Australia Won't Cut and Run

The Wall Street Journal ^ | April 27, 2004 | ALEXANDER DOWNER

[presidio9]

CANBERRA -- As Australia's foreign minister, I respect the right of countries to take decisions they perceive to be in their national interest. But I do not always agree with the choices they make. The announcement by Spain, and subsequently, by Honduras, to withdraw troops from Iraq is a case in point.

It is perhaps understandable that Spain's new government would want to withdraw its troops from Iraq. After all, this had been Prime Minister Zapatero's position for some time. Spain's decision, however, is extremely disappointing. For there has never been a greater need for the international community to pull together to help Iraqis in their hour of need.

[presidio9]

Mr. Downer is Australia's foreign minister.

[DM1]

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE!!! OI OI OI!!!!

[tjwmason]

Mr. Downer is Australia's foreign minister.

Long may he remain so. The Aussies have elections later this year in which the sitting Liberal Party of Prime Minister John Howard will be challenged by the Labour Party, the latter seeks to withdraw their troops (a la Spain). Go Howard go.

[presidio9]

Just so we're clear:

The Australian Liberal Party is not the same thing as the American Liberal Party....

[KingKangaroo]

I don't think Latham (the Opposition leader) will actually withdraw wholesale like the Spanish did.

[BFPRufus]

Doubt it. I don't think Latham would be that stupid. Howard invoked ANZUS when entering the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq (basically the jist of the treaty is an attack on America is an attack on Australia and vice versa). Latham withdrawing outright would jeopardise ANZUS, and with Indonesia being an unstable a it is, I don't think even Labour would risk Australia's main defence (i.e. the US alliance) just to score a cheap point against the US. Could be wrong, but I don't think he's that stupid, and the polls indicate Aussies wouldn't stand for it if he did pull out.

[Billthedrill]

Anyone who doubts the Aussies doesn't know them.

[KingKangaroo]

Yeah, we won't pulkl out. That said, i don't remember seeing too many US soldiers when we had to go to Timor. Whatever anyone says, alliance with the US is always very one way.