Secretary Clinton told reporters at the State Department that she, President Obama and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, "Prime Minister Rudd just had an excellent, comprehensive meeting with President Obama in The Oval Office where we discussed a wide range of issues from climate change to Afghanistan." It seems these two items are, climate change and Afghanistan, are as important to Rudd as they are to America.
Rudd is under extreme political pressure in Australia because of climate change resolution that has been defeated twice already in the Australian Senate. If the current carbon emissions bill before them is defeated, Rudd could be forced into an early election and could lose his seat. Rudd has vehemently resisted any suggestion that he not fulfill his entire three-year term, telling The Australian, “I have deeply conservative views about these questions,” he said. “These views have not changed. I have been elected to serve a full term and that is my intention.” Bloomberg reports that Rudd has won over a key opposition leader in favor of the legislation, causing a political storm in the opposing party. With the Copenhagen climate summit looming, Australia is seeking to pass their own climate change laws to serve as an example to other countries who are struggling or recalcitrant on climate issues. The US is also struggling to produce tangible results on climate change promises made by President Obama prior to Copenhagen.
Rudd confirmed again his continued insistence that Australia would commit no further troops, although he reassured the President that Australia was in Afghanistan "for the long haul." Rudd said, "As I've said consistently in Australia since then, we would believe our troop commitment is about right. And my view on that hasn't changed." Rudd made a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Nov. 11th, facing drooping public approval of the war on his own country, similar to the one in the US.
Rudd also met separately with Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, and had lunch at the State Department with Secretary Clinton.
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