Posted on 02/11/2007 5:51:17 PM PST by naturalman1975
THE Prime Minister has fired another salvo in his growing war of words with US presidential hopeful Barack Obama, saying the senator had dodged his criticism of his Iraq withdrawal plan.
Senator Obama today challenged John Howard to commit another 20,000 Australian troops to Iraq after the Prime Minister said his call to bring American troops home by March 2008 would be a victory for al Qaeda in Iraq, who would be hoping for a Democrat win in next year's presidential election.
The US senator accused Mr Howard of "empty rhetoric" in his criticism of his stand, as Australia has committed only a fraction of the number of troops the US military has sent to Iraq.
The Federal Opposition has said Mr Howard is letting his personal friendship with US President George W. Bush cloud his judgment and should apoligise.
But far from backing down from the developing spat, Mr Howard has said today that Senator Obama's response missed the point of his criticism.
"I think the most interesting thing about (Senator Obama's comments) is that it didn't really address the substance of the issue," Mr Howard has said on ABC Radio.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
Read the polls, watch TV..
We're doomed!
We know that's not true, But what must others think?
Not that I care what others think, but it's tough to get support when our own media blisters our intentions every day.
THAT is important when it comes to support on the WOT.
The Australians have a lot of Balls.. we need their help
George Bush's allies? Dear Lord save us from these bent people.
Yes, you are correct.
As a good ally in this war, Mr Howard has every right to his opinion. Surrender in Iraq and Iranian domination of the area, as well as a base for Al Qaida affects much more than us and our politics.
I was thinking something something similar. Why doesn't Obama get after his twin brother IMANUTJOB in Iran and tell him to get his money and agents out of Iraq.
This comment alone, that you quoted "one of George Bush's allies" goes to show the lack of depth and understanding of the media-hyped obamarama. He is not in this race for the USA, he is in this race only for his own personal power. He doesn't grasp allies of the United States. He clearly suffers from BDS, and this comment should and will hurt him in the long run. Cornyn needs to hear from us on this one; he should not have given media fodder; he should have defended Howard as an ally better, and in the end he did, but what the media will show is just his half-statement. Howard should stay out of US politics; Cornyn is great but he has to learn how to deal with the media just a little bit better.
That said, I think all the pubbies that were out on the shows today, overall showed they do have a backbone, and I'm more pleased than not with their performance.
Some Americans do lack a spine, and a pair below the waist. Others, though, stand quite ready to fight and to serve in whatever ways they can.
It's worth noting, that despite control of the Senate or House of Reprobates...err, Representatives over the last 48 years, realise that only 4 democrats have been elected as President in the last 48 years. (granted, one was chosen twice). three of them were succeeded by two term Republican presidencies. And in that timespan, only once was the two term Republican president followed by a Democrat. (Carter in 1976, which I most fervently want to forget!)
I don't get it. Is Howard TRYING to help Obama??? Because here's a junior senator from IL who is presumably weak/inexperienced on "the world stage."
Now, right on the heels of his announcement, he gets to spar with a world leader one on one. In my opinion, that RAISES Obama's stature and profile, and HELPS him.
Taking on an ally of the US in the WOT does NOT help Obama, it shows he is an ignaramus.
His business IS here. Without a proper US foreign policy, Australia will be in harms way.
It forces Hussein to choose sides in the international War on Terror.
Draw out the beast now rather than later
Democrats sent some of their people to Austrailia to specifically campaign against Howard. Austrailia has a definite stake in how the policy if the United States is effected by an elected member of the U.S. Senate's comments and by stated policy objectives of a U.S. Presidential candidate.
Don't be silly! No offense intended. Obama is an empty suit and he's been "called out" by a proven Statesman.
Negativity never wins.
Big Balls win, Obama hasn't got 'em, John Howard does.
Didn't Howard start this fight? Obama didn't direct any comments at Howard did he? I thought Howard started it, then Obama came back with how it's easy to criticize when you've only got 1200 troops involved, which, sorry, is a fair point. 1200 is a token compared to 140,000 or 160,000 or whatever we have there.
I suppose I need to say it. I don't like Obama. I'm not going to vote for him. I assume I'll vote for whoever the GOP nominates. But seriously, I just disagree with you on this one. A one on one fight between a world leader and a junior senator, started by the world leader, raises the stature of the junior senator. Now he's really in the game, he gets more headlines, more press, etc.
No, he isn't.
But from an Australian perspective, the election of Obama as President of the United States would be a disaster given his political history.
Would President Obama support Australia if we faced invasion by Indonesia? Just as one hypothetical question that is very important to our security and from our perspective is at the cornerstone of the ANZUS alliance?
There are factors that make Obama particularly of concern to Australia - far more than, for example, a President Hilary Clinton would (for all his other faults, and they are considerable, President Bill Clinton was a friend to Australia) even though Howard would certainly prefer that didn't happen either.
"...but I don't see how his attack on Obama and Democrats help Republicans or Conservatives in the US."
Since when is speaking the truth an "attack" against anyone? I must be too simple minded. I always though that telling the truth was just telling the truth.
If I'm a scrub nobody boxer, fighting other scrub wannabes, then I'm just a nobody. But if the champ, or even number 2 or 3, suddenly wants to get in the ring with me and spar? Now I'm in the ring. I've already separated myself from the rest of the pack by beating them to the punch. It's so obvious. So basic.
He will get a lot of press over this, but ultimately it will be BAD press; of course CNNABCCBSNBC will come to his defense, but...it will only last a short time. In the long term this will hurt Obama and show what an immature person he really is. Whether Howard made the first comment or not doesn't matter. When Osama/obama called Austrailia an ally of George Bush he showed he can't stand on the world stage as a representative of the United States; he will only be seen as being in this for himself. It was a stupid comment, his arrogance is catching up to him quickly. This will ultimately help Miss Hillary, and don't think for one minute that she won't jump on this as soon as it is realized this comment will hurt Obama.
Obama could be horrible for Australia. My point is simply that if that's the case, imo, Howard is doing the opposite of what he should do. He should ignore the turd. And even if Obama wins the nomination...we want foreign leaders chiming in?? I thought we wanted them to STFU.
First time I have been mad at John Cornyn. Never thought he would be a girlyman. *He* needs to keep his mouth shut. I don't recall him making any headlines about Kerry's sister actually down in Australia campaigning against PM Howard. I intend to email him immediately.
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