Rudd Beats Howard in Australia

Conservative Prime Minister John Howard, who has led Australia for 11 years, was trounced on Saturday by young Labor leader Kevin Rudd. Howard's conservative party also sustained heavy losses in parliament.

Howard has been a firm ally of George Bush, and has kept Australia's small force in Iraq against the desires of the public. Rudd, a former diplomat, promised to bring home the troops, marking the withdrawal of the last of our allies.

Howard had also caused a stir by saying that, "If I was running al-Qaeda in Iraq, I would put a circle around March 2008, and pray, as many times as possible, for a victory not only for Obama, but also for the Democrats." This comment was unnecessary and racist insult to the institution commonly known as civil discourse. Goodbye John Howard. You will not be missed.