Posted on 06/15/2004 7:02:42 AM PDT by dead
The war in Iraq was no longer the negative for the government that it once was, Prime Minister John Howard told his party room today.
A spokesman for the joint Liberal-National party room said Mr Howard had told members and senators the situation in Iraq had improved in recent weeks.
Last month, Mr Howard admitted to the party room Iraq was a political negative for the government.
But he now believed that was changing.
"He had previously said that Iraq was a negative, but felt that in the past two weeks we have begun to see a turnaround," the spokesman quoted Mr Howard as saying.
"He said that there were now identifiable Iraqi figures saying, for example, that the coalition should stay, and thanking Australia for their commitment.
"He also highlighted the comments of the secretary-general of the Arab League last night as particularly significant, as well as the 15-0 vote in the UN Security Council."
The council sanctioned the hand over of certain powers to the Iraqi interim government.
Mr Howard said Labor was starting to pay for its position on Iraq.
He also alluded to the political consequences for Labor's stance.
"He said that Labor is in a worse pickle," the spokesman said.
"They look like they're wavering, and that they're looking increasingly opportunistic.
"There will be implications of what they are saying and doing."
AAP
Is "party room" the equivalent of a caucus?...otherwise, especially since they're Aussies, it could be a kegger...
The 'Rats are going to be increasingly desperate to portray the events in Iraq as a negative. Eventually they will be caught cheering when the bombs go off, and their true nature will be revealed.
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