06-05-2004, 05:52 AM
<b>Bush warns Latham on Iraq pullout </b>
By Louise Dodson in Washington and Cynthia Banham
June 4, 2004 - 1:19AM
"A close friend of mine" . . . Mr Bush and Mr Howard at the White House. Photo: Andrew Taylor
US President George Bush has delivered an unprecedented blow to the Labor Party, describing Mark Latham's policy of withdrawing Australian troops from Iraq as "disastrous".
Speaking after a one and a half hour meeting with the Prime Minister, John Howard, at the White House, <b>Mr Bush said withdrawing the troops would "dispirit those who love freedom in Iraq" and "embolden our enemy which believes it can shake our will". </b> <!--emo&:roll--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ROTFL.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='ROTFL.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<b>"It would be a disastrous decision for the leader of a great country like Australia to say that we're pulling out,"</b> Mr Bush said as the two leaders met reporters in Washington early today, Australian time.
"It would say that the Australian Government doesn't see the hope of a free, democratic society [in Iraq]. It would embolden the enemy to believe that they could shake our will."
By Louise Dodson in Washington and Cynthia Banham
June 4, 2004 - 1:19AM
"A close friend of mine" . . . Mr Bush and Mr Howard at the White House. Photo: Andrew Taylor
US President George Bush has delivered an unprecedented blow to the Labor Party, describing Mark Latham's policy of withdrawing Australian troops from Iraq as "disastrous".
Speaking after a one and a half hour meeting with the Prime Minister, John Howard, at the White House, <b>Mr Bush said withdrawing the troops would "dispirit those who love freedom in Iraq" and "embolden our enemy which believes it can shake our will". </b> <!--emo&:roll--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ROTFL.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='ROTFL.gif' /><!--endemo-->
<b>"It would be a disastrous decision for the leader of a great country like Australia to say that we're pulling out,"</b> Mr Bush said as the two leaders met reporters in Washington early today, Australian time.
"It would say that the Australian Government doesn't see the hope of a free, democratic society [in Iraq]. It would embolden the enemy to believe that they could shake our will."