Australian PM Admits He Could Face Same Voter Backlash as Spanish Leader

[ElsewheresDaughter]

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0316-09.htm


SYDNEY - Prime Minister John Howard conceded he could face an anti-war backlash at this year's Australian elections similar to the protest vote that toppled Spain's conservative government in the aftermath of the Madrid bombings.


The admission came as Howard continued to deny a terrorist attack on Australia is now more likely because Australia, like Spain, supported the US-led war in Iraq -- despite statements to the contrary by experts, including his own police chief and the US FBI.

<snip>

Asked if his government might face a voter backlash because of its support for the Iraq war, Howard told an Adelaide radio station: "That is one of the many things people will take into account in going to the polls later this year."

But he said he had no regrets about his decision to go to war in Iraq, adding: "It was in my view the right thing to do."

more.

Alas they are likely to pay the price for Washington's misguided policies that have made brutal murderous terrorism, more, rather than less likely. - Doug Bandow, former senior aide to US president Ronald Reagan

[futureeater]

1. The stuff dreams are made of...

We can but dream...

[newyawker99]

3. Hi futureeater!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[chelsea0011]

2. Tough S**T

You made your bed. You deal with it. Has the right wing Bush lovin leaders become the biggest bunch of crybabies?

[54anickel]

4. Well at least he is more realistic than Bushco on the situation -

correctly calling the elections in Spain anti-war backlash and denying Australia is anymore likely to suffer a terrorist attack.

Wonder if Shrub will be getting on him about this blatant honestly.

[llmart]

5. Yeah for the Aussies....

if they show Howard the door. Teach him a lesson for jumping on the sinking Titanic of the Bush cabal's follies.

[Postman]

6. Thankfully, democracy still exists somewhere

unlike the US

[Matilda]

7. It could be a play for the sympathy vote by Howard.

Australia (supposedly) has a tradition of supporting the underdog,
so in politics each side likes to pretend they could lose, in order
to win sympathy. This would be a typical Howard ploy - "oops, I
might lose the election, so if you were thinking of voting against
me just to make a statement, think again."

[foreigncorrespondent]

8. Tha is exactly what I was thinking as well.

But I think trying to seek public sympathy is going to back fire on him this time. Just look at what the poll results between Howard and Latham are telling us.

Howard is a washed up has been, and he needs to realize that.

[Matilda]

12. It's certainly looking good, barring Latham making a mistake

somewhere along the line.

But Howard's a cunning bastard, and knows all the political tricks.
We can't afford to underestimate him.

[Manix]

9. ..what do you expect when you listen to the imbecile in Washington..

[cliss]

10. I just hope that Mr. Howard

doesn't invite terrorist bombings into his back yard on the eve of the elections. There's always that risk.

That's the problem with Bush and his war. He forced the rest of the world into an impossible situation. It was either go along with them, pretend to be committed, or risk their wrath by saying no. Either way, it's a losing proposition. I really do feel for the ones who went along with the "Coalition of the Coerced". They really didn't have much choice.

This was an unintended side effect of the Bush Administration's push for war.

God damn them for putting the leaders of other countries in such a no-win situation, and encouraging the terrorists to set off massive bombs right before their elections.

[Matilda]

13. Howard didn't have to be manoeuvred.

He's such a toady - if he's not crawling to Bush, he's grovelling
to the Queen.

And he never, ever, admits to making a mistake. If he does a
backflip, he will say we all misunderstood him, he never said what
he's on record as saying at all. But that's hard to do when you've
led the country into war, so he'll just tough it out, and let
Australian citizens pay the price.

If Osama wants a map showing where Howard lives, I'll be glad to
send it, if he'll just give me his address.

[goforit]

11. So be it!!!

:bounce:

The minority and the few lead the masses down the wrong and immoral
road...... some how the trust is broken and never can be mended.

Let the masses stand tall and be heard!!!

They are the true leaders of tomorrow.