http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/ ... 13766.html
However Barama thinks not.
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
Obama hits back at Howard
February 12, 2007 - 8:02AM
US presidential hopeful Barack Obama this morning blasted as "empty rhetoric" Australian Prime Minister Howard's attack.
"I think it's flattering that one of George Bush's allies on the other side of the world started attacking me the day after I announced," Obama told reporters in the mid-western US state of Iowa.
"I would also note that we have close to 140,000 troops in Iraq, and my understanding is Mr Howard has deployed 1400, so if he is . . . to fight the good fight in Iraq, I would suggest that he calls up another 20,000 Australians and sends them to Iraq.(No thanks)
"Otherwise it's just a bunch of empty rhetoric." (Got him in one Obama)
Howard earlier attacked Obama's plan to withdraw US combat troops from Iraq by March 31, 2008.
The conservative leader said on commercial television that Obama's pledges on Iraq were good news only for insurgents operating in the war-ravaged country.
"I think he's wrong. I think that will just encourage those who want to completely destabilise and destroy Iraq, and create chaos and a victory for the terrorists to hang on and hope for an Obama victory," Howard told the Nine Network.
"If I were running al-Qaeda in Iraq, I would put a circle around March 2008 and be praying as many times as possible for a victory not only for Obama but also for the Democrats."(What a dickhead!)
Democrats react angrily
A string of Democrats have reacted angrily to Mr Howard's comments which have received widespread media coverage in the US.
Terry McAuliffe, a former chairman of the Democratic National Convention, criticised Mr Howard's strong links to US President George W Bush.
"The prime minister has been a great friend of George Bush's, he has been with him lock-step from day one on this war in Iraq," Mr McAuliffe said.
"He and George Bush, they can go off and talk to each other, we don't care what he says."
Democrat senator Ron Wyden said it was hard to be polite about Mr Howard.
"The most charitable thing you can say about Mr Howard's comment is bizarre," Senator Wyden said.
"We'll make our own judgments in this country with respect to elections and Barack Obama is a terrific public servant."
Even Republicans have criticised Mr Howard for interfering in US domestic affairs.
"I would prefer that Mr Howard stay out of our domestic politics and we will stay out of his domestic politics," Texas Republican senator John Cornyn said.(Why didn't you in 2004?)
However, Republican presidential candidate Duncan Hunter has defended Mr Howard.
"I think the Aussies have earned a right to comment on the world stage about their partner in this endeavour because they've been fighting side-by-side with us in Iraq," Congressman Hunter said.
Prime Minister John Howard has defended his criticism of US presidential hopeful Barack Obama after Labor accused him of risking Australia's alliance with America.
Mr Howard attacked the Democratic presidential aspirant over his pledge to withdraw American troops from Iraq by March 2008.
The prime minister warned the policy could destroy Iraq and remove hopes of ever achieving peace in the Middle East.
Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd accused Mr Howard of putting the alliance at risk because of his personal relationship with US Republican president George W Bush.
"The prime minister's partisan attack on Mr Obama and the Democratic Party risks the strength of the US alliance," he said.
"Mr Howard must not allow his personal relationship with President Bush to impact on Australia's long-term alliance relationship with the United States.
"The alliance between Australia and the United States has prevailed with such strength and certainty because it has always been above party politics."
But Mr Howard said he had worked closely with both Democrat and Republican leaders.
A spokesman for the prime minister said he had worked closely with Democrat president Bill Clinton and Mr Bush, a Republican.
"The prime minister remains of the view that the policy Mr Obama is advocating regarding Iraq is not in the security interests of the USA or Australia," the spokesman said.
AAP, AFP