The question is the same as it always was: why are we in Iraq?

And now Tony Blair decides to prop up the most undemocratic regime in the entire region by suspending the rule of law in Britain.

Why? Oil? Arms sales? Who knows? But one thing is clear. The popular Arab and Muslim view that Western nations meddling in the Middle East are driven by self-interest, not high principle, has been emphatically confirmed.

So what does this mean for Australia?

Like faithful lapdogs, we've signed up to an invasion and an occupation that were tainted from the outset. We have faithfully parroted the changing justifications, from weapons of mass destruction to freedom and democracy. And we've got caught in our own Middle East bribery scandal, through the Australian Wheat Board.

At least John Howard hasn't suspended the rule of law yet, but he's done a great job of ensuring that everyone else gets the blame.

We are minor players in the Middle East, but we could set a good example by withdrawing from Iraq. The invasion of Iraq was simply wrong. No amount of playing with words can alter that.

It has not advanced the cause of freedom and democracy in the Middle East. Military force won't deliver freedom and democracy in the Middle East. Arab and Muslim commitment to these principles will not be fostered by hypocritical and cynical behaviour by Western countries.

If we want to actively promote democracy and freedom in the Middle East, we have to come to the table with clean hands.