The Hundred Per Cent Ally

The Mark Steyn Show
May 11, 2017

https://www.steynonline.com/7794/the-hundred-per-cent-ally

Last week, Australia's Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, came to New York, with five Royal Australian Navy veterans from HMAS Australia and HMAS Hobart, to join President Trump in marking the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea. That was a very early example of the post-imperial Aussie-American relationship that was to develop after the Second World War.

With that in mind, we thought viewers might be interested in this episode of The Mark Steyn Show from a few weeks ago in which Mark talks to the second longest-serving of all Australian prime ministers (after Sir Robert Menzies); The Hon John Howard, OM, AC.

Steyn and Howard discuss America's new president, whom many politicians Down Under did not regard with enthusiasm and took some time to warm up to. As the Prime Minister declared after 9/11, "This is no time to be an 80 per cent ally" - and he wasn't. We think you'll find what he has to say of interest. Click below to watch:

~Mark will be back on air this weekend for an audio adventure we hope you'll enjoy. If you find Steyn less stressful on radio than on TV, please note that Founding Members of The Mark Steyn Club can now enjoy The Mark Steyn Show in audio form, simply by logging in. To listen to the above show, simply click here.

Another advantage of Founder Membership is our comments section. If you're a member and you take issue with what Mark or Mr Howard said on the show, then feel free to comment away below. (Steyn even pipes up himself once in a while, as you can see in his reply to Lynn Foster here.)

For more information on The Mark Steyn Club and becoming a Founder Member, please see here.

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6 Reader Comments

John Jones • May 15, 2017 at 07:29

Watching this,it now seems like a Golden age when JWH was PM. Don't be fooled though. To the MSM and the elites,he was Lucifer himself. During his tenure,the Bunyip Aristocracy did everything in their power to de-legitimise him as PM,viewing him and his party as a mean and nasty affront to democracy and progressive ideals.Were one to assume that their position was shared by the bulk of ordinary Australians,which is how they portrayed it,logically,Howard and his Govt should've been out after one term. And yet...he and his Govt were magically elected for 4 terms in a row! Clearly the masses were simply complicit in their own oppression! One of the last PM's to actually practise "conviction" politics,as opposed to the weathervane PM's we've had since,who simply look to which way the wind's blowing and change accordingly.

Martin • May 14, 2017 at 19:09

It is a myth being promoted by both mainstream parties that Australians support high levels of immigration, especially the high levels of "refugees", most of whom are Muslims. Under Howard's watch, his immigration minister Amanda Vanstone brought in thousands of Somali refugees. You remember Vanstone, Mark? She's the rotund gal who told you a friend of hers would be willing to shag you, but that she'd hate herself in the morning. These Somali refugees are now responsible for the wave of home invasions and car jacking's sweeping across Melbourne.

PK33 • May 12, 2017 at 09:53

I hope that with being stuck with the bill for your excellent show's production means that you own and will keep using the introduction, both visual and musical for The Mark Steyn Show and Steynposts.

I would expect nothing less than "groovy" music from you and I am delighted with the animated Mark. Because I visit SteynOnline before I have finished my morning coffee, I will admit it took me a couple of views to get "Steynposts", even though animated Mark leans on sign posts. It's brilliant, however only a few people could do this since if your name were Mark Wojodubokowski, it just wouldn't work. Regardless, your work is like an artichoke Mark, with layers to enjoy. Or perhaps I should say, like a Kinder egg with happy surprises for the reader and viewer.

Ken

PK33 • May 12, 2017 at 22:45

Eggzactly. In silhouette, animated Mark does resemble young Frank, eh?

PK33

Ken • May 13, 2017 at 09:45

I really like the stylised look, especially of the trees, it all seems very MCM in design. Also, using a CRESCENT moon with what appears to be Canada Geese flying in front of it. I enjoy little tidbits like that, whether they have the meaning I imagine they do or not, just seems appropriate.

Ken • May 11, 2017 at 22:48

What a statesman, I dare say "Winstonian". Does he smoke cigars? Churchill was half-American, and I wonder how he might have responded to the joke about America's "temporary rebellion". Mr. Howard was clearly amused, though he missed a great opportunity to deliver a punch line.