Howard a 'risk to national security'

[Swagman]

Howard a 'risk to national security'
February 20, 2007 02:07pm

PRIME Minister John Howard has brushed off Labor leader Kevin Rudd's description of him as a national security risk
Mr Rudd today accused Mr Howard of failing to learn any lessons from the Iraq war and of sounding increasingly desperate.

"Mr Howard is looming as an increasing risk for Australia's long-term national security," Mr Rudd said.

"He is presiding over the single greatest security disaster that Australia has seen since Vietnam."

Mr Howard and Mr Rudd are locked in a battle of words over sending more Australian trainers to Iraq.

The prime minister plans to send up to 70 more Australian non-combat troops to help train the Iraqi army and police, and has refused to put a timetable on the future of Australia's 1400 troops in the country.Mr Rudd opposes the plan to send more trainers and has called for Australian combat troops to be withdrawn next year.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21256909-1702,00.html

[rodeodance]

1. Howie----I really think you are dead meat this time!

[Monkeyman]

2. Yep Replugs are there helping him run

[Judi Lynn]

3. Uh, oh! Acceptable news here: Rudd plays down poll showing him as preferred PM

Rudd plays down poll showing him as preferred PM
2:00PM Tuesday February 20, 2007


CANBERRA - Federal Labour leader Kevin Rudd has played down a new opinion poll showing him as preferred Prime Minister over John Howard for the first time.

Mr Rudd took a 10-point lead over Mr Howard in the Newspoll published in The Australian newspaper today.

Mr Rudd's approval rating has soared to 68 per cent -- a record for a federal opposition leader in the poll's 21-year history.

Fully 47 per cent of voters thought he would make the better Prime Minister, compared to 37 per cent for Mr Howard.
(snip)

"We've got nine months to go before the election. This fight has barely begun and we've got a long way to go still to earn the trust and respect of the Australian people," Mr Rudd told ABC radio.
(snip/...)

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10424882

[Doondoo]

4. Rudd getting a bit full of himself, says Howard

John Howard has described Kevin Rudd as "getting a bit full of himself" on the day fresh opinion polls show the Opposition Leader as the voters' preferred prime minister for the first time. The Prime Minister's comment to media in Perth today came in response to Mr Rudd's description of him earlier in the day as a national security risk.

On radio this morning and then later at a press conference, Mr Rudd accused Mr Howard of failing to learn any lessons from the Iraq war and of sounding increasingly desperate.

“Mr Howard is looming as an increasing risk for Australia's long-term national security,” Mr Rudd told reporters in Perth.

“Mr Howard can't say that he has learnt any lessons from the Iraq debacle. I think that represents for the future a risk for national security.

“Mr Howard is presiding over the single greatest security disaster that Australia has seen since Vietnam.”

The Prime Minister responded at a press call later in the day: “I think he’s getting a bit full of himself.”


http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21254424-601,00.html

[Vidar]

5. Good for Rudd.

[AX10]

6. Center right governments are a threat to security.

They are too busy lining the pockets of their donors to give a damn less about security.