World Leaders Need to Take Action – Shirtless or Clothed

The G-20 summit is set to be held in Australia next month, and PM Tony Abbott has a bone to pick with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Abbott, who is understandably upset in the wake of the downing of Malaysian Flight 17, said that he will “shirt-front” the Russian leader. This is an interesting choice of words considering how often Putin is seen in the media with a shirtless-front (and back). If you’ve never heard the phrase before, you’re not alone. It’s a term used in Australian-rules football referring to a head-on physical confrontation. While Putin has yet to reply, the Russian media has called the comment rude and immature. It seems clear that many Australians don’t want Putin in their country, and many Russians found Abbott’s statement to be disrespectful.

Both men are known for putting their physical prowess on display, and neither seems likely to shy away from confrontation. While no arm-wrestling challenges have been issued, tensions between the two leaders are high. So far, President Obama hasn’t flexed any muscle on the subject, but Abbott’s position is certainly understandable. The downing of Malaysian Flight 17 was a tragedy, and those involved need to be held accountable. If Russian officials are preventing an investigation, perhaps a political “shirt-front” is in order. Unless those responsible are brought to justice in the next month, the G-20 summit will be quite interesting.