Aust. Labor MPs on Bush: "the most incompetent and dangerous president in living memo

ALP attack enrages Washington
By John Kerin and Misha Schubert
February 07, 2003

THE US is furious with the ALP for its lack of support for the deployment of troops to the Middle East and its targeting of George W. Bush in a parliamentary debate on Iraq.

The US has formally complained to Opposition Leader Simon Crean's office about Labor's anti-Americanism, suggesting it is damaging the Australia-US alliance.

The development came as a group of Labor MPs restated their opposition to a war against Iraq under any circumstances, a position at odds with Labor policy.

The view from Washington was also conveyed to Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd when he visited the US last week for talks with senior officials.

A spokesman for Labor leader Simon Crean confirmed the US had complained about the ALP's policy.

"But Labor makes no apology for acting in the national interest, unlike John Howard, who seems to think the strength of an alliance lies in agreeing with everything the US says or does," he said.