Bush to ask Syria and Iran for help.
	Mr Bush has previously identified Iran as part of the Axis of Evil and 
labelled Syria a rogue state.
	Mr Howard says he doubts either nation would want to help.
	"I am profoundly cynical but as a matter of principle do you talk to 
neighbouring countries, yes, do you believe that Iran and Syria would 
come to 	this 	with pure hearts and good intentions, no, I'm a bit 
cynical about that," he said.

check it out! http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200610/s1769254.htm

"Cynical"? Slip of the tongue?

cynical: ... adjective 1. distrustful or contemptuous of virtue, esp 
selflessness in others; believing the worst of things, esp that all 
acts are selfish. 2. sarcastic, mocking. 3. showing contempt for 
accepted standards of behaviour, esp of honesty or morality: the 
politician betrayed his promises in a cynical way. [Collins Australian 
Dictionary]

COMPARE:

Sceptic: ... noun 1. a member of one of the ancient Greek school of 
philosophy, esp that of Pyrrho (?365-727 b.c.), who believed that real 
knowledge of things is impossible...

sceptical: ... adjective 1. not convinced that something is true; 
doubtful. 2. tending to mistrust people, ideas, etc., in general. 3. of 
or relating to sceptics... [Collins Australian Dictionary]

P.S. Have you noticed the way Howard raids other people's utterances 
(terms, characterisations etc.) and regurgitates them as his own?  
"Inconvenient truth", for example?
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