Powell urges Latham to drop Iraq troop deadline

[anakie]

Shrub, Armitage, now Powell

"United States Secretary of State Colin Powell says it would be a disaster for the alliance if Australia pulls its troops out of Iraq.

Mr Powell has increased the pressure on Opposition leader Mark Latham to reverse Labor's Christmas troop withdrawal deadline, particularly after this week's United Nation's resolution to formally end the occupation of Iraq at the end of this month.

Mr Powell has told ABC TV's Insiders program that if Labor wins the federal election, and Australian troops leave Iraq, it would be a political disaster for the alliance between the US and Australia.

"It would be disastrous for Australia to say, well we see this international consensus, we see this international resolution but we are going to head for the door, I don't think that's the Australia that I have known and respected for so many decades," he said."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200406/s1129296.htm

[rooboy]

1. Powell to Australia - VOTE LATHAM. n/t

[gratuitous]

2. A political disaster?

Only for the corrupt Bush administration.

I don't mean to minimize the commitment of our Australian friends, but how many troops do they have in Iraq? I'm guessing less than 5,000, and Stupidhead is having to transfer that many and more from the Korean peninsula. The only damage an Aussie withdrawal would cause would be to Stupidhead's perceived prestige. He can't hold his alliance together, because nobody's getting paid except Bush's bidness pals.

[anakie]

3. around 800 to 1000

the stupidity of the whole situation is that Howard absolutely refuses to send anymore than this token effort.

[mom cat]

6. The Aussies ain't dumb. They know the cookie jar is empty after the

big giveaway needed to get the security council resolution passed.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Latham wants to withdraw troops by Christmas

That's an excellent idea. The US should, too.

[struggle4progress]

5. Hey, Colin, take responsibility for your own blunders!