I Just had to post this to show what is happening Down Under
John Kerry is at the centre of an Australian political feud: Mark Latham has dismissed as "hogwash" Prime Minister John Howard’s suggestion that the Opposition is now at odds on Iraq policy with both sides of United States politics. Mr Howard yesterday seized on comments by US Democrat presidential candidate John Kerry, claiming Mark Latham is becoming increasingly isolated with his plan to bring Australian troops home by Christmas. Mr Howard says Senator Kerry’s statements show a Democrat president would not alter the US policy on Iraq troops. Mr Latham denies Senator Kerry said that. "(Senator Kerry) described President Bush’s policies in Iraq as a failure, and he said this: ’We need to internationalise the effort and put an end to the American occupation’," Mr Latham said. "Let me just repeat that, ’put an end to the American occupation in Iraq’ so let’s not have this hogwash from Mr Howard that Senator Kerry’s got the same policies as President Bush - he hasn’t." So, who is right -- Howard or Latham? Answer: thanks to John Kerry’s talent for nuance, both of them are! Kerry did indeed call for "an end to the American occupation", but, within 24 hours of those comments, he also announced this:Americans of all political persuasions are united in our determination to succeed. The extremists attacking our forces should know they will not succeed in dividing America, or in sapping American resolve, or in forcing the premature withdrawal of U.S. troops. Our country is committed to help the Iraqis build a stable, peaceful and pluralistic society. No matter who is elected president in November, we will persevere in that mission. Kerry truly is all things to all men. No wonder The Guardian’s Timothy Garton Ash thinks that "it’s now in the best interests of Britain, Europe and America that senator John Kerry should be the next president of the United States." |