Aus PM John Howard Sticks To Al Qaeda Praying For Obama Victory Line

[althecat]

From: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0702/S00160.htm


Scoop Transcript Extracts: PMs Howard & Clark Q&A On Barack Obama & Iraq
AUSTRALIAN REPORTER (F): "Mr Howard, now that you've had a week to reflect, do you think you went too far in saying that Al Qaeda was praying for Barack Obama and the Democrats to win the US Presidential elections?"



.... snip....

SCOOP:
Prime Minister Howard, do you have anything to say to Senator Barack Obama today? Did you discuss Iraq with the NZ Prime Minister, and...

AUSTRALIA PM JOHN HOWARD:
Do I have anything to say to Senator Obama today?

SCOOP MEDIA:
Yes. Or is that finished now?

AUSTRALIA PM JOHN HOWARD:
Sorry. Hmmm?

SCOOP:
Is that finished now? The discussion with Senator Barack Obama…

PM CLARK:
Thank you. We've heard the question.

AUSTRALIA PM JOHN HOWARD:
Yes, we did not discuss in substance, Iraq. There was a brief unilateral reference to it, but we did not discuss the issue, no. We certainly discussed at length, Afghanistan, and we have a joint commitment in Afghanistan. In relation to the matter involving the Senator, I don't really have anything to add to what I've previously said.

... snip....



AUSTRALIAN REPORTER (M):
Before you got us into a war in Iraq, which you expected would go months, but you can't even vaguely say when you think it will end. Tens of thousands of Iraqis are dead and your reason for saying is that going would be worse. Isn't it time, at the very least, that you fessed up to the fact that the original decision was the wrong decision?

AUSTRALIA PM JOHN HOWARD:
I don't believe the original decision was wrong. I don't. So that deals with the second part of your question. As to the first part of your question, of course it hasn't stabilised as quickly as I would have liked. Of course an enormous challenge is faced. But the overwhelming evidence at present is that if there were a precipitate Coalition withdrawal--and I say that if it's alright for Australia to go precipitately, then it's alright for America and Britain to go precipitately--so if you argue we should go precipitately, then you're arguing the Coalition should do likewise. Because you can hardly say, "Well, we'll get out but we'll leave it to the British and the Americans to do all the heavy lifting."

I think if that were to happen, you would have--according not only to my assessment, the National Intelligence assessment, the Baker-Hamilton assessment, the assessments of the Iraqi government, the assessment of the head of the CNN bureau in Baghdad, who has some media experience in these matters--you would have far greater levels of bloodshed, and that would not be in the interests of the West, of the stability of the Middle East, or otherwise. So my position remains the same.

AUSTRALIAN REPORTER (M):
Are you saying you were right? You were right.

AUSTRALIA PM JOHN HOWARD:
I will not resile in any way from the decision that Australia took. I accept responsibility for it, and like any other democratically elected politician, I'm accountable for it before the bar of public opinion in my country. If you are asking me, do I recant the original decision, No, I do not.

... snip...



SCOOP MEDIA:
Prime Minister, are you surprised about the antagonism your remarks about Barack Obama have caused, both here, and in Australia, and in the United States. Are you surprised at that level of feeling that has been generated by your remarks?

AUSTRALIA PM JOHN HOWARD:
I think you're exaggerating it.

SCOOP MEDIA:
Is this a case of dog whistle politics---

NZ PM HELEN CLARK:
Hang on, hang on. This is not a student rally where you heckle from the back row, I'm sorry.

SCOOP MEDIA:
I'm not heckling!

NZ PM HELEN CLARK:
I'd like to take any other questions.



... snip...

AUSTRALIAN REPORTER (F):
Mr Howard, now that you've had a week to reflect, do you think you went too far in saying that Al Qaeda was praying for Barack Obama and the Democrats to win the US Presidential elections?

AUSTRALIA PM JOHN HOWARD:
I don't retract anything that I said. Let me make it very clear that I made an observation about a single view expressed by an aspirant for office in another country--on an issue, incidentally, which directly affects my own country, because we're talking about a Coalition of which Australia is part. It's a little different from me making an observation on what an aspirant in another country might want to do regarding an urban housing programme in a depressed area of a big city in that country.

After all, I was talking about a military operation in which armed forces of my own country are involved. So the observation that it was an excursion into domestic politics of another country is one I don't entirely accept in any event. But, if you're asking me do I have cause to withdraw or retract--No, I don't.

...snip...


related thread..
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x224018

From: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0702/S00160.htm

[Skidmore]

1. What are his poll numbers like down there?

Last time I read anything, he was down to a wing and a prayer. Is there a pretty good chance that this will complete the nosedive into the dustbin of history?

[malaise]

2. Rudd is light years ahead of him

and the freefall of his crutch, the Australian cricket team, won't help.
New Zealand slaughtered them by 10 wickets today, the biggest margin of defeat in their history. Karma is coming at the World Cup.

[althecat]

3. Poll: Australia's opposition leader most popular in 35 years

Poll: Australia's opposition leader most popular in 35 years
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/02/11/asia/AS-POL-Australia-Election-Poll.php

The ACNielsen survey of 1,412 voters found that 65 percent of Australians approve of Rudd, the highest satisfaction rating for an opposition leader in the poll's 35 year history.

Forty-eight percent of respondents named Rudd as their preferred prime minister, compared to 43 percent for Howard. Five percent were undecided, according to results published in The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper

[xchrom]

4. hell has a pot of boiling oil waiting for pm howard to sit in for eternity.

[Caretha]

5. This reporter needs to get his facts straight

His question:

AUSTRALIAN REPORTER (M):
Before you got us into a war in Iraq, which you expected would go months, but you can't even vaguely say when you think it will end. Tens of thousands of Iraqis are dead and your reason for saying is that going would be worse. Isn't it time, at the very least, that you fessed up to the fact that the original decision was the wrong decision?

We're not talking 10's of thousands of Iraqis dead - we're talking 100's of thousands of Iraqis dead.

Geesh - how can these guys have a reporting job and be so ignorant???

[autorank]

6. "I'm not heckling" - left wing reporter. NZ PM Opposed to Socratic Method

Wellington, NZ. In an announcement that surprised no one, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark announced a wide randing ban on the Socratic Method on the two major islands that comprise the Nation of New Zealand. The ban applies to citizens, resident aliens, and visitors. Clark said that the recent insouciance of "Scoop" reporter Alastair Thompson at the joint Australian - New Zealand press conference opened her eyes to the danger of dialogue. "I've had it quite frankly. 'Heckling' was not a strong enough term to describe Mr. Thompson. I think 'Impertinent' is closer to the facts."

Sitting in the last row of the press area, traditionally occupied by "left wing" media, Thompson caused a ruckus by asking Australian Prime Minister Howard intelligent questions. This created a cascading effect and soon the Australian reporters were doing the same. Howard didn't seem to mind the exercise. PM Clark seemed particularly taken aback, perhaps due to her ability to understand the utter disgrace Howard appeared to be.

Thompson and the "Scoop" crew were last seen celebrating and wearing tee shirts with "Nobody likes a smart reporter; nobody in government that is;)" A member of the crew pointed out that the phrase on the shirts was a statement not a question and in no way to be construed as a dialogue or the inference of the beginings of an exchange. "Strictly legal," he said as he downed a Mac's Sassy Red.

[althecat]

7. How do you know about Mac's sassy red :)

[autorank]

9. .

Hard research;) I Googled beers of New Zealand, think it was in Wiki, where else.

When you make the tee send me one!

[autorank]

11. Real Beer - New Zealand

http://realbeer.co.nz/alefiles/local_news/article_2006_12_22_5202.php



Here then is the 10 best New Zealand beers of 2006 as assessed by Realbeer.co.nz…..

1 Epic Pale Ale
2 Monks Habit - Cock & Bull
3= Macs Sassy Red
3= Steinlager
5 Limburg Olde Reserve
6 Emersons Taieri George
7= Alpine Ale - Dux de Lux
7= Canturbery Draught
7= Mayhem - Epic
7= Speights Distinction Ale
7= White Rock Wheat - Martinborough Beer & Ales

[AspenRose]

8. Pardon my language, but PM Howard is an asshole

I really can't stand him x(

[autorank]

10. You're Pardoned for life...truth to inept power! n/t

[bananarepublican]

12. Can anyone guess where Howard was on 911?

New York!