Howard Still Using the Cheney Playbook

Has John Howard ever admitted that there was no link between Iraq and the 9/11 attack? I know that Bush and Cheney have been forced to through gritted teeth but both still include both in speeches. But I don't recall Howard ever recanting.

In a speech marking the 4th anniversary of the start of the Iraq war, Howard talked about the 'lessons' of 9/11

The US is currently moving a further 20,000 troops into Iraq as part of a planned "surge" Washington hopes will help stamp out sectarian violence between Sunnis and Shias.

The bulk of the extra troops will be sent to Baghdad, where the security situation is at its worst.

Mr Howard said Australia should not forget the lessons of September 11, where it was shown that failed states such as Afghanistan could become a launch pad for terror attacks on Western interests.

I'm not sure that creating another failed state was the way to go.