Face-off on Iraq looms for Rudd

[anakie]

Source: The Australian

GEORGE W. Bush has set the scene for a showdown with Kevin Rudd in Sydney today over Labor's plans to withdraw Australian troops from Iraq in the middle of next year.

........

It's quite plain Mr Bush and Mr Howard have a view of Iraq. I understand that, I recognise that, but we actually have a different view and we have been very plain about it ever since I became leader and that view is that we need to have a staged, negotiated withdrawal of our troops from Iraq, and I have no intention of changing that position," Mr Rudd said.
"You can have differences, differences of policy with any government around the world, and we certainly do with the current administration in the United States on Iraq and on climate change, but I'm a lifelong supporter of the US alliance, always have been always will be for a whole range of reasons."

Mr Bush backed Mr Howard's claim that troops could only be taken out of Iraq when the conditions "on the ground" allowed it and not for political reasons.

Read more: Face-off on Iraq looms for Rudd

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Kevin Rudd is the leader of the Australian Labor Party, which in the latest polls are ahead of Howard and his Liberal/National coallition government 59% to 41%. If these numbers hold true the upcoming election - not yet called but expected to be in late October or early November - not only will the current government be decimated but Howard himself will lose his seat. That will be the cream on the pudding.

Today, Kevin Rudd will be meeting Bush to explain his position on the Iraq war. I would love to be a fly on the wall during the closed door meeting when he tells him we are out. The joint press conference - if there is one - will be priceless.

Peace

[Supersedeas]

1. will Katie Lipstick Couric mention this or the Brit withdrawal at all?????

[Josh]

2. I first met Rudd in 2003

And it was a little while after Bush had come to Australia to give a speech here. Rudd told us the story of what happened. Bush finished ths speech and then walked down the government aisle afterwards, then down the opposition aisle.

As Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister at the time, Rudd said to Bush, "Mr President, we may not always agree, but yours is always a welcome voice on our side of the aisle." Bush grinned and said, "That's funny, that's not what your Prime Minister told me." Rudd smiled back and said, "Mr President, our Prime Minister is often full of shit."

Love it.

[annabanana]

3. What are the mechanics of voting down there?

(Hand counted paper ballots, I hope)

[anakie]

4. hand counted paper ballots n/t