I know it’s

a few days ago, so apologies for old news, but I’m still puzzled.

What led John Howard, the Australian PM, to lash out at Barak Obama, the latest candidate for the Dem nomination? (Or “08-ama”, as the cartoonists have obviously dubbed him). Is he (Howard) feeling increasingly isolated now that his buddies B&B are in the twilight of their careers? Is it because everyone else is ‘distancing’ himself or herself from his greatest love, the Iraq war? Why did he say that bin Laden must be circling the election date in 2008 and praying for an Obama/Democratic victory? Why is he still calling the Democrats the friends of the terrorists, when even Bush has given up on that one? Or maybe the news hasn’t reached the remote shores of Australia yet?

It need hardly be commented that Osama (not Obama) would most likely be praying for a Republican victory in 2008, since under Bush, al Qaeda has done brilliantly, and recruited staggeringly more supporters (the latest, a violent faction in Algeria) than Osama could ever have hoped for. As the other classic cartoon had it: “Is it not wondrous, O Vile One, that the more Bush talks, the less we have to do?”

Beyond this, why the sudden (and status-enhancing) attack in particular on Barak Obama, who is not by a very long shot the Dem’s confirmed candidate yet. After all, Howard has not launched a public attack on Senator Murtha or Speaker Pelosi, both vociferous anti-war Democrats. Could there be a niggly little racialist aspect, that Howard is infuriated by a cheeky Abo upstart daring to criticise his policies? especially towards a country whose policy has been, for a century, in all but name, the extermination of the Aborigine population?

Obama, as would be expected, gave a dignified reply. If Australia was concerned about troop commitments in Iraq, he said, she was most welcome to send more troops of her own. Since Australia maintains a derisory contingent of 1400 troops, about 100th of the US’s level, the suggestion is very apt.