HOWARD ATTACK SIGN OF RADICAL SHIFT AWAY FROM DEMOCRATIC VALUES
INT'L PRESS, AUSTRALIAN ELECTORATE MUST CONSIDER SERIOUSLY WHETHER PM IS COMMITTED TO OPEN GOV'T, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, MARKETPLACE OF IDEAS
12 February 2007

Australia's prime minister John Howard, has launched a rhetorical attack against US presidential candidate and US senator Barack Obama (D-IL). Howard took the unusual step of attacking not only an individual candidate for a foreign head of state, but also suggested that if a Democrat wins, it would be a victory for terrorists. The comment is controversial enough because Obama is not the first US politician to propose a phased withdrawal of troops, but also because it appears to reveal allegiance to a specific party in a foreign state.

Global media were quick to pick up on Howard's remark, and some media in the US seemed more than eager to run headlines repeating the fact that "Howard slams Obama Iraq plan", as if to inject opposition into US political discourse. Forbes, for instance, ran a shameless rehashing of the PM's message, almost a vote of support, with the headline "Australian Leader: Al-Qaida Wants Obama".

Howard's statement was perhaps even more forceful than reports suggest, including an apparent suggestion to terrorists: "If I were running al-Qaida in Iraq, I would put a circle around March 2008 and be praying as many times as possible for a victory, not only for Obama but also for the Democrats."

The Democrats did not let the comment go unchallenged and quickly counterattacked. The Age reported "Prime Minister John Howard has been described as bizarre and irrelevant by US Democrats after he launched an attack on Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama".

Senator Obama, for his part, said the comment was just "empty rhetoric", as Howard has sent only 1,400 Australian troops and does not appear ready to send any more, despite his feeling that opposition in the US to an increase in the war effort could be "disastrous". The senator challenged Australia's PM to take stock of his position and to either act in support of his rhetoric or withdraw his attack.

Obama also appeared to laugh off the attack, quipping that it was flattering that a close ally of Pres. Bush, whose foreign and domestic policy Obama has openly opposed, "started attacking me the day after I announced [a campaign for the presidency]—I take that as a compliment".

It is unusual for a head of state to openly declare support for or opposition to a major party in a foreign state which is an ally, especially where both parties are functional players in a democratic system. Howard's comment could be interepreted in part as rhetorical fodder for his own national campaign later this year, but also as a sign of an apparent departure from the core values of democratic government and cooperation. [s]

• TVNZ: "Howard sets off US Democrats"
• The Australian: "Put up or shut up, Obama tells Howard"
• Forbes: "Australian Leader: Al-Qaida Wants Obama"
• The Age: "PM Howard bizarre, say US Democrats"
• CNN: "Obama hits back after Australian PM slams his Iraq stance"
• SMH: "PM not sorry for Obama attack"

BUSH ANNOUNCES PLANS TO SEND 21,500 MORE SOLDIERS TO IRAQ
FACING INCREASING CALLS FOR PHASED WITHDRAWAL, IGNORING IRAQ STUDY GROUP ADVICE, BUSH TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR WAR'S MISTAKES
11 January 2007

After much speculation and many leaks, US pres. George W. Bush has announced he will send more than 20,000 additional soldiers into Iraq warzone, will require Iraqi government to take action against sectarian movements fomenting violence across Iraq. Bush also said that "Where mistakes have been made, the responsibility rests with me". [Full Story]

SENATE REPORT SAYS HUSSEIN NEVER HAD AL-QAEDA TIES
SADDAM HUSSEIN NEVER WORKED WITH BIN LADEN OR AL-ZARQAWI, DESPITE CLAIMS BY TOP U.S. OFFICIALS
9 September 2006

As the 5th anniversary of the attacks of 11 September 2001 approach, the US Senate's Intelligence Committee has issued a report officially finding that Saddam Hussein never collaborated with al-Qaeda in any sense. In fact, he was hunting Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who would later name his organization "Al-Qaeda of Mesopotamia" or as per Pentagon briefings "Al-Qaeda in Iraq".

Hussein was suspicious of the Islamist radicalism of al-Qaeda and did not view them as friendly to his regime and its interests. [Full Story]

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