The comments made a few days ago by the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard regarding the Democrats and in particular Barack Obama do NOT reflect the opinions of the majority of Australians.I left Australia not long after John Howard became Prime Minister and I have seen nothing but continuing small-mindedness and fear-mongering as a staple of his leadership. I have continued to vote against his re-election but people get scared and fear is a powerful tool, look at the US election results in 2004.John Howard is George W Bush's dogsbody (for the meaning of this word go to http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-dog1.htm ), and he continues to defend Bush and his politics hoping for a scrap of recognition or a gold-star from his cowboy hero. Howard believes that Bush is fighting ther "good-fight" in Iraq and refuses, like some forlorn lover, to see the lies, corruption and the bullying of the US administration. Howard believes in Bush,, not the Australian people. Howard does not believe in justice or the rights of Australians. For instance, the plight of David Hicks, an Australian man still being held without trial for 5 years in Guantanamo, is an indictment on Howard's pathetic refusal to upset the ego of his pal Bush. David Hicks, an Australian, has meanwhile applyed to become a BRITISH citizen so that someone will stand up for him. The British government will look after him and the Australian government refuses. This is absolutely shameful.SO, for Howard to stand up a few days ago and say that a win for the Democrats in 2008 (especially Barack Obama), would be a gift to the "terrorists" is outrageous. It is embarrassing, foolish and it is exactly the small-minded, culturally-vapid, pathetic whining of a backwater, upside down little countryman that most of the Western world believes him, and now Australia, to be. John Howard has never had any vison for my country and he shames us in the eyes of the world. Does this sound like someone you know, America?It's time for a change in the "leadership" of our two nations.-fiona