Australian Prime Minister John Howard AP PHOTO

Howard said Feb. 11 that al-Qaida would be praying for Obama to be elected president because of his policy to end the Iraq war by withdrawing U.S. troops by March 2008.

Defense Minister Brendan Nelson said his leader had correctly argued against any premature withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

"The prime minister has quite rightly said: 'Well, any premature withdrawal before the Iraqi security forces are in a position to look after their own needs, would represent a victory for terrorists and a U.S. defeat and therein threaten the broad strategic interests of Australia,' " Nelson said Feb. 12.

Howard's criticism of Obama has triggered widespread condemnation and warnings that he could be jeopardizing Australia's relations with a future Democratic administration.

The Japan Times Weekly: Feb. 17, 2007
(C) All rights reserved