Posted on 05/16/2006 8:56:43 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
US President George W. Bush has told a glittering dinner at the White House that the US has no better friend than Australian Prime Minister John Howard.
About 100 business leaders, political figures and sportsmen donned black tie to attend the official dinner in the State Dining Room in Mr Howard's honour today.
Media boss Rupert Murdoch, the US Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte, former Liberal leader Andrew Peacock and golfer Geoff Ogilvy were on the exclusive guest list, as was the Howards' son Richard and his guest, Kristen Slaughter.
Greg Norman wasn't there – but the golfer's Santa Barbara chardonnay was on the menu.
And the entertainer for the night, country singer Kenny Chesney – who recently split from wife Renee Zellweger – brought his mother Karen along.
Janette Howard, wearing a full length blue silk gown, sat between Mr Murdoch, chairman and chief executive of News Corporation (parent company of the publisher of NEWS.com.au), and President Bush on one of the main tables, while Mr Howard sat between Mr Murdoch's wife, Wendi Deng, and First Lady Laura Bush.
In a brief toast delivered under a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, President Bush thanked the Howards for making the long journey to Washington and described them as "two really good friends".
"In the global war on terror we have no better ally than Australia and John Howard," he said.
"And in the spread of freedom to create lasting peace, we have no better friend than Australia and John Howard."
Mr Howard used his toast to repeat his call for the US to remain involved in international affairs.
"The world will need America just as much in the future as the world has needed America in the past, and as the world needs America at the present," he said.
"Those foolish enough to suggest that America should have a lesser role in the affairs of the world should pause and think whether they really mean what they say, because a world without a dedicated, involved America will be a lesser world, a less safe world, a more precarious world."
Australia's potential next ambassador, Robert McCallum, Vice-President Dick Cheney and Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld were also at the dinner, along with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Liberal Party federal director Brian Loughnane and Dwight Eisenhower's grandson David.
They dined on early summer squash soup and house-cured duck prosciutto, pan-roasted barramundi with melon relish and lemon risotto, followed by the intriguingly named dessert "the Australian black pearl".
LOL!
God Bless Prime Minister John Howard..a friend indeed!
Indeed, God Bless John Howard. I did not notice Vegemite on the menu. Guess the White House chef did not want to start an international incident.
We'll make sure lashings of Vegemite are on hand next time Dubya's in town..:)
How many best friends does he have? I KNOW Vincente Fox uis definately his best friend.
Best in small doses, AD. I like pretty much everything about Australia. Vegemite is where I draw the line.:)
Toast without Vegemite is like a beach without sand (or sheilas!!!)
Or Beer!!!!
Is that Hitlery?
You remember her?
Can't say I do :)
BTW, where's the Vegemite?
Look for the Men At Work.
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