Newly released UK cabinet papers from 2005 provide an insight into how the Blair government worked to flatter the Australian PM to influence his decision
Tony Blair’s government discussed how to “influence” John Howard when it came to committing Australian troops to Iraq after the toppling of Saddam Hussein’s regime, newly released files in the UK show.
They also reveal that one of Howard’s own defence ministers told a Downing Street official that the Australian prime minister was not “keen” on sending troops to Afghanistan and privately advised the British leader should raise the issue with Howard “to get him focused on the need for Australia to contribute”.
