Howard: Leaving Iraq would be 'enormous blow' to US prestige

Australian Prime Minister John Howard today underscored his strong support for the Iraq war, saying pulling troops out of Iraq in circumstances that would be seen as a defeat would be an “enormous blow” to the United States and Australia.

But some observers have warned that Howard’s resolute support of the Iraq war in the wake of the US midterm elections could damage his popularity ahead of federal elections next year.