Australians Condemn Government on Iraq

[Nambe]

CANBERRA, Australia (AP)

Former defense chiefs and diplomats condemned Australia's involvement in the Iraq war Sunday in a major blow to Prime Minister John Howard's re-election prospects.

The 43 eminent Australians including two former chiefs of defense and three ambassadors issued a scathing public statement accusing the government of deceit and of rubber-stamping foreign policies decided by Washington.

With some commentators predicting that Howard this week will announce a Sept. 18 election, the statement underscores the war as a major issue. Howard hopes for a fourth three-year term as prime minister. ..

"We are concerned that Australia was committed to join the invasion of Iraq on the basis of false assumptions and the deception of the Australian people," the statement said. "Above all, it is wrong and dangerous for our elected representatives to mislead the Australian people." ..

Ride Don’t Drive * * It’s Global Cool

[LauraK]

1. Sept. 15 -- Bye Bye John Howard

He'll be taking his job at Carlyle before the deserter. It must be tough giving up all that power for all that money.

[liberalcanuck]

2. This election is very important and believe me, the mis-administration

is watching this very carefully. Prime Minister Howard's opposition, The Labor Party led by Mark Latham, is running on an immediate troop withdrawal from Iraq. If Latham wins, imagine what a blow that would be to an already shaky so-called "coalition of the willing". Australia is considered a huge ally in this conflict and a potential troop withdrawal would be a disaster for *.

(snip)

This apparent reward for the Howard government's long-term policy of unquestioning obedience to the White House has many commentators in Australia claiming interference by Bush in Australian domestic affairs while also highlighting the policy differences between the two major Australian parties on Iraq.

Furious Labor Party members, accusing Howard of influencing the U.S. president's comments, maintained that their policy of "bringing the troops home by Christmas" was best for the security of the country. Opposition leader Mark Latham refused to back down and issued a statement declaring, "The best role Australia can play in Iraq is through humanitarian, economic and civilian aid, not a long-term military role ... Labor never wanted the troops there in the first place." Latham restated his pledge to return Australian troops to the country by Christmas and added, "Nothing President Bush has said today changes our hopes and expectations about the future."

Australian Greens leader Senator Bob Brown was also scathing in his criticism of the U.S. president. "How dare this popinjay of a president interfere in Australian affairs - Australian domestic political affairs? He should pull his head in," said Dr Brown in a statement to the Australian Broadcasting Corp's World Today program. "The Australian people are quite able to judge our political leaders and the diversity of opinion in this country, and we don't need President Bush, from his biased and quite small-minded point of view in Washington, telling the Australian people what they should think or what they should do."

(snip)

http://www.worldpress.org/Asia/1875.cfm

popinjay
n 1: a vain and talkative person (chatters like a parrot)
2: archaic

I had to look that up!

This could get very interesting.

*I added the bold print for emphasis.

[JohnyCanuck]

3. I do so like that last paragraph. n/t

[struggle4progress]

4. kick

:kick:

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Go get 'em

Aznar
Berlusconi
Blair
Bush
Howard

[dudeness]

6. Australian condemns government on Iraq

I and many thousands like me condemned Howard Bush and Blair in a series of street protests before the illegal invasion of iraq..better late than never i suppose..but I can only recall the voices of John Pilger..Bob Brown and a few others joining with us at the time..