Bush lavishes praise on Australia's Howard

George W Bush and John Howard

WASHINGTON - US President George W Bush today praised Australia's John Howard as a staunch ally in the war in Iraq, and suggested that he expected the four-term prime minister to run once more for re-election.

At a joint news conference with Howard, Bush did nothing to deter speculation in Australia that Howard might run again next year instead of retiring. He has won four straight elections and been in power for 10 years.

"Well, I suspect he's going to outlast me, so that is a moot point," Bush said when asked if he could work effectively with a future Australian leader.

Bush's presidency ends in January 2009.

Bush treated Howard, a stalwart ally in Iraq and elsewhere, to a grand welcome. Pennsylvania Avenue outside the White House was lined with US and Australian flags and Howard received a colourful South Lawn arrival ceremony.

An official dinner was also planned.

Howard said at the arrival ceremony that the two countries have much in common, including a "long and difficult fight" ahead in the war on terrorism.

"Progress is being made, but much lies ahead," said Howard, whose government has sent troops to both Iraq and Afghanistan.

At the news conference, Bush recalled thinking about Howard's last re-election campaign when he trailed in polls.

"And I remember saying to somebody, 'This man is going to be rewarded at the ballot box' because the people of Australia want somebody who is consistently strong, not somebody who tries to waffle around trying to figure out, you know, where to end up for political expediency," Bush said.

He called Howard a reliable partner willing to make tough decisions and joked that one of the few differences between them was that the prime minister lacked a good head of hair.

"He may not be the prettiest person on the block but when he tells you something you can take it to the bank," said Bush, prompting chuckles from Howard in the White House East Room.

Howard stands out among foreign backers of the Iraq war for maintaining his political strength since the 2003 invasion.

Former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar was defeated in 2004; Italy's Silvio Berlusconi lost an election last month. British Prime Minister Tony Blair's popularity has plummeted and Bush himself has seen his approval ratings plunge since the war began.

Australian analysts believe Howard could fight one more election before handing over to his heir apparent, Treasurer Peter Costello.

Howard, 66, has refused to commit to leading the Liberal Party to the next election, due in the second half of 2007. Costello, his patient deputy, has made no secret of his ambition to replace Howard.

- REUTERS