I was always taught to start a talk with a joke. This one came to mind for a reason that I will explain at the end: Way back in Europe during the Napoleonic era, the great general was travelling with the French Army back to France after beating up the Austrians at Austerlitz when the came to the French Border at Strasbourg or suchlike. The army encamped for the night. Now in those days and considering the ferocity of Napoleon and his troops, it was customary and considered a good idea at the time for the City to hoist flags, fire guns and generally appear happy and joyous that their Lord and Master was passing by, yet there was no sound or recognition from the city. The following morning Napoleon decided to make enquiries as to this lack of etiquette….
The City Fathers, led by the Mayor, were arrested by a Squadron of Cavalry and brought shaking and sweating before Napoleon to account for this apparent lapse. The question was politely asked by Marshall Ney as to why the City had not fired a Twenty Four gun salute?
The Mayor, began to answer; “Mon General” he started, “Our sentries had their telescopes stolen and did not see Army approaching, when they did see you, they sent for the Captain of the Guard, but the messengers horse threw a shoe and the message was delayed.” He continued and explained that the Captain of the guard had lost the key to the magazine and when the spare was found, it was discovered that the gunpowder was wet and mice had eaten the fuses.
Then Mayor continued to explain this misfortune for another Ten minutes and then came to the denouement: “And finally your Excellency, we have no cannon!”.
I have been following the latest twists and turns in L’Affaire Buckley and that brought up thoughts of a Police interrogation of a suspect in the case of aparticularly nasty rape and murder in inner city Melbourne. The bloke claimed his mobile phone had been stolen when asked why it was found at the scene of the crime. He had alibis for where he was on the night in question. He had not travelled anywhere that evening he said. The investigator listened to all this and was most sympathetic. He then gave the suspect a photo, taken by a traffic camera, of himself driving a car on the Calder Highway at the time he claimed he was shacked up with his girlfriend. The investigator walked out of the room and left the suspect alone with the photo for thirty minutes. When he returned the suspect confessed.
If I was an Ombudsman or perhaps an employee of CASA, I would be wondering exactly what evidence Mr. Buckley might have of the alleged misbehaviour of CASA, if he has any. What some may consider and perhaps characterize as the voluminous ramblings of an emotional crank, if found to be substantially true, do not paint CASA in a good light from any number of viewpoints, not least potential investors in Australian Aviation.
It will be interesting to see if Mr. Buckley, like our proverbial French Mayor and our Police investigator has neglected to provide his incontrovertible evidence till the last.
The City Fathers, led by the Mayor, were arrested by a Squadron of Cavalry and brought shaking and sweating before Napoleon to account for this apparent lapse. The question was politely asked by Marshall Ney as to why the City had not fired a Twenty Four gun salute?
The Mayor, began to answer; “Mon General” he started, “Our sentries had their telescopes stolen and did not see Army approaching, when they did see you, they sent for the Captain of the Guard, but the messengers horse threw a shoe and the message was delayed.” He continued and explained that the Captain of the guard had lost the key to the magazine and when the spare was found, it was discovered that the gunpowder was wet and mice had eaten the fuses.
Then Mayor continued to explain this misfortune for another Ten minutes and then came to the denouement: “And finally your Excellency, we have no cannon!”.
I have been following the latest twists and turns in L’Affaire Buckley and that brought up thoughts of a Police interrogation of a suspect in the case of aparticularly nasty rape and murder in inner city Melbourne. The bloke claimed his mobile phone had been stolen when asked why it was found at the scene of the crime. He had alibis for where he was on the night in question. He had not travelled anywhere that evening he said. The investigator listened to all this and was most sympathetic. He then gave the suspect a photo, taken by a traffic camera, of himself driving a car on the Calder Highway at the time he claimed he was shacked up with his girlfriend. The investigator walked out of the room and left the suspect alone with the photo for thirty minutes. When he returned the suspect confessed.
If I was an Ombudsman or perhaps an employee of CASA, I would be wondering exactly what evidence Mr. Buckley might have of the alleged misbehaviour of CASA, if he has any. What some may consider and perhaps characterize as the voluminous ramblings of an emotional crank, if found to be substantially true, do not paint CASA in a good light from any number of viewpoints, not least potential investors in Australian Aviation.
It will be interesting to see if Mr. Buckley, like our proverbial French Mayor and our Police investigator has neglected to provide his incontrovertible evidence till the last.