Barack Obama has remained virtually unchallenged by politicians and untarnished by scandal. Even now, Obama’s biggest hurdle hasn’t come from American Republicans, but from Australia’s conservative Prime Minister. PM John Howard, who happens to be close friends with George W. Bush, criticized a bill Obama introduced which would prevent President Bush from increasing American troop levels in Iraq, and would remove US combat forces from the country by March 31, 2008. The PM said Obama’s plan to end the war with a deadline would be a victory for terrorists.

Howard’s criticism came one day after Obama announced his intention to run for the White House in 2008. “I think that will just encourage those who want to completely destabilize and destroy Iraq, and create chaos and a victory for the terrorists to hang on and hope for an Obama victory,” Howard said on television. “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.”

Howard is seeking a fifth term later this year. Polls show an increasing number of Australians upset at Howard’s own refusal to set a deadline for Australian troops. He has defied the will of his people by keeping 1,400 Australian troops in and around Iraq, mostly in non-combat roles.

Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs responded to the warmongering Prime Minister. “The United States has sacrificed more than 3,000 brave young men and women and $400 billion, only to find ourselves mired in the middle of a sectarian civil war,” he said. “Even Republicans … know that more of the same is only going to attract more terrorists to Iraq and make our country less safe.” Gibbs then called Howard out on his overly critical position. “If Prime Minister Howard truly believes what he says, perhaps his country should find its way to contribute more than just 1,400 troops so some American troops can come home,” he said. “It’s easy to talk tough when it’s not your country or your troops making the sacrifices.”

Obama himself dismissed Howard’s insult as “empty rhetoric”. The Democratic Senator 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 (my candidacy).” He continued by reissuing the challenge for Howard to put up or shut up. “So, if he’s ginned up to fight the good fight in Iraq, I would suggest he calls up another 20,000 Australians and sends them up to Iraq.”

Australian Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd expressed concern that the Prime Minister’s comments might have serious implications for the nation’s future relations with the US, particularly if a Democrat became president in the next election. “I cannot understand how any responsible leader of this country can say … that the Democratic Party of the United States, is the terrorist party of choice,” he told Parliament. Howard refused to retract his criticism, but stated his insult was directed at Obama specifically and not all Democrats. However, his original statement claims terrorists in Iraq are praying for victory “not only for Obama but also for the Democrats”.

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