Beazley warns US on war
By Steve Lewis and John Kerin 29-01-2005
From: The Australian Courtesy: www.news.com.AU
http://www.news.com.au/story/print/0,10119,12082067,00.html
LABOR'S new leader Kim Beazley has issued a blunt message to the US not to get bogged down in a potential Iraqi civil war as he attacked the Howard Government over its failure to protect Australian diplomats in Baghdad.
Seeking to recast Labor's approach on the emotive Iraqi issue, the Opposition Leader promised to be a straight-talking ally with Washington as he warned the US its approach could undermine the global war on terrorism.
"Should you become involved ... you will undermine the international fight against fundamentalist terror and you will not see yourselves in a position where you can take up the issues of weapons of mass destruction spread wherever else it's occurring," he cautioned the US.
The comments came as Foreign Minister Alexander Downer indicated this weekend's violence-marred Iraqi election could mark the beginning of the end for Australia's troop deployment. <...>
His aggressive start came as two leading Howard ministers, Treasurer Peter Costello and Mr Downer raised the withdrawal of Australian troops from Iraq. Both avoided setting a time limit, but Mr Costello said the Iraqi election offered "prospects for withdrawal once you have a democratic government in Iraq".
Asked if the elections marked the beginning of the end of Australia's engagement in Iraq, Mr Downer said: "Yes, I think they do."
Mr Downer will depart on Monday on a five-day visit to European countries, including Britain, where he is expected to discuss timelines for a troop withdrawal with Blair Government ministers.
Former Labor leader Mark Latham antagonised the Bush administration by calling for Australian troops to be withdrawn from Iraq by Christmas. <...>
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