George Bush early today condemned Opposition Leader Mark Latham's plan to bring home Australia's troops from Iraq by Christmas as "disastrous".
http://theage.com.au/articles/2004/06/04/1086203575179.html

"It would be a disastrous decision for the leader of a great country like Australia to say 'We're pulling out,' Mr Bush said after talks with Prime Minister John Howard. Labor's plan, if carried out, would dispirit "those who love freedom in Iraq".

"It would say that the Australian Government doesn't see the hope of a free and democratic society (in Iraq), leading to a peaceful world. It would embolden the enemy who believe that they can shake our will. You see, they want to kill innocent lives because they think that the Western world and the free world is weak, that when times get tough we would shirk our duty to those who long for freedom," Mr Bush said.

The extraordinary intervention into Australian politics came after Mr Howard indirectly raised Mr Latham's promise to bring home the troops by Christmas if he wins the election later this year. "It is the worst time imaginable for nations to be showing any weakness in relation to our goals in Iraq," Mr Howard said.

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"It would ... dispirit those who love freedom in Iraq. It would say that the Australian government doesn't see the hope of a free and democratic society leading to a peaceful world. It would embolden the enemy who believe that they can shake our will.
http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/06/03/howard.bush/

"See, they want to kill innocent life because they think that the Western world and the free world is weak; that when times get tough, we will shirk our duty to those who long for freedom and we'll leave."