Howard in Washington

Our prime minister, as you may know, arrived in Washington on the weekend. On Monday, he met with the guy who currently lives in the White House. It's his seventh visit to Washington as PM.

I heard some commentators complaining of a seemingly over-generous reception for John Howard. And yes, I agree, it is nauseating to see the Howards and the Bushes hugging and shaking hands and patting backs and looking genuinely thrilled to be in each other's company. But I heard a radio broadcaster comment that the same people who were upset to see the evidence of an extremely close relationship between John and George would have been equally upset had our PM been greeted by an intern, taken through the back door for a cup of coffee, then shown the way out. In other words, we should be thankful that the leader of the Australian government has been acknowledged this well and this openly in America.

Indeed, John Howard has always enjoyed very warm receptions in Washington, particularly during the years of the Bush White House, and even moreso since the beginning of the invasion of Iraq. And you would hope so. He did, after all, send Australian troops off to die in the name of a danger that never existed. But more than John Howard as an individual, the families of the troops deserve some sort of recognition. So a cold, dull and rushed welcome for our prime minister would be much worse than the alternative. And I know America is more than capable of all-but-ignoring visiting world leaders.

But though we will never be able to mind-read and can only assume, the question has to be asked...do they really give a shit about the deaths caused by their decisions? It is difficult to imagine them going about their duties without, at some point each day, thinking about the suicides and the missed bomb targets and the kidnappings and the scores of human beings massacred: all as a result of this stupid war, of which they are the architects.

I really hope it's got to the stage where they need the help of sleeping pills at night.

(By the way, sorry I didn't keep my promise on shutting up about America.)