'jay marx' would have swallowed ashstralia's right fist.
Howard heckled in Washington
PM arrives in US for business and to foster ties
A lone protester has heckled Australia's prime minister as he returned from lunch with US Vice-President Dick Cheney in Washington.
Construction worker Jay Marx, 36, repeatedly shouted "John Howard, get out of Iraq. The Bush administration is a sinking ship" as Howard spoke to waiting Australian journalists outside Blair House, the official residence where he and his wife Janette are guests of US President George W Bush.
Although Marx was at least 20 metres away from Howard and held back by iron railings, his shouts clearly distracted the prime minister.
Eventually, Secret Service agents moved a black van to block his view of Howard.
Later, Marx told journalists he had recognised Howard after seeing Australian flags outside the White House.
"I know that the majority of Australian people oppose the war, I know that John Howard has supported the Bush administration from the get-go, and it's pathetic," he said.
"It's pathetic that the Bush administration has managed to cow so many allies into supporting this war that is criminal, that is mistaken, that is horrific, that is murderous, and it has to stop.
"Okay, he (Howard) didn't start the war but he supported it from the get-go. So I think anyone who is sending troops is culpable. If no-one but the United States had troops in Iraq, then the facade of international cooperation would end."
Marx happened across Howard by chance. He was at nearby Lafayette Park for a mothers' rally organised by CODEPINK, a women's peace group.
Cindy Sheehan, the mother who became internationally known as an anti-war protester after her son was killed in Iraq, and actress Susan Sarandon are among the women taking part in the two-day rally.
Earlier, the Howards were flown to Cheney's country home in a military helicopter, Marine One.
Howard and Cheney discussed US politics and the situation in Iraq, including the position of new prime minister-elect Nouri al-Maliki.
"We had really more of a general discussion about US domestic politics and we did have some discussion about Iraq and we all agreed that the formation of a new government of national unity in that country would be very important and very positive," Howard told reporters.
"We're both, all of us, of the view that the new nominee for the prime ministership of the country is a very positive thing. He's a person of great strength and experience and the formation of a government of national unity will be of great benefit."
Howard will speak to Bush tomorrow at a tree-planting ceremony at the Australian embassy in Washington and has a full round of meetings on Monday and Tuesday
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Originally Posted by Kristy
Psst. Foreign guys. California and the US are getting you dead, on HOLIDAY. Eh?
