PRIME Minister John Howard has backed NSW Opposition Leader Peter Debnam amid Labor criticism of the state Liberal leader's comments on ethnic crime. Mr Debnam has criticised the failure by police to arrest people of Middle Eastern descent who carried out revenge attacks after the Cronulla Beach riot on NSW Premier Morris Iemma has accused Mr Debnam of setting a bad example for the community by showing no respect for police. But Mr Howard today defended Mr Debnam. "I am not going to buy into what's the cut and thrust of state politics in NSW except to observe the leader...