Australian Cricket Ready for Generational Change?

Is Australian Cricket ready for Generational Change? My post on Theroar.com.au

http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/12/26/is-australian-cricket-ready-for-generational-change/

Diplomacy - Survivor Style

Every day that goes past sees more top secret cables leak their way through the internet into the ever increasing whirlpool of disruption, international hostility and frattled nerves wikileaks created. Julian Assange has suddenly become the world’s most talked about person, ranging from death threats and cries for execution from conservative America to claims of martyrdom from the internet’s freedom fighters. Government’s around the world have been left reeling with scathing whispers never meant to see the light of day turning into stinging backhanders hitting allies and enemies alike. The Australian government, and Kevin Rudd in particular, are on the backfoot every day as wikileaks seemingly sets the agenda by arming journalists with what were once top secret grenades.

As i switched the channel from the news to Survivor Nicaragua Tuesday night I couldn’t help but feel the content we have thus far been subject to from the release of cables was no different to average episode of the world’s favourite reality tv show.

One thing that has intrigued me the most about theongoing wikileaks saga is the disproportionate level of hysteria that has been raised in relation to the lack of controversial detail thus far released in the cables. Kevin Rudd a control freak? Check. Berlusconi and Sarkozy Country leaders by day and Kevin Foleyesque playboys by night? Check. Unrest in the Middle East? Tell us something we don’t know. All this badmouthing and alliance forming is no different to the behavious we can see on Survivor each week.

What makes survivor such popular and riveting television is that it is such a true revealer of the human psyche. It turns mothers into compulasive liars, honest to god grandfathers into cutthroat schemers all in the name of fame, money and power. Alliances come and go depending on the strength and value of each member. It is a game built on deciet were every move you make must be self serving for any chance of survival.  All cablegate has shown us thus far is that diplomats and governments are playing the same game.

It’s no surprise to see the United States diplomats arrogantly playing the role of kingmaker, able to namecall friends and allies alike due to their self perceived king of the playground status. The recent revelation of Senator Mark Arbib being a protected informant has definitely shook a few feathers but it’s likely there is more than one in every allied government.

What Wikileaks has undoubtedly done is upset the status quo. International diplomacy has always been a game where America has set the agenda and controlled the game, now Julian Assange has come along is a threat to the United States position as the leader of the free world. United States is using all it’s diplomatic ties to hunt him down. Julia Gillard has continued the disgraceful Australian legacy of not publicly supporting one of it’s citizens in the face ofrediculous outcries from prominent Americans such as Mike Huckabee. Now Julian Assange sit’s in the court under some rediculously unusual arrest warrant. The United States have got Julian Assange right where they want him, they have rallied the alliance and think they can go after Wikileaks as hard as it can without much backlash. All it needs now is for Survivor host Jeff Probst to put out Mr Assanges torch.