Mad Monk's Mealy Mouthed Apologia on Afghanistan

Tony Abbott has two big problems right now - he doesn't know when to shut up and he doesn't the gumption to speak up when he ought to either. Both problems are vividly illustrated by this short report from The Sydney Morning Herald.
 First he shows his shutting up problem:

Tony Abbott insists he has not criticised the military justice system, as three Australian diggers face charges including manslaughter.

Last week, Mr Abbott accused the government of stabbing the soldiers in the back.

The opposition leader has also declined in media interviews to defend the independence of military prosecutor Lyn McDade, unlike some of his coalition frontbenchers.
...
Mr Abbott said it was his job to speak out on behalf of people who may not be getting a fair go.

"It's really the government's job to defend the system," he told the Nine Network.

"I'm not criticising the system, I hasten to add."

And here he reveals his difficulties with speaking up when he ought to:

Mr Abbott explained why he stayed silent last week when Sydney radio broadcaster Alan Jones referred to the "so-called" independence of Brigadier McDade.

"It's not always easy to get a word in with Alan, as you know," he said.

There's a simple solution to that problem - he could stop appearing on Jones's radio show and avoid the temptation to make any more inflammatory suggestions that he'll later want to weasel away. Abbott's situation would be vicariously embarrassing if it weren't for the schadenfreude.