Australian PM delivers hawkish speech
by Romeo St. Martin

[PoliticsWatch Updated 5:30 p.m. May 18, 2006]

OTTAWA  — The international community cannot defeat terrorism by simply nuancing foreign policy or pretending the problem doesn't exist, the prime minister of Australia told a joint session of the Canadian Parliament on Thursday. 

Australian Prime Minister John Howard's rather hawkish and pro-American speech came just hours after MPs narrowly voted to extend Canada's mission to Afghanistan to 2009 after a six-hour debate in the House of Commons. 

"Terrorism will not be defeated by nuancing our foreign policy. Terrorism will not be defeated by rolling ourselves into a small ball, going into a corner and imagining that somehow or other we will escape notice," Howard told the House of Commons. 

"Terrorism will only be defeated by a combination of strong intelligence, military action where appropriate, and importantly, the spread of democracy, particularly among Islamic countries."

Not only is Australia involved in the war on terror in Afghanistan, it is also part of the U.S. coalition of the willing that is in Iraq, a mission Canada decided to opt out of. 

However, Australia's situation is different, having been targeted in a terrorist attack in Bali in 2002, a year after September 11 and a year before the U.S. invasion of Iraq. 

Canada has been listed as a target of Al-Qaeda but has not seen an attack on its home soil, although 24 Canadians were among the 3,000 killed on September 11. 

Howard paid tribute to efforts where Australians and Canadians fought side-by-side in the past including Korea, the Middle East and East Timor. 

"And now together in response to the new and dangerous threat of terrorism in Afghanistan," he added. "I pay tribute of the enormous contribution of the Canadian nation to the effort in Afghanistan and I mourn the loss and the sadness of Canadian families in recent days."

Prime Minister Stephen Harper also made reference to the Afghan mission during his introduction of the Australian PM.

"Perhaps most importantly, both of our countries have on many occasions stood shoulder to shoulder standing up for right when right needed to be defended," Harper said. 

"Our shared commitment to these values continues to this day, as, for instance, in Afghanistan where Canada and Australia are actively contributing to the effort to bring peace and stability and hope to millions of people."

Howard is the first foreign leader to address Parliament since the Conservatives were elected in January. Thursday also marked the first time an Australian PM addressed Parliament since the height of the Second World War.

The Conservatives reportedly modelled their successful election campaign on Howard's recent campaign. Brian Loughnane, a senior official of Howard's party, advised Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservatives. 

Although his party is called the Liberals, Howard is unabashedly conservative and a strong supporter of the U.S.

Parliament Hill has seen plenty of U.S. and Bush-bashing in recent years. 

The NDP based its opposition to the motion to extend the mission in Afghanistan on Wednesday evening largely on the premise that Canada is fighting a U.S.-led counterinsurgency mission, not a UN peacekeeping mission. 

But unlike domestic political leaders, Howard was unapologetically pro-American in his comments to the House and issued a warning for those opposed to U.S. foreign policy.

"I would have for those around the world who would want to see a reduced American role in the affairs of our globe some quiet advice, and that is, be careful what you wish for because a retreating America will leave a more vulnerable world," he told MPs.

"It would leave the world more exposed to terrorism and would leave a more fragile and indeed dangerous world."

Howard and his wife, Janette Howard, are in Ottawa for two days.  

They will spend Thursday evening having dinner at 24 Sussex Drive. 

On Friday, Harper and Howard will make a joint address at Wilson House in Gatineau. 

© PoliticsWatch® 2006. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PoliticsWatch content, including by framing, copying, linking or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Public Interests Research and Communications Inc. (PIRCINC). PoliticsWatch is registered trademark of PIRCINC.