The Jakarta Post, 11/15/2006 12:00:02 PM
Perceptions of U.S. defeat in Iraq would embolden terrorists
SYDNEY, Australia (AP): If America and its allies leave Iraq without a clear victory it
will embolden terrorists from the Middle East to Indonesia, and damage international
efforts to contain North Korea's nuclear ambitions, Australia's leader saidTuesday.
"If the coalition leaves Iraq in circumstances seen as defeat, the ramifications of that
throughout the Middle East will be enormous," Prime Minister John Howard said in
written excerpts of a speech to the Australian American Association, released by
hisoffice.
"It will embolden the terrorists and extremists not only there but also in our own
region, especially in neighboring Indonesia," he said. "Iraq will become a haven for
terrorists."This would, in turn, have an impact on other global security issues, Howard
said.
Howard ruled out an early withdrawal of Australian troops from Iraq, warning that
pulling out too soon would severely damage America's influence and standing in the
world.
U.S. President George W. Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Howard form a
troika of leaders who sent invasion forces to topple former Iraqi dictator Saddam
Hussein, but escalating violence has frustrated their goal of a democraticreplacement.
Bush established a task force to study new approaches in Iraq after U.S. voters
delivered a stinging rebuke to his Republican party last week in elections that put
Democrats in control of Congress.
Howard welcomed the review, but said the prevailing goal, to have the Iraqi government
take charge of its affairs, is unchanged.
Addressing Blair's proposal that the West be open to involving Iran and Syria in
stemming the bloodshed in Iraq, Howard said: "By all means let us talk to countries
such as Syria and Iran, but let us do so with a realistic mind-set about the
motivationsand behavior of such countries."
On Monday, Howard told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio he was "very skeptical"
that Iran and Syria would help. (**)
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