Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd has turned the attack on Iraq policy back on John Howard, accusing the prime minister of being gutless and without a plan for the future of Australian troops in the troubled country.
Mr Howard, who has been under fire for his attack on US presidential hopeful Barack Obama's Iraq policy, yesterday labelled Mr Rudd gutless for dodging questions about the consequences of an early US withdrawal from Iraq.
Mr Rudd, who has challenged Mr Howard to a televised debate on the issue, today reiterated that his policy would be a withdrawal of Australian forces, in consultation with the Americans at the end of a six-month troop rotation. He said it was Mr Howard who did not have a plan.
"Mr Howard in this debate talks about guts and courage ... guts and courage doesn't involve sending the sons and daughters of Australian families to fight a war with no exit strategy in mind for them," Mr Rudd told ABC Radio.
"Guts and courage also lies in rising to the challenge of a nationally televised debate on his alternative plan for Iraq and mine."
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10423954