Aussies "Back" Bush

Dateline Australia (excerpts; emphasis added):

US President George Bush has declared that he doesn't mind if Australian MPs turn their backs on him during his official visit to Canberra next week. "It means that democracy's alive and well - if somebody feels like they want to express discontent, that's OK. That's democracy," he told the Nine Network in a pre-trip interview aired last night. Mr Bush said he was anxious to visit Australia to thank the Australian people and Prime Minister John Howard for the support Australia had shown during the Iraq conflict. ... A group of Labor MPs - including Dr Lawrence, who is a candidate for Labor's federal presidency - is finalising plans to stage a silent protest during Mr Bush's address, including the wearing of white armbands for peace. Their action will defy cautions from Opposition Leader Simon Crean to be polite to the visiting leader as the party's collection of private polling data shows that Australians strongly support the US alliance. ... "Not at all," Mr Bush said when asked if he would be offended by Labor MPs turning their backs. "I don't expect everybody to agree with us, but one thing's for certain - the Prime Minister was strong, and the Australian military performed brilliantly." He added that "the main purpose (of the trip) is to thank the people of Australia, and to thank my friend John Howard for being strong in the face of terror and understanding that we have a historic opportunity to bring peace and freedom to parts of the world that need peace and freedom". ... Mr Bush rejected claims that torture is being used in the terrorist detention centre at Guantanamo Bay, where Australians David Hicks and Mamdouh Habib are in their second year of imprisonment. "No, of course not - we don't torture people in America, and people who make that claim just don't know anything about our country," he said.