Source:
smh.com.auMarch 6, 2008 - 6:59PM
John Howard has launched a spirited defence of his legacy, breaking his silence following last year's election loss.
While his coalition colleagues have been junking his policies since being tipped out of office last November, the former prime minister used a speech to a conservative US think tank to attack the Rudd government over industrial relations and Iraq.
He condemned the new government's decision to withdraw combat troops from Iraq and its rollback of his workplace relations laws.
"That will be a mistake," Mr Howard told the American Enterprise Institute's annual dinner in Washington.
Mr Howard was guest of honour at the dinner, where he was presented with the Irving Kristol award, named after the father of neoconservatism.
He entered the room to a standing ovation from the 1,400-strong audience, including former United Nations ambassador John Bolton, Vice President Dick Cheney's wife Lynne, and former World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz.
Despite their close friendship, US President George W Bush did not attend the dinner, nor did any member of the Bush administration.
Mr Howard was introduced by institute trustee James Wilson as "John Winston Howard, stalwart all-rounder of politics and policy, who made good government a popular cause and advanced Australia fair and free".
Since the election loss, the Liberal-National coalition has battled to regroup, declaring Work Choices dead, reversing its opposition to ratifying the Kyoto protocol on climate change and agreeing with the troop withdrawal from Iraq.
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http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/howard-breaks-silence-on-election-loss/2008/03/06/1204779959812.html
pass the sickbag