I would note that Australia has troops in both East Timor and the Solomon Islands, as part of this War on Terror, and the United States, despite being much larger than us does not.
If Senator Obama expects us to put troops in Iraq because of some statistical reason, I suggest the US needs to send a few troops there.
Of course, such a decision would be strategically pointless, and militarily stupid, because war is not a numbers game. It's nowhere near as simple as how many troops you have on the ground - it's what is needed and what they are doing.
Strategically, it makes sense for Australia to carry the lions share of responsibility in our own backyard (and I would be remiss if I failed to mention that the US has been quick to assist us logistically in both those operations when there has been something they could usefully do), and so we have taken on the heavy lifting there. But that limits the troops we have available for other theatres in this Global War on Terror.
The big question I have - and the reason why the idea of President Barak Obama is a big concern for Australia, moreso than a President Hilary Clinton would be, is whose side would Obama be on in the event of a conflict between Australia and Indonesia?
What worries me is a repeat of the Falklands situation, writ large - when the United States is forced to choose between two nations it wants to be friendly with.
To the credit of the US, back then they chose to go with the UK over Argentina when it came down to brass tacks, but back then Ronald Reagan was in the White House. You don't get that many Ronald Reagans.
By the way, as regards the Falklands, the Argentines were clearly in the wrong. They should be grateful Margaret did not let loose her subs aside from the Belgrano, or their entire fleet would have been on the bottom of the ocean.
So the troops from Australia already risking their lives are empty rhetoric? This coming from the empty suit himself that only won election because Ditka chose not to run and Ryan decided to become that state's Taft.
Someone tell Obama he's a freshmen, anyway, and must wait for Turbin to slam the Australian troops before his turn is up.
Besides, BJ was doing a little of our laundry in Australia -- the Rats have plans to diminish America but there is still a majority that don't.
Bill Clnton spoke to the 2002 World Congress on the Peaceful Reunification of China and World Peace in Sydney, Australia, BJ said that America's "pre-eminent military, economic and political power would not last."
"This is just a period," he said, "a few decades this will last . . . how would we like to be treated when we no longer have this pre-eminent position and we have to work in a cooperative fashion with others to a far greater extent than we have to do today."
We should be concerned also, very concerned. Thank you, Prime Minister Howard.
Hussein Obama Twelfth Imam needs a brain implant as a follow-on to his chin implant.
The corrupt Muslim liar dares mock a staunch ally in this very real fight--for noting the obvious.
Democrats want to cut and run in Iraq, so Hussein Obama's playground taunt falls flat.
Democrats--notably the Clinton Janus--failed to act against the terrorist attacks of Osama bin Laden, al Qaeda, Iran in the WTC I bombing, Mogadishu (full flight), Khobar Towers, African Embassy bombings, USS Cole.
Obama has experience in combat? Obama has sent Illinois troops to fight in Indiana or Iowa?
No, Obama has bought a fine house and had a political fixer give him the adjacent property.
Obama isn't a knife.
Now, John Howard--that's a knife!
"Otherwise, it's just a bunch of empty rhetoric.''
Well this guy would know empty rhetoric when he hears it. As a matter of fact ALL democraps operate in the world of empty rhetoric !!!
If Barack Hussein Obama wants to go one-on-one with Australia's John Howard, he'll find himself neutered without mercy.
To paraphrase Sir Winston Churchill:
'An empty limousine pulled up outside of Capitol Hill, and Barack Obama got out.'
The lightest of lightweights, Obama will be to this election cycle what Howard Dean was in the last one.
All mouth, and no substance.
Barack Hussein Obama just proved his poor math skills.
Australia's population is what? 20.26 million!
USA population is.....298.44 million.
Simple math tells you if USA has 140,000 troops in Iraq,
Australia would need only 8000 more troops NOT 20,000 more
troops. Mr B.O. is just a dumb liburral!
Not quite and argument that helps Obama get out of his getting ripped! Not even close.
I think Biden spoke a little too quickly when he said that Obama was articulate. Obama may have an affirmative action degree from Harvard, but he talks like Jesse Jackson - and says stupid things dressed up with pretty words.
When Obama is the one making the decisions about how many troops are needed, and where they need to be, THEN he can start lecturing world leaders about their response to the war. Until then, he needs to concentrate on HIS job, not that of a foreign leader.
Ridicule, call names to divert attention from total lack of intellectual honesty.
Barak Hussein Obama is 'just a bunch of empty rhetoric.'
What a lightweight fool.
Obama's a gaffe that is surely of the same caliber as our NZ Prime Minister Helen Clark's sage observation about the WOT and GWB that got us all into trouble...
It's the sort of remark that is very hard to retrench from, despite all subsequent efforts. As they say, "Friendly fire isn't!"
Perhaps he's done the US a favor and acted as his own stalking horse...
(you don't see *that* happening often, ay!)