For Australia the Iraq is Over: Howard threatens to pull out.
August 11th 2007 01:56
For Australia the Iraq is Over: Howard threatens to pull out.
After years of demanding that Australia stay the course and keep troops in harms way Prime Minister John Howard has suddenly had a rethink. In a secret letter sent directly to the Nouri al-Malaki has warned his counterpart to speed up the oil wealth sharing or else he could not sustain the Australian military support. In reality this means that he is considering pulling out the Australian forces in the near future unless there is some huge progress in the Iraqi political environment.
This indicates for the first time the level of pressure that John Howard has been under over the imploding state of affairs in Iraq. Growing levels of insurgency and the unpopularity of the war are starting to be factored into his mentality as Australian approach a federal election within a few months.
It may be understandable that Howard wants this issue neutralized before campaigning begins and has come with a face saving exercise, blame the Iraqis for the lack of progress. What will be harder to convince is how he came to make this complete back flip in policy. As one of the original members of the ‘coalition of the willing’ he has been warning of dire consequences of what will happen if Australian troops are pulled out. He has been repeatedly telling the Australian public that Iraq would decent into chaos, a jihadist regime would take over and terrorists would be emboldened. The Howard message was clear: any pullout threatened our very existence. So how does this mantra stack up against his threat to pull out?
Ultimately it would be difficult for Prime Minister Howard to convince many people that this is anything more than an admission of failure. The current Iraqi government is a direct result of the Iraq invasion and as such they should also be blamed. A pullout would be admitting that the decision to go to war was an absolute disaster. Who is to blame for such a failed decisions can never be ignored?
It may take some time for the Howard government to decide what to do but as the Australian election is looming he may start to feel the heat very soon. Without doubt this could mean that for Australia the Iraq war may soon be over.
Ref:
Really Long Link
Dear Malaki; It is all your fault that our invasion has gone pear shape in my election year.
This indicates for the first time the level of pressure that John Howard has been under over the imploding state of affairs in Iraq. Growing levels of insurgency and the unpopularity of the war are starting to be factored into his mentality as Australian approach a federal election within a few months.
It may be understandable that Howard wants this issue neutralized before campaigning begins and has come with a face saving exercise, blame the Iraqis for the lack of progress. What will be harder to convince is how he came to make this complete back flip in policy. As one of the original members of the ‘coalition of the willing’ he has been warning of dire consequences of what will happen if Australian troops are pulled out. He has been repeatedly telling the Australian public that Iraq would decent into chaos, a jihadist regime would take over and terrorists would be emboldened. The Howard message was clear: any pullout threatened our very existence. So how does this mantra stack up against his threat to pull out?
Ultimately it would be difficult for Prime Minister Howard to convince many people that this is anything more than an admission of failure. The current Iraqi government is a direct result of the Iraq invasion and as such they should also be blamed. A pullout would be admitting that the decision to go to war was an absolute disaster. Who is to blame for such a failed decisions can never be ignored?
It may take some time for the Howard government to decide what to do but as the Australian election is looming he may start to feel the heat very soon. Without doubt this could mean that for Australia the Iraq war may soon be over.
Ref:
Really Long Link
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Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Cinema Three
Though the US should stay, until they have a better leader who can sort the mess up there, THEN withdraw.
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
I think that Australia should never have gone in the first place.
Right now the US is stuck but looking for an out that gives them a face saving win.
I don't think that will happen.
Comment by Ahmed
Video Gamer Kids
Little Green Foosballs
PolyKicks
Cinema Three
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
Why do you express surprise at this turnaround? It's all about the oil--everything else is just so much fluff for the common man to debate in pubs.
Sometimes the condescending manner in which our current leaders assume we are all morons really gets on my last nerve. If Howard goes the historical route of politicians, he'll either completely flip-flop the issue and start crying that he doesn't believe in senseless warmongering...
..or else he'll whip up a quick opportunity to play on the peoples' patriotism, i.e. discovering a "terrorist cell" in Oz or intense focus on the brave soldiers over there. All depends on Iraq's response to his threat of withdrawal, really.
Makes me sick.
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
You have been reading about our last few election.
Tampa incident where he suggested that they may be terrorists.
Children over board where he falsly accused refugees of throwing their own children overboard.
David Hicks case that ended in a pathetic sham trial and plea bargain.
John Howard is smarter than Bush but I think his goose is now cooked.
Comment by D. Armenta
The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
I don't have to read current news to get a good idea of what happens next: history always repeats itself, and human nature never changes.
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
GWB is an itellectual giant who quotes Graham Greene no less and tell us why we should still be in Vietnam.
Intellectual giant.