Fed: Federal MPs cool the Iraq rhetoric

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Fed: Federal MPs cool the Iraq rhetoric

By Rob Taylor

CANBERRA, Aug 14 AAP - Federal MPs today backed down from their public slanging overa possible strike on Iraq, calling instead for a cool-headed debate on the issue whenparliament resumed next week.

Tensions boiled over this week after Foreign Minister Alexander Downer compared OppositionLeader Simon Crean to Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.

Mr Crean in turn called Mr Downer a fool and accused him of using Rambo rhetoric tocatapult Australia towards any future conflict.

But criticism of the government's tough talk and its impact on wheat farmers, plusa poll showing most Australians were opposed to a war against Iraq, caused Mr Downer totone down his accusations.

The foreign minister said he had not meant to question Mr Crean's patriotism, but wantedLabor to acknowledge there was an enormous amount of intelligence detailing Iraq's bidto acquire weapons of mass destruction.

"I am saying there is a very high risk of war," he said.

"I just owe it to people to be honest with them as I see the situation."

Mr Crean said Mr Downer was not handling the Iraq issue well.

And he called on him to apologise to wheat growers for depriving them of more than$800 million in sales to Iraq.

"Alexander Downer the hot-head has cost the country dearly," he said.

But he refused to reignite yesterday's name-calling spat, instead joining with theAustralian Democrats in demanding a full debate when parliament met again on Monday.

"I think that we've got to have an informed debate about precisely what are the circumstancesin Iraq, what is the status of the UN position and then let's make a considered judgment,"

he said.

Defence Minister Robert Hill conceded that the debate may have been unhelpful if ithad created the impression in Baghdad there were different views in Australia on a possiblewar against Iraq.

"We want Iraq to understand that Australians are united," he said.

Defence and foreign affairs experts, meanwhile, backed Labor's criticism of Mr Downer'stough language.

"My assessment is that Downer in particular, leaving (Prime Minister John) Howard toone side, has gone far too way out on a limb," former Department of Foreign Affairs andTrade (DFAT) chief Alan Renouf said.

"I just don't understand what his agenda is in making Australia the most vehement andpublic critic of Saddam Hussein."

Australian Defence Association executive director Michael O'Connor said the government'scomments on Iraq had been too strong.

The Australian Greens called for a parliamentary inquiry into possible war with Iraq.

"We believe that there should be a very clear input by the parliament to help facilitatethe public debate on what to do with Iraq, the impending potential for the US to invadeIraq and the inclination of Prime Minister Howard to automatically involve Australia,"

Greens senators Bob Brown and Kerry Nettles said.

AAP rft/sw/hu/sb

KEYWORD: IRAQ AUST NIGHTLEAD