Powell: Australian Exit from Iraq Won't Hurt U.S. Ties

SYDNEY (Reuters) - The United States will maintain close relations with Australia even if a new government withdraws Australian troops from Iraq (news - web sites), Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) said.


Powell reiterated statements by President Bush (news - web sites) that the withdrawal of Australian troops by a Labor government, that might win in a election later this year, would be "disastrous."


But in an interview with Australian Broadcasting Corp television, Powell stopped short of Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage's recent statement that withdrawal of Australian troops could put the countries' 53-year-old alliance at risk.


"Australia will always be a close friend of the U.S. and we are participating in so many ways with Australia and in so many different areas," Powell said in the interview broadcast on Sunday.

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=586&ncid=586&e=12&u=/nm/20040613/wl_nm/iraq_australia_usa_dc

CYA Colon...

When are the elections?

system. He has a range of time in which to hold elections. It might be as late as January 2005? I will try to check.

it will take more than G.Bush & gang to break up a friendship and alliance between Australia & the US.

These guys are just soooo desperate...backpedalling already
:crazy:

before, it was "disastrous". Now, it's become "it won't hurt US ties". After the Spaniards withdrew their troops, it was "aiding and abetting the enemy". They can threaten all they want; people don't want their family members in Iraq. It's too dangerous. The new elections are proving just that: people are electing leaders who will get them out of Iraq.

I recall the photo of Bush and Chirac shaking hands last weekend. I saw a glimt of humour in Chirac's eyes, as he loomed over Bush, whose face was puffy from jet lag, and like a sullen little boy, refused to look at him.

Chirac looked amused, with the corners of his mouth turning up. Chirac knows how the rest of the world feels, and he's probably feeling pretty good about standing up to this little weasel.

So they know they're at the mercy of new administrations being voted in, BY THE PEOPLE. Scary thought, isn't it Powell.