Australia won’t scale back Iraq force

Prime Minister John Howard pledged forcefully today not to reduce the number of Australian troops serving in Iraq despite growing calls in his country to withdraw.

“Australian soldiers will remain in Iraq . . . not based on any calendar but based on conditions on the ground,” Howard said during a joint news conference with President Bush. “We believe that progress is being made in Iraq, and we do not believe this is any time to signal a scaling down of Australian forces.”

Howard, who has been prime minister since 1996, has seen his popularity erode in large part as a result of his support for Bush and the U.S.-led war in Iraq. But he insisted that although Australian troops may later serve in more of a training capacity, “their commitment, their level . . . will not change under a government that I lead.”

Australia has about 1,500 troops in Iraq, about 500 of them in combat roles. The United States has more than 160,000 troops in the country, and Britain has about 5,500.

Bush arrived in Sydney late Tuesday and is scheduled to spend four days in Australia, meeting with officials and attending the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

Bush arrived two days early for the APEC leaders’ conference, in part because he will head back to Washington on Saturday, a day early, to prepare for next week’s report to Congress on the Iraq war.

Bush, who considers Howard a friend as well as an ally, was scheduled to devote much of today to him, meeting with his Cabinet, lunching with Australian troops and visiting the local governor before ending the day with dinner at the prime minister’s residence.

Howard is facing a tough reelection challenge from Labor Party leader Kevin Rudd, who has promised Australians that he would negotiate a phased withdrawal of Australian troops from Iraq. Polls show him leading Howard by a significant margin ahead of the vote, which must be held by Jan. 19.

Bush is scheduled to meet with Rudd on Thursday, and the president said he hoped they would have “an honest exchange of views.” But Bush also hinted that he would prefer Howard remain in office: “I wouldn’t count the man out,” Bush said during the news conference. “He’s like me, he can run from behind.”

During a surprise visit to Iraq on Monday, Bush hinted that he was at least considering lower U.S. troop levels.

“If conditions still improve . . . the way they have been improving, we may be able to provide the same security with fewer troops,” Bush said during the news conference in Sydney.

But he said he would wait until U.S. commander Gen. David H. Petraeus and Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker delivered their report to Congress next week before making a decision.

“Why don’t we see what they say and then I’ll let you know what our policy is,” Bush said.

Bush’s visit has put much of downtown Sydney in a security lockdown, tangling traffic and sparking tempers. Local papers dubbed the city “Fortress Sydney.”

Australian reporters brought the disruptions to Bush’s attention. “I hope you feel safe,” Bush replied, chuckling, but then added: “To the extent I’ve caused this, I apologize. . . . I must be feeling guilty.”

Bush is unpopular in Australia, and protests were planned in Sydney throughout his visit, which are to culminate in a large-scale demonstration Saturday. Police barred an Australian group called the Stop Bush Coalition from marching through the security zone, but the organization was appealing the ruling to Australia’s supreme court.

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maura.reynolds@latimes.com