The awful question must be faced as to how Australia would fair if we were attacked. Many of the public seemed to have turned on John Howard however should we stop and re think any hasty knee jerk action considering the worlds unsettled state.
John Howard is no friend of mine given he had ten long years to use his brains and re- divert the barbaric live Animal trade back to local work keeping our regional area country towns alive.
I cant believe he can be so silly not to see with the tree change trend half of Australia leaving city jobs are going to be on Welfare.
Personally I could cheerfully strangle the bloke for his none action when he fully knows the extent of barbaic cruelty to Australian Animals.
However- That said he has formed a close working friendship with America and Bush and I think we will need them down the track.
America saved us in the last war and we owe them for our freedom today.
The real question the Australian public need to ask themselves in Would America look after us to the same degree if Howard were gone and Rudd was incharged and pulled the troops.
Personally I dont think so and we need to think where Australia would be if we lost a powerful friend.
I mean we all need to think seperatly whats best for our familes protection.
This is no time to loose our powerful friends I would suggest.
I urge every parent and husband and wife to consider this before ticking that box on the day.
You may hold your kids lives in your hands.

PALE,

You're over looking one very important fact. GWB is now a lame duck president. He cannot stand for another term, thats it over and out.

The next president by and large is going to be looking to get out of Iraq as soon as possible, which meshes quite nicely with Labors POV.

Which country has the intention to invade us, unless we try to provoke them?

I think we should focus on positive deplomacy based on our own judgement that promotes things like human rights etc and we would not need to seek umbrella from another country and de facto adopt their foreign policies. The US alliance I think is valid to the extent it serves our interests. There are interests for the US that are simply irrelevant to Australia given our vastly different geography and international standing.

George Bush is a great President and will always be remembered for 9/11, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Colombine, American Health Service, Cyclone Tracy, New Orleans a great leader when the Country needed one after the two timing antics of William Jefferson Clinton.
Our leader has kept under his wing for the benefit of American and Australian friendship it just shows that their is no gratitude in Politics. America has lost over three thousand of their soldiers in a war that has been worthwhile for the promotion of democracy. Britain may now be retreating but John Howard will never retreat he will stay their to the bitter end. The soviet Union lost twenty million dead in the second world war to stop hitlers armies. Our Graziers are being paid well for live exports that is why the coalition must continue with this trading for the benefit revenue. Yes Rudd is putting us all at risk by not supporting George Bush. He will have to work with the Democrats if he gets elected but God willing he will not if he answers my prayers.

Julie I m little confused with your post...Are you being sarcastic? Your post is a little difficult to decipher.

pale it is in posts such as this I am forced to question your understanding of the issue, sometimes any issue.
It was Labor during the second world war that pioneered our ties with America.
You can bet Rudd is never going to change that.
Are you aware the overwhelming majority of Americans want out of Iraq?
Do you see England maneuvering to leave?
Is anything to be gained by Australia giving unquestioned support to any American President?
Is it not true Bush is now the lam duck leader less than a third support in his own country?
Are you not a proud Aussie? why cede our fighting forces to any other country?
Pale do you understand the history of ww1? how we went to war for another country England?
How we lost Australia's best on battle fields all over the world not for us but for a country that wanted only its empire?
What a great country we are today but if those lost lives had not rushed to die and lived to have children we would truly be greater.
wars must be fought but what possible way out of Iraq other than tail between our legs can you see?
Let Rambo win this war for America Iraq's people largely only want to kill each other.