Troop withdrawal counterproductive: PM Howard

[cal04]

what a surprise)

PULLING troops out of Iraq just because the war-torn country's historic democratic elections were over would be counterproductive, Prime Minister John Howard said today. The larger-than-expected turnout of voters for last Sunday's poll was no reason to bring forward the withdrawal of allied troops from Iraq, Mr Howard said.

He also warned that terrorists would gain comfort from any troop withdrawal. "Our military presence is obviously a lot smaller than that of the US and the UKm, but from our point of view this would be a bad time to immediately start talking about withdrawal," he said in Singapore. "Now is the time to provide the reassurance.

"Now there will come a time when withdrawal will be appropriate, but certainly to talk about it now, would be in my view, counterproductive." Mr Howard was in Singapore for a one-day visit which included high-level talks with his counterpart Lee Hsien Loong.

Tomorrow Mr Howard will visit the tsunami-devastated province of Aceh to oversee the work of the massive relief effort under way there. His comments about troops in Iraq came as Labor said Australia would need to keep troops in Iraq as long as Australian diplomats faced a security threat there.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,12117272%255E1702,00.html

[NYC]

1. My friend's brother is a mechanic in the National Guard (U.S.).

He belives/believed that if the election went well, he would be home soon.

[Lerkfish]

5. sadly, I think he's deluded himself...

even if troops could withdraw (and they WON"T, since the PNAC wants to have permanent bases there), even if they partially withdraw, the poor soldiers and national guardsmen will simply be redeployed to Iran or the next perpetual war. There is no "coming home".

[NYC]

7. He didn't delude himself.

Someone else did that for him, but he chose to believe.

[Lerkfish]

8. Good point.

you're right.

[leesa]

2. Of course, all Bush's minions come out of their holes to declare, "We

can't leave, there's still oil there!"

And the American fools will buy it as they sink deeper and deeper into their self-made hole.

[LynnTheDem]

3. "Terrorists"??? How about the IRAQIS would gain comfort from troops out

Especiallya s that's what the majority of IRAQIS want.

But good GOD no we can't do what the IRAQIS want us to do!!! Why, they're just ignorant little retarded children!

:eyes:

[bpilgrim]

4. when Ted Kenedy Speaks, People around the world LISTEN

these bastards are all goin DOWN!

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS - OUTSOURCE THE WAR - TO IRAQIS

BRING OUR TROOPS HOME, NOW!

peace

[trochanter8]

9. I haven't heard anybody agree with Kennedy

Not one Democrat or Republican. So far, Kerry, Levin, Jackson Lee, Reid, Leiberman, Dayton and Bayh have all come out and said they don't agree with Kennedy. they've all made public statements since Kennedy's speech. None of them support it. Kennedy used to be so eloquent and had a commanding prescence, but I think he's getting old and tired.

[bpilgrim]

11. of course not... this is just the begining

and kennedy isn't the only one saying this...

this is the begining of the end for the neoCONs for as the fraud elections over time demonstrate another FAILURE for the neoCONs they'll ALL hear us!


http://images.globalfreepress.com

never forget the leaders always have to be dragged kicking and screaming to the light.

peace

[rocktivity]

6. Counterproductive to what--Howard's job security?

:evilgrin:
rocknation

[ApgarScrs]

10. That's also what most military talking

heads are saying.