An Even Closer Ally; an Odd Outburst from Howard Highlights the Uniquely Pro-American Mood of Australia

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Byline: Hugh White (Hugh White is a visiting fellow at the Lowy Institute of International Policy in Sydney, and professor of strategic studies at the Australian National University.)

Last weekend, Australia's Prime Minister John Howard made a rare foray into U.S. politics, telling an interviewer that Al Qaeda leaders were "praying" for Barack Obama--or any other Democrat who favors a troop withdrawal from Iraq--to win the presidency next year.

Howard's statement broke a golden rule of diplomacy--never comment on an upcoming election in a friendly country--and earned him a sardonic rebuke from Obama, who pointed out that for all of Howard's tough talk, Australia has sent a mere …