Stay The Hell Out Of It...Mate

If we were to comment and endorse candidates in elections in France, England, Japan or any other country, they would criticize us and slam us for getting involved. They would simply tell us to shut the hell up.

So why would it be different the other way around?

Prime Minister John Howard of Australia, only a day after he criticized Senator Barack Obama's opposition to the war in Iraq. Howard commented that Obama would be a horrible choice for President because it would embolden terrorists, given them courage, and be catastrophic for the west. He also commented that Al-Qaeda and Islamic extremism should “be praying as many times as possible for a victory, not only for Obama but also for the Democrats.”

Crikey.

Senator Obama responded in one of the best ways. He slammed the Prime Minister's hypocrisy by saying this;

“So if he is ginned up 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.”

See, two years in the Senate doesn't mean this guy is young, inexperienced and naive. He knows how to respond.

And how! John Howard has NOT committed more Australian troops to the fight in Iraq. Nope, and if he did, he'd be left for dead in the Outback. It's an election year in Australia, with a national election coming up later in the year...and Howard doesn't seem to be doing well. The four-term leader from Down Under is heavily trailing in polls against the left-wing Labor Party and their designate for Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, largely on Howard's support for the Bush Administration's Iraq policies. Sending more troops to support a war not popular in Australia would only add salt to Howard's wounds.

Rudd criticized Howard, stating his comments could hurt Australia's relationship with the US in the future. (especially since the Democrats control the treaty-ratifying, foreign affairs appropriating Congress)

You know, it's great to have friends overseas...especially when we seem to lack them right now, but stay the hell out of our politics. We do not appreciate your meddling in our domestic politics as you don't appreciate the same from us.

And if you continue to join the right-wing bandwagon of comparing good patriotic Americans who disagree, then there will be hordes of American support, in any way possible, heading straight for Kevin Rudd.

and by the way...despite my criticism, I still love Australia...just stay out of our politics and we're stay out of yours.