Making enemies
The week's news at a glance.
Canberra, Australia
Australian Prime Minister John Howard singled out U.S. Sen. Barack Obama for criticism this week, saying that his plan to withdraw troops from Iraq would destablize the entire Middle East. Howard, an ally of President Bush, said that Obama’s plan would “create chaos and victory for the terrorists” and that al Qaida should “pray as many times as possible for a victory not only for Obama but also for the Democrats.” Obama said that despite Howard’s “cowboy rhetoric,’’ Australia has sent only 1,400 troops to Iraq. If Howard really believed that the war was critical, Obama said, he would send another 20,000.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
5 weather-beaten cartoons about the Texas floods
Cartoons Artists take on funding cuts, politicizing tragedy, and more
-
What has the Dalai Lama achieved?
The Explainer Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader has just turned 90, and he has been clarifying his reincarnation plans
-
Europe's heatwave: the new front line of climate change
In the Spotlight How will the continent adapt to 'bearing the brunt of climate change'?