I think this is highly inappropriate of John Howard. He has weighed into the US election (which everyone seems to have forgotten is almost two years away!!) by criticising Barrack Obama. Remember the furor in Australia prior to our last Federal election when the US Ambassador criticised the Opposition Leader and weighed into domestic politics? How is this any different? Howard is clearly playing politics in his support of his good Republican friend, but I think this is just the latest slip up in what has been the worst start to any of his years as PM. I think Howard's age is catching up with him in that the times have passed him by and he is now out-of-step with the general public opinion on the Iraq War issue. We can only hope that he continues his series of early-year gaffes right up to this years Federal election.