Post by bot on Jun 4, 2004 0:20:27 GMT -5
Bush slams Howard opponent on Iraq
Friday, June 4, 2004 Posted: 12:17 AM EDT (0417 GMT)
www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/06/03/howard.bush/index.html
Bush attacked Howard's challenger during his press conference with the Australian PM.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. President George W. Bush has expressed strong support for Australian Prime Minister John Howard and criticized the Iraq policy of Howard's Labor Party challenger Mark Latham.
Bush said that if Latham wins the upcoming election and carries out his pledge to pull out of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq, "that would be disastrous."
Latham has vowed to withdraw by Christmas all of Australia's 850 troops from Iraq should he win the election, which Howard is expected to call later this year.
"I think that would be disastrous. It would be a disastrous decision for the leader of a great country like Australia to say that, 'We're pulling out,'" Bush told reporters in a joint news conference after meeting with Howard at the White House Thursday.
Latham responded with a statement Friday morning in which he reaffirmed that he intended to withdraw the Australian forces.
"Labor never wanted the troops there in the first place," he said. "We intend to have them home by Christmas."
But he said he supported Australia's alliance with the United States, saying it was "bigger and stronger" than any mistakes made in relation to Iraq.
In his joint press conference with Howard, Bush said a withdrawal would "dispirit those who love freedom in Iraq."
"It would say that the Australian government doesn't see the hope of a free and democratic society leading to a peaceful world. It would embolden the enemy who believe that they can shake our will.
"See, they want to kill innocent life because they think that the Western world and the free world is weak; that when times get tough, we will shirk our duty to those who long for freedom and we'll leave."
During their meeting, the two leaders discussed "our coalition's progress in Iraq," Bush said.
"We continue to work closely with you and share your aspirations for a free and democratic Iraq," Howard said. "In recent weeks, the news out of Iraq has not been as positive as we would have liked. And the reasons for that are understood. But that has not altered Australia's view."
He added: "This is not a time -- it is the worst time imaginable for allies to be showing any weakness in relation to the pursuit of our goals in Iraq. And I express my strong support for the leadership that the president has continued to display, particularly through some of the more difficult aspects of recent weeks."
After his meeting with Bush, Howard told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that Australia's involvement in Iraq was now "less popular" than it was a few months ago.
"We've had the upsurge in violence, we've had the prisoner abuse issue. It's been a low point the last four or six weeks. And naturally public opinion has shifted to a negative stance," Howard said. "But we're now looking forward to the next stage."
Friday, June 4, 2004 Posted: 12:17 AM EDT (0417 GMT)
www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/06/03/howard.bush/index.html
Bush attacked Howard's challenger during his press conference with the Australian PM.
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. President George W. Bush has expressed strong support for Australian Prime Minister John Howard and criticized the Iraq policy of Howard's Labor Party challenger Mark Latham.
Bush said that if Latham wins the upcoming election and carries out his pledge to pull out of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq, "that would be disastrous."
Latham has vowed to withdraw by Christmas all of Australia's 850 troops from Iraq should he win the election, which Howard is expected to call later this year.
"I think that would be disastrous. It would be a disastrous decision for the leader of a great country like Australia to say that, 'We're pulling out,'" Bush told reporters in a joint news conference after meeting with Howard at the White House Thursday.
Latham responded with a statement Friday morning in which he reaffirmed that he intended to withdraw the Australian forces.
"Labor never wanted the troops there in the first place," he said. "We intend to have them home by Christmas."
But he said he supported Australia's alliance with the United States, saying it was "bigger and stronger" than any mistakes made in relation to Iraq.
In his joint press conference with Howard, Bush said a withdrawal would "dispirit those who love freedom in Iraq."
"It would say that the Australian government doesn't see the hope of a free and democratic society leading to a peaceful world. It would embolden the enemy who believe that they can shake our will.
"See, they want to kill innocent life because they think that the Western world and the free world is weak; that when times get tough, we will shirk our duty to those who long for freedom and we'll leave."
During their meeting, the two leaders discussed "our coalition's progress in Iraq," Bush said.
"We continue to work closely with you and share your aspirations for a free and democratic Iraq," Howard said. "In recent weeks, the news out of Iraq has not been as positive as we would have liked. And the reasons for that are understood. But that has not altered Australia's view."
He added: "This is not a time -- it is the worst time imaginable for allies to be showing any weakness in relation to the pursuit of our goals in Iraq. And I express my strong support for the leadership that the president has continued to display, particularly through some of the more difficult aspects of recent weeks."
After his meeting with Bush, Howard told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that Australia's involvement in Iraq was now "less popular" than it was a few months ago.
"We've had the upsurge in violence, we've had the prisoner abuse issue. It's been a low point the last four or six weeks. And naturally public opinion has shifted to a negative stance," Howard said. "But we're now looking forward to the next stage."