US wades into heated debate on future of Australian troops in Iraq

[True_Blue]

SYDNEY: The United States ambassador in Canberra warned Australia's up-and-coming opposition leader his campaign pledge to withdraw troops from Iraq by Christmas would have "serious consequences".

Labor leader Mark Latham, riding high in opinion polls ahead of an election due later this year, came under a barrage of criticism over his pledge, with government politicians accused him of playing into the hands of terrorists and straining the US alliance.

American ambassador Tom Schieffer described the pledge as "short-sighted" and warned it could undermine efforts to rebuild Iraq.

"There are over 40 nations in Iraq right now trying to stabilise the situation and rebuild the nation and it is very important work," he told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio.
more.....
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/77026/1/.html

[KissMyAsscroft]

1. Simply more proof that Bush's Cowboy style is not working.

Another day, another Kerry assertion proven correct.

[Supormom]

2. First Spain, then Australia

Who will be next, Ethiopia or Iceland?

[0007]

11. The great great county of Fiji?

Even Poland is shaky -

[0007]

12. Fiji or maybe Poland

[Jacobin]

14. If we lose Eritrea, the jig is up!

:-)

[0007]

16. That would never happen, cuz there morbidity level is too high

for the rest of the world to hack. We'd never lose Eritrea. But then again who knows, Moses may part the Red Sea again.

[Eureka]

3. Typical Schieffer

He certainly doesn't shrink from interfering in domestic politics over here, never has.

Oooooh, gee the Aussies are pretty worried about this. The only ones who give a flying fuck about his opinions are the Prime Miniature and the conga line of suckholes, and not many people are worried about what they think at the moment.

How about we reach a deal, we'll do whatever we want, and worry about the US/Aus alliance when President Kerry is ready.

Oh, and Tom, if you don't want to be our friends hows about you pack up Pine Gap and go home? Oh thats right, because without Australia the US couldn't see this side of the world.

What a dickhead.

</rant>

[Crachet2004]

4. We are making the whole planet take a hard left turn...

Hope we can manage at least a mild one ourselves, in November.

Good can come of even the most horrible of events...and this is proof.

[bluestateguy]

5. Spain, Italy, Australia, the US in Nov., the UK next year

The people of the world can vote to end this war.

[DBoon]

6. Didn't the US suceed at destabilizing an AU govt in the 1980's?

Wasn't it Gough Whitlam, from Labour?

Best link I can find is:

http://www.serendipity.li/cia/cia_oz/cia_oz3.htm

[DBoon]

7. It was 1975

Was able to find this:
1975

Australia — The CIA helps topple the democratically elected, centre left labor government of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. The CIA does this by giving an ultimatum to its Governor-General, John Kerr. Kerr, a longtime CIA collaborator, exercises his constitutional right to dissolve the Whitlam government. The Governor-General is a largely ceremonial position appointed by the Queen; the Prime Minister is democratically elected. The use of this archaic and never-used law stuns the nation.

from:

http://expage.com/notowar3f

WARNING: This page is full of pop-ups

[Eureka]

8. Early 70's

Gough (yep, from the left) wanted to do a few things the US wasn't happy with. He came into power, did everything he said he would, and so the Governor General sacked him.

I think from the US point of view, he was going to pull out of vietnam. Maybe this wasn't relevant, but he also started free medical care for all and free university for all. You can see how those two would piss off the * junta huh?

[shockingelk]

9. "serious consequences" means WAR! n/t!

[DeepModem Mom]

10. kick

[Andrushka]

13. Mark 'Zapatero' Latham?

Unfortunately, from what I hear from friends in Aus, there is an insidious line of thought that goes like this about at the moment: If Latham's Labour Party is all for pulling troops out of Iraq, it may attract a terrorist attack a la Madrid to shift the vote to the left. Never mind that it was Little Johnny who sent them there and has had his nose firmly planted up Bush*'s arsehole ever since he took over the Whitehouse.

"serious consequences"? Aussies, apart from slimy brown-nosers like Howard, don't take kindly to 'Yanks' telling them what to do or making threats. This may actually play well for Latham.

As an Aussie I say this to Schieffer: Blow it out ya arse, mate! :mad:

[Matilda]

15. I don't think Latham will back down on this.

This is the man who publicly called Bush "the most incompetent and
dangerous president in living memory". He will have to play
politics to a certain extent, but I can't see him doing a crawl to
a pipsqueak like Bush.

And just a few days ago Ambassador Schieffer said he believed that
joining the Iraq invasion had made Australia a more likely target
of terrorism - so doesn't withdrawing from Iraq make perfect sense
in that case?

[ConcernedCanuk]

17. It could be a wise move for Latham to make a concession or two ?

.
.
.

One: Australia will seriously consider retaining troops in Iraq ONLY if the USA withdraws.

Two: Australia will seriously consider retaining troops if Iraq WANTS the Austrailan troops to remain.

Of course, this would be dependant on the support of the Australian voters.

BUT, glad to see that another Bush minion may be well on his way "out the door"