Fed: Armitage criticque aimed at Howard, says Latham

AAP General News (Australia)
04-15-2004
Fed: Armitage criticque aimed at Howard, says Latham

KARRATHA, WA, April 15 AAP - Opposition leader Mark Latham today said critical comments
about Labor's view on the US-Australian alliance made by US Deputy Secretary of State
Richard Armitage were in fact directed towards Prime Minister John Howard.

In what was interpreted as a rebuke to Mr Latham, Mr Armitage said overnight that anyone
who thought Australia merely nodded its head in agreement with the US had a lot to learn.

Alluding to Mr Latham's speech to the Lowy Institute last week, Mr Armitage also said
he had been offended at suggestions the Howard Government operated as a "deputy sheriff"

for the US.

Speaking during a visit to WA's north, Mr Latham agreed that Australia should not be
seen as anyone's deputy.

"Well, hear hear to that," Mr Latham told reporters.

"I take offence at the idea of Australia being described as a deputy sheriff.

"So Mr Armitage, his beef is not with me, his beef is with the Prime Minister who endorsed
the idea of Australia being a deputy sheriff."

Mr Latham said anyone who "truly loves" Australia would not describe it as a deputy sheriff.

"We are not deputy to anyone and my point is that we believe passionately ... in the
American alliance, but we believe in an equal partnership not a deputy.

"It seems to me that Mr Armitage is actually making a heavy criticism of Mr Howard,
who is the one who put this nonsense of a deputy sheriff on the agenda in the first place."

AAP hn/tc/drp/de

KEYWORD: US ARMITAGE LATHAM

2004 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.