Posted on 10/09/2004 11:03:41 AM PDT by Pikamax
U.S. congratulates Howard on re-election
The Associated Press 10/9/2004, 11:55 a.m. CT
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States congratulated Australian Prime Minister John Howard for winning his fourth term in Australia's federal election Saturday. President Bush called it a great victory.
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Speaking in St. Louis, where he was campaigning in his own re-election bid, Bush said: "I want to congratulate my good friend, Prime Minister John Howard, who won a great victory."
Bush telephoned Howard from Air Force One as he flew from St. Louis to Iowa for more campaigning.
Howard beat Mark Latham, whose Labor Party had promised to pull Australia's roughly 900 noncombat troops out of Iraq and surrounding areas where Howard sent them as part of the U.S.-led coalition. Howard had pledged to keep the troops there until Iraqi asked them to leave.
The State Department issued a brief statement that foresaw further close U.S.-Australian ties.
"We congratulate Prime Minister John Howard on his coalition's victory in Australia's Oct. 9 national election," spokeswoman Darla Jordan said. "We look forward to continuing our close cooperation with the Australian government under his leadership."
Although the Australian election was fought mainly on domestic issues such as health and education, Howard's re-election effort was seen widely outside Australia as the first referendum for leaders of three principal countries among Bush's "coalition of the willing" that invaded Iraq in March 2003.
Next is Bush's Nov. 2 test against Democratic challenger Sen. John Kerry, and British Prime Minister Tony Blair probably will face the voters next year.
Congrats to Mr. Howard! The Left must be scatching it's collective head right now.
Congrats to Mr. Howard! And thank you for your support and leadership in in the war on terror!
Congratulations to one of our great allies. America now needs to look at that example in re-elect President Bush and send Kerry packing out of our Senate, out of our lives and out of our country (hopefully to France)
Great news!!! Australia, thank you!! Congratulates Prime Minister Howard!!
BTTT
Excellent news. An answer to a prayer. God loves the free world and the warriors on the front lines.
Love Howard. Love the Aussies. God bless the troops.
Good things happen to good people that stand by other good people.
Thank you Ausssies!
Good news! Thank you Austrailia! Thank you John Howard!
Horray for Howard and our wonderful steadfast allie Australia.
Anyone know how to send congrats to our Aussie friends?
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