Posted on 06/05/2004 10:09:08 AM PDT by knighthawk
JOHN HOWARD has issued a blunt message to European nations opposed to the Iraq war - never forget you owe your freedom to the United States.
As the US seeks European support for a fresh United Nations resolution guiding Iraq's post-war transition to democracy, the Prime Minister delivered a pointed reminder yesterday of the bleak future Europe would have faced without American help in World War II.
"Without the decisive intervention of the United States, the future of those liberated countries in Europe would have been very different," Mr Howard said.
"I think it's a lesson that should never be forgotten."
The PM's rallying call came in a speech to the National Press Club in Washington and was warmly received by the largely American audience.
It came as Mr Howard prepared to join world leaders - including US President George Bush, British PM Tony Blair, the Queen and French President Jacques Chirac - in Normandy for 60th anniversary commemorations of the D-Day landing that changed the course of World War II.
Although Mr Howard mentioned no specific European nations, France - the host of this weekend's ceremonies - has been a staunch opponent of the military campaign in Iraq.
"It (the D-Day commemoration) is an event that ought to remind the nations of Europe of the enormous debt that they owe to the United States," he said.
Mr Howard said he spoke as the leader of a nation that was one of few to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Britain during the dark early days of World War II in 1939 and 1940.
The PM used his speech, which concluded the US leg of his three-nation official visit, to mount an emphatic defence of Australia's military role in Iraq.
Asked about the failure to find weapons of mass destruction, Mr Howard said he still would not change anything about Australia's decision to commit troops.
He defended Australia's relationship with the US, saying it did not come at the expense of other relationships with nations in our immediate region.
I bought a bottle of Aussie wine the other day-- specifically because of things like this.
Do you think John Howard is one of those foreign leaders who's privately in Kerry's corner? /utterly ridiculous question
Ping
It is getting late here. With hate crime laws based upon your beliefs rather than your actions, our freedom is being curtailed. PC shows up even in the comments on forums such as our own.
Bless your heart.
Between John Howard, the SAS $ the Croc Hunter...some Aussie's Kick A!
I think the Europeans forgot it long ago.
Given that the distinguished junior Senator from the great Commonwealth of Massachusetts calls Australia a "fraudulent" ally in a "coalition of the coerced and bribed," I think not.
Although I might not be a good little liberal, I would like to thank the Australians for their sacrifice. Australians have fought with us in every major conflict since the Great War in Europe (1914-1918). Australia sent a million men into the Second World War, and fought beside Americans in Korea and Vietnam to stem the tide of Communism.
So I'd like to thank John Howard and the Australian people for continuing to defend freedom around the world.
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