The events now occurring in Iraq have brought about a profound change in the way the world is ordered. Anyone who pretends otherwise is fooling themselves. This is the first time that two democracies – the US and the UK – have undertaken a "pre-emptive war". This marks a fundamental change in world values. It is something that threatens the way we look at the world – the way in which Éamon de Valera looked at it and how we now look at it. The Government walked us into this situation by pretending it would not happen, by hoping it would not happen. When it did happen the Government pretended we were not involved, but claimed at the same time that if non-involvement was demonstrated, it would be seen as a hostile act by the coalition. There should be a continuing debate on this crisis. With so much fiction and spinning in the reports we are receiving, we need to know the Department of Foreign Affairs judgment on this crisis on at least a weekly basis. I support Senator Norris in his request for this debate.