John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

The question was very direct and very simple:

If the United States did withdraw all its troops from Iraq as Barack Obama advocates, what do you think would happen in Iraq?

That is a very simple question. It is a very direct question. It goes very directly to what we are debating. What was the reply of the Leader of the Opposition? Typically, he cut and ran. Listen to his answer. He was asked what he thought would happen and this is what he had to say:

On the question of the future direction of US military strategy in Iraq, like Mr Downer my role is not to provide a rolling commentary on the merits or otherwise of twists and turns in the US military debate.

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