Following the footsteps of the Bush White House and American far-right-wingers, the conservative Australian Prime Minister John Howard has effectively said that Barak Obama's policies are good for terrorists. This kind of 'you either support us or you support the terrorists', 'us against them' attitude is insane — and closed-minded. The funny thing is, Howard has no basis for his argument, as portrayed by his loony statement. American politicians have said these kinds of things before; I lament for the Aussies that their politics are getting this shitty too.
BBC News:
Australian PM John Howard has criticised US presidential hopeful Barack Obama for saying US troops should withdraw from Iraq next year.
His comments came soon after Mr Obama officially announced he would seek the Democratic Presidential nomination.
Mr Howard said al-Qaeda should be "praying as many times as possible" for an Obama victory in the 2008 elections.
But Mr Obama reacted by saying Australia should increase its troops in Iraq, if Mr Howard was so concerned.
...
Mr Howard said Mr Obama's stance on Iraq "will just encourage those who want to completely destabilise and destroy Iraq, and create chaos and a victory for the terrorists to hang on and hope for an Obama victory".
"If I were running al-Qaeda in Iraq, I would put a circle around March 2008 and be praying as many times as possible for a victory not only for Obama but also for the Democrats."
...
Mr Obama, who has described the Iraq war as "tragic", said he was "flattered" by Mr Howard's statement.
He said: "I think it's flattering that one of George Bush's allies on the other side of the world started attacking me the day after I announced.
"I would also note that we have close to 140,000 troops on the ground now, and my understanding is Mr Howard has deployed 1,400, so if he is (ready) to fight the good fight in Iraq, I would suggest that he calls up another 20,000 Australians and sends them to Iraq."
"Otherwise it's just a bunch of empty rhetoric," he added.
Anyone with any rationality and sense should be 'praying as many times as possible' this maniac is voted out of office soon. Naturally, Obama's rebuttal was smooth. If Howard cares so much, I am sure there are plenty of troops he could send... If now he is being even more of a hypocrite. One wonders what roll the White House had in Howard's statement; it sounds eerily Bush administration-like.
People like Howard and Bush are impervious to other people's opinions, even if those opinions are educated and rational, which often contrasts their own views. They critisize whomever in a fashion that only increases the polarization, mudslinging, and incompetent on issues as important as Iraq and national security. I do not know enough about Australia to judge their body politic, but I do know that many US citizens wary of their two-party government need to wake up from their apathetic political views and do something. Needless to say, with a person like Bush at the helm it is selfish not to.
What intrigues me the most is that Howard's comments basically came out of the blue, though it is similar rhetoric far-right neocons and hawks have used since 9/11 — telling the unknowing public that certain people, because of their often rational views, are aiding terrorists, etc.
Song stuck in my head right now: "Californication" by Red Hot Chili Peppers.
technorati tags: john+howard, australia, united+states, politics, news, iraq, barak+obama, obama
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