John Howard says White House pushed Iraq talks hours after 9/11
Howard says the White House discussed invading Iraq just hours after 9/11 attacks.
In a 25th anniversary interview, John Howard recalled being briefed in an embassy bunker. The White House believed al-Qaeda, operating from Afghanistan, was responsible for 9/11.
Howard's US ambassador told him senior Bush officials were already considering Iraq. Howard says he never believed Saddam Hussein was directly involved in 9/11.
Howard defended Australia's 2003 invasion of Iraq based on claims about weapons of mass destruction. UN inspectors later found Baghdad had abandoned these weapons years earlier.
Howard says he was not misled. However, many international investigations found the case for the invasion had serious flaws.
- September 11, 2001
- Date of briefing
- Michael Thorley
- Howard's ambassador
- March 18, 2003
- Invasion date
Why it mattersHoward's account offers rare insight into how the Bush administration switched from fighting terrorism to regime change in the Middle East. This shift has shaped two decades of conflict.
AustraliaThe interview revisits Australia's most controversial post-war military decision, still debated in domestic politics and foreign policy.
Corroborated bythenightly.com.au
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