Bush campaign team aims to split Oz Labor party campaign

Oh, this is nice you just cant help yourself, can you Armitage!!
Keep your big mouth out of Oz

By Roy Eccleston and John Kerin
July 8, 2004
THE Bush administration says Opposition Leader Mark Latham has divided the ALP with his push to withdraw troops from Iraq, as senior US officials continue to lobby Canberra to maintain a strong military presence.
www.news.com.au...

Sanc'.
edit:extra angry
edit:extra extra angry

[edit on 7-7-2004 by sanctum]

[edit on 7-7-2004 by sanctum]

US claims are thuggish: Keating
July 8, 2004

US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage's claim that the Labor Party was divided over Iraq policy was thuggish and dumb, former Labor prime minister Paul Keating said today.

Mr Keating questioned Mr Armitage's and Secretary of State Colin Powell's support for the Iraq war.

"A modicum of self regard might have taken Richard Armitage and his secretary, Colin Powell, out of this administration over its policy in Iraq," he said.
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark also said today that the US should butt out of Australian politics.
"It really is perilous to get into another country's politics and I'm always careful not to get involved in politics here," she said on ABC radio today."
www.news.com.au...

Sanc'.

As an Australian myself, I can see the 'possibility' that any perceived interference from a foreign Governement in Aussie domestic politics would be frowned upon by other Aussies. If anything, these kinds of threats can have the opposite effect of what the Bush Administration would like to happen.
I don't think it would sway my decision, but I certainly would be thinking about it when I do cast my vote.

I wish the Bush administration would just stay out of Australian politics. What Latham intends to do with the troops is none of Bush's business.

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark also said today that the US should butt out of Australian politics.

Bloody hell, if NZ is telling someone to butt out of something then it's really saying something. (Gotta love those New Zealanders. Even with all the hell we do give them they still stick up for us.)

[edit on 8-7-2004 by D]

I'm an American, and this type of politicking embarasses me. You would think that the people who ascend to power in any country have some modicrum of common sense, but sadly, that is apparently untrue.

My apologies to our friends Down Under.

No need to apologise. There's not exactly much control everyday American's can say or do about what the Bush administration says to another country.

[edit on 8-7-2004 by D]

Well it looks like Latham has learnt to toe the U.S. line.

Labor's Iraq plan earns US praise
'Mr Schieffer says Mr Latham has made an effort to reach out and settle Labor's differences with the Bush Administration in Washington.'

This 'bullying' by the Bush admin' stinks. AND it also shows that Latham is 'pandering' to Washington.
www.abc.net.au...
news.com.au...

Sanc'.