Gumleaf
March 24th, 2009, 05:48 PM
05:35 AEST Wed Mar 25 2009
President Barack Obama has said he hoped to partner with Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd for "years to come" after forging a "meeting of the minds" in their first White House talks.
Rudd, who some observers see as a political "soul mate" for Obama in a new generation of global leaders, meanwhile said it was good to have the United States "back on board" on world economics and global warming.
"I think he's doing a terrific job, and I'm looking forward to partnering with him for some years to come," Obama said, after meeting Rudd in the Oval Office for more than an hour of talks.
The US president also appeared to gently signal he would welcome an extension of the mandate of Australia's 1100 troops in Afghanistan or increase in their number, as he prepares to unveil a new war strategy.
"The American people, just like the Australian people, are always frustrated with the need to send our young men and women overseas for extended periods of time ... it puts enormous strain on families and some don't return.
"But I think that the American and the Australian people also recognize ... that we can't allow vicious killers to have their way, and we're going to do what is required to ensure that does not happen."
The troops issue is a difficult one for Rudd: nearly two-thirds — 65 percent — of 1200 voters responding to a recent poll in the The Australian newspaper said they were against sending any more Australians into battle.
Obama said he and Rudd had got through some important work ahead of the Group of 20 summit of developed and developing nations next week in London on the need to stimulate economies and to better regulate global finance.
"I feel that there's a great meeting of the minds between Prime Minister Rudd and myself," Obama said.
Rudd feted a 65-year alliance between the United States and Australia, and said they spent discussed the need for immediate global action on the "enduring challenge" of climate change.
"It's going to be tough, it's going to be hard, it's going to require a lot of political leadership," he said.
"I'd just say it's great to have America on board," Rudd said, in a swipe at the reluctance of the previous US administration of George W. Bush to join international efforts to battle global warming.
"Mr. President, to see the return of US global economic leadership -- we appreciate that very much, and it's going to be necessary in the difficult times which lie ahead for certain."
The meeting offered a tough choice for the Australian prime minister, who experts say is eager to get close to the popular new US leader, but is mindful of the domestic opposition to sending more troops to Afghanistan.
Two months into office, Obama has handed out only select invitations to come see him in Washington and some analysts have suggested the two new leaders have much in common.
Rudd, 51, and Obama, 47, both come from humble upbringings and lived for parts of their formative years overseas.
Politically, each changed their country's course upon taking office by ordering troops out of Iraq and vowing action to fight climate change.
"They are ideological soul mates," said Alan Dupont, director of the Centre for International Security Studies at the University of Sydney.
Before Rudd, Obama has met at the White House only with the leaders of Japan, Britain, Brazil and Ireland, along with China's foreign minister and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
Obama also flew to Canada to see Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
President Barack Obama has said he hoped to partner with Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd for "years to come" after forging a "meeting of the minds" in their first White House talks.
Rudd, who some observers see as a political "soul mate" for Obama in a new generation of global leaders, meanwhile said it was good to have the United States "back on board" on world economics and global warming.
"I think he's doing a terrific job, and I'm looking forward to partnering with him for some years to come," Obama said, after meeting Rudd in the Oval Office for more than an hour of talks.
The US president also appeared to gently signal he would welcome an extension of the mandate of Australia's 1100 troops in Afghanistan or increase in their number, as he prepares to unveil a new war strategy.
"The American people, just like the Australian people, are always frustrated with the need to send our young men and women overseas for extended periods of time ... it puts enormous strain on families and some don't return.
"But I think that the American and the Australian people also recognize ... that we can't allow vicious killers to have their way, and we're going to do what is required to ensure that does not happen."
The troops issue is a difficult one for Rudd: nearly two-thirds — 65 percent — of 1200 voters responding to a recent poll in the The Australian newspaper said they were against sending any more Australians into battle.
Obama said he and Rudd had got through some important work ahead of the Group of 20 summit of developed and developing nations next week in London on the need to stimulate economies and to better regulate global finance.
"I feel that there's a great meeting of the minds between Prime Minister Rudd and myself," Obama said.
Rudd feted a 65-year alliance between the United States and Australia, and said they spent discussed the need for immediate global action on the "enduring challenge" of climate change.
"It's going to be tough, it's going to be hard, it's going to require a lot of political leadership," he said.
"I'd just say it's great to have America on board," Rudd said, in a swipe at the reluctance of the previous US administration of George W. Bush to join international efforts to battle global warming.
"Mr. President, to see the return of US global economic leadership -- we appreciate that very much, and it's going to be necessary in the difficult times which lie ahead for certain."
The meeting offered a tough choice for the Australian prime minister, who experts say is eager to get close to the popular new US leader, but is mindful of the domestic opposition to sending more troops to Afghanistan.
Two months into office, Obama has handed out only select invitations to come see him in Washington and some analysts have suggested the two new leaders have much in common.
Rudd, 51, and Obama, 47, both come from humble upbringings and lived for parts of their formative years overseas.
Politically, each changed their country's course upon taking office by ordering troops out of Iraq and vowing action to fight climate change.
"They are ideological soul mates," said Alan Dupont, director of the Centre for International Security Studies at the University of Sydney.
Before Rudd, Obama has met at the White House only with the leaders of Japan, Britain, Brazil and Ireland, along with China's foreign minister and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
Obama also flew to Canada to see Prime Minister Stephen Harper.