We are told Trump has now secured a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.

“God bless Israel, God bless Iran, God bless the Middle East, God bless the United States of America, and GOD BLESS THE WORLD!”

Crisis averted. For now. For some.

He wouldn’t say what intelligence may have been shared or received. He didn’t utter “Israel” at all but rather urged “Iran not to take any further action that could destabilise the region”. And what of the Palestinians?

Nothing.

Yesterday, standing at the lectern in front of the Australian flag with Foreign Minister Wong by his side, Albanese offered no condemnation of the “pre-emptive” or “unilateral” strikes and dodged questions on the legality of US actions.

Albanese added this about Bush’s evangelical views:

And again Albanese invoked Palestine:

Then on the 20th March 2003 - as Australian troops readied for the invasion of Iraq - Albanese delivered another speech criticising the new US military doctrine of “pre-emptive strikes” which he said would change “forever the way that international politics works”.

Albanese also offered this observation - which in 2025 carries profound new meaning given the US-backed Israeli siege, slaughter and starvation in Gaza which has surpassed 625 days.

He added: “I believe that we must continue to tell them that unilateralism can never be the basis of a satisfactory world model and that pre-emptive action should not involve the use of military power.”

On 10th of February 2003 Anthony Albanese delivered a lengthy speech decrying John Howard’s support for military action. “Any US-led military action not sanctioned by the United Nations would be illegal under international law,” Albanese said.

So let’s take a walk down memory lane. Back to the months before the US-led coalition invaded Iraq and seized Baghdad in 2003.

Albanese says he wants to see “diplomacy, dialogue and deescalation” in Iran but as Trump and wanted man Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu openly threaten regime change in Tehran, many fear disaster awaits.

Many have also warned of the uncanny similarities between this moment and the catastrophic US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 under false pretences - or outright lies - of WMDs.

While the US and Israel have sought to characterise their attacks on Iran as “pre-emptive” acts of self defence, international law experts have warned their strikes are unlawful and mark yet another trashing of the rules based order that’ll carry untold consequences.