The appeasement bloc is working hard to rip the spine out of Australia, just like they did to Spain: Return of Australian troops from Iraq becomes election issue.

SYDNEY, (AFP) - Plans by the Labor opposition to bring Australian troops home from Iraq by Christmas became an election issue as the government claimed the move would leave Australian civilians dangerously exposed in Baghdad.

Opposition leader Mark Latham said Tuesday that with a planned handover of power to a new Iraqi government at the end of June, Australia’s 850 troops and advisers could be home by December if Labor wins the elections expected at the end of the year.

Latham conceded that problems with the Iraqi handover could lead to the troops remaining longer.

“But our intention is to ensure that once the responsibility is discharged, and that is at the time of the handover to the new sovereign government in Iraq, then Australian troops will come back under a Labor government,” he added.

Prime Minister John Howard told parliament Latham’s statement sends the wrong signal to both terrorists and Australia’s allies in Iraq.

Without personnel in Iraq, Australian officials would be left dangerously exposed to terrorist attacks, he said.

Howard also appealed to Latham to change his mind, saying Australia’s work is not yet done.

“If the criteria is that we stay there to do the job, if we keep our shoulder to the wheel then you don’t talk about withdrawing forces before June 30, you certainly don’t talk about withdrawing them by Christmas,” he said.

“In other words, you act responsibly.”