Sydney - Prime Minister John Howard on Wednesday assured US President George W Bush that Australian troops would stay in Iraq. "Our commitment to Iraq remains," Howard said at a joint press conference in Sydney. "This is not the time for any proposals for a scaling down of Australian forces."
Bush is among the first of the 21 leaders to arrive in Sydney for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' summit and is expecting to hold private talks with the heads of government of Japan, South Korea, Russia and Indonesia before leaving on Saturday.
Bush who has described Howard as "a man of steel" for committing Australian troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, declared that close ties will outlast a strong personal friendship with Howard.
"Do personalities define the relationship?" an enthused Bush asked reporters. "Personalities matter ... but the alliance is bigger than the individuals. Our alliance has been forged in battle and in friendship and in trade."
Bush, who is making his first visit to Sydney and spoke after a surprise visit to Iraq, thanked Howard for committing troops.
"It's historic work, Mr Prime Minister, and it's important work and I appreciate the contribution that the Australians have made," Bush, seemingly energized by his Iraq visit, told Howard.
Howard, 68, is way behind in the opinion polls ahead of a general election expected in November.
Opposition Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd, who looks set to win the poll and unseat Howard's 11-year-old conservative government, has pledged to withdraw Australia's 1,500 troops from Iraq if he wins office.
Bush will hold his first meeting with Rudd on Thursday, hoping to change the Mandarin-speaking former diplomat's mind about withdrawal.
Rudd, 49, was at pains to declare his commitment to the US alliance ahead of his meeting with Bush.
"When it comes to the overall relationship with the United States, I am a life-long supporter of our alliance with the United States - that has not budged one bit and never has budged one bit," Rudd said.
