Alan Ramsey examines the "suckholing" and "dishonest, puking twaddle" that passed for a press conference on the White House lawns. After voluminous mutual praise between Bush and Howard, reporters were allowed only two questions from each side.

"As an American reporter tried to grab the last opportunity, Howard interjected: 'Mr Lewis, Steve Lewis, The Australian.'

Lewis, taking his cue: 'President Bush, if I could ask a question?' ...

And then the Murdoch press gallery journalist from Canberra asked the question his Prime Minister had gone half round the world to get answered, out loud, for his election campaign ads.

Lewis: 'Mr Howard and yourself reaffirmed the commitment to stay the course in Iraq. Are you aware the alternative prime minister in Australia, Mark Latham, has promised to withdraw Australian troops by Christmas if he wins the election? What signal would that send to the Iraqi people and the other members of the coalition of the willing?'"

The question prompted Bush's unscripted and undiplomatic response that a win for Latham would be "disasterous". Howard was grinning from ear to ear.