Australian PM said what?

Australian Prime Minister John Howard is a staunch supporter of President Bush, so it comes as no surprise that he is opposed to any Iraq troop withdrawl.

Howard, who faces reelection this year, has only committed 1,000 Australian troops to help the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. However, many of the troops are in non-combat roles, leaving the U.S. take the combat roles. Like Bush, Howard has come under increased criticism at home for supporting the unpopular war.

Obama, campaigning in Iowa, told reporters Sunday he's flattered that one of Bush's allies "started attacking me the day after I announced (his presidential run) -- I take that as a compliment."

The Democratic presidential hopeful said if the Australian prime minister was "ginned up to fight the good fight in Iraq," he needs to send another 20,000 Australians to the war. "Otherwise, it's just a bunch of empty rhetoric," Obama said.

"Prime Minister Howard knows that setting a timeline for a withdrawal sends the wrong signal to our enemies and sends the wrong signal to the Iraqi people," the official told CNN.

So, according to the White House, it is clearly better to have no plan...? It's confusing to me why the Aussie PM's opinion matters, though?! The day he made his critical remarks, that was the only thing about Obama on the news. What is thought to be newsworthy continues to amaze me, and the fact that the leader of a small and not very politically powerful country denounced a front-runner, who is not a conservative like him, is no surprise.