er6n, I've already made my views on this known. I think the depiction of our PM in that cartoon is bloody disgraceful. However it does support what you say about them.
When they're upset they will respond in a fairly crude way because a response requiring a few neurons at work, tends to elude them.
I would also love to see Indonesia treated with a firmer hand. But, they're our neighbours and always will be. If I have an issue with my next door neighbour, I tend to be a tad more diplomatic than if it was some ratbag living miles away.
The Australian govt made a decision quite some time ago to engage with asia and that is never going to change.
Smooth words were required in the beginning without an apology. The opportunity was lost through incompetence. I don't believe that an apology is now the way to go. More a conciliatory and polite explanation expressing our regret. But we can't promise never to do it again and SBY knows this.
