John Howard's "weasel words" on bushfires

John Howard has used "Weasel Words" (see below) to suggest that Climate Change is not responsible for this year's unseasonally early and severe bushfires.
"Mr Howard said there was not enough evidence to suggest climate change had caused extra bushfires in Australia. "I don't think anyone could ever prove that either way," he said.
The Age 16 December 2006
This is a man who cannot admit that he was ever wrong (and still is) about anything - even the simple observation that Climate Change is real.
Wake Up, John Howard. Sniff the air - it is full of smoke. At least, it is, everywhere except in Kirrabilli. Climate Change is burning this country, right now.
As a matter of interest - this is what Victoria Emergency Services Commissioner thinks:
CLIMATE change is causing longer, more aggressive bushfire seasons and must be factored into the state's firefighting plans, Victoria's Emergency Services Commissioner said yesterday.
"We are seeing unprecedented fire behaviour," Commissioner Bruce Esplin said. (The Age 18/12/06)

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I know you went and visited some fire fighters in the north-east of Victoria this week, but that actually doesn't achieve anything - except a photo opportunity for yourself.

Visiting the firefighters in Whitfield, John Howard said:

"Going there today shows directly to the people that their fellow Australians are thinking of them, they feel for them, they worry that these fires are starting so early and in such a large number of areas," he said.
"It's going to be a long, hot summer, to use that old cliche. These fires have started very early." The Age 13 December 2006.

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Wake Up, John Howard. Sniff the air - it is full of smoke. At least, it is, everywhere except in Kirrabilli.

Climate Change is burning this country, right now.

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Wikipedia provides a useful reference to Weasel Words, by the way, with a lovely derivation of the meaning.

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language says that the term actually comes from the weasel's ability to suck the contents out of an egg without breaking the shell; thus, weasel words suck the meaning out of a statement while seeming to keep the idea intact.