so it was on Sept 7th , Abbott told Gillard of his plans.... that was weeks ago, well before her plans...well she had no plans to go, not interested... Abbott was interested due to the calims by soldiers of lack of equipment and support.... he did not want to go there and talk with the chiefs, who may deny it...he wanted to talk to the soldiers... so she swooped and tried to outsmart him....and just go for another photo op....nothing more....just more cheap tricks to foolya....from joolya and minders
extract.............
He said that he had told Ms Gillard soon after the election result was confirmed by the independents' decision on September 7.
He had been "absolutely candid'' with her, he said. "I said, 'Julia it would be my hope not to just go there for a whistlestop but to be embedded for a couple of days'. And she said, 'Well Tony you're better at the running, jumping stuff than I am'."
He had booked his commercial flights to get him to Dubai, the jumping off point for Afghanistan, on September 12 and had a confirmation email of his visit from the Defence Department on September 14, well before Ms Gillard's visit on October 2. http://www.theage.com.au/national/pm-accused-of-stooping-to-bastardry-20101010-16e01.html?autostart=1
