By George: now it's all the way with Howard J

JOHN HOWARD, he pointed out again yesterday, first met George Bush in Washington on September 10, 2001.
We all know that the events of the next day cemented a friendship unprecedented for leaders of the US and Australia.

On the day they met, the 50th anniversary of the ANZUS treaty, Bush presented Howard with a gift - the bell from the USS Canberra. It was the only US naval ship named in honour of an ally's sunken vessel.

Today the US President will visit the National Maritime Museum to view the bell. It could be construed as an act of symmetry, given if Howard loses the election, this week would be the last time he and Bush see each other in their respective roles.
This was obviously apparent to Bush, who arrived in Australia in a chipper mood.

"We're kicking ass," he told Mark Vaile on the tarmac after the Deputy Prime Minister inquired politely of the President's stopover in Iraq en route to Sydney. WHAT? are you serious? When asked about Iraq, your response is We're Kicking Ass? Are you in College still? How are the longhorns? You're the god damned PRESIDENT...we are not KICKING ASS. Even if we were (which we're not), can't you say something like "victory" or "accomplishment?"

Despite his unpopularity in this country, Bush used yesterday's media conference with Howard to try to bolster the Prime Minister's electoral prospects in the next poll. Labor was quite happy at the spectre of one unpopular leader backing another but should not underestimate the defiance and polished performance Bush is able to muster. On Iraq, climate change, Kyoto and nuclear power, he backed Howard to the hilt. He claimed diplomatically he did not want to interfere in the Australian election and said he looked forward to today's meeting with Kevin Rudd.
Rudd believes Afghanistan is a worthy war while Iraq is not.