Right: Nancy Wake, an Australian heroine of the French Resistance in World War Two, was another recipient of the Medal of Freedom.
web links and documents
Please note: the Obama administration has re-organised the White House internet site. The text of President Bush's speech awarding the Medal of Freedom to President Uribe, Prime Minister Howard, and Prime Minister Blair appears to no longer be accessible. Google's cache facility still makes President Bush's speech available at the time of Echo publishing this issue outline. Readers are advised that they will need to scroll well down the screen before finding President Bush's words.The address of the cached copy is http://72.14.235.132/search?q=cache:IWWrNdjP9oMJ:www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2009/01/20090113-7.html+%22Medal+of+Freedom%22+Howard+White+house&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=4&gl=au
On January 13, 2009, the BBC's Australian correspondent, Nick Bryant, wrote an article giving an overview of Australian attitudes toward John Howard's receipt of the Medal of Freedom. The article is titled, 'Howard's freedom medal'. This article is followed by eighteen reader comments on John Howard's award. The full text of Bryant's article and the reader responses to it can be found at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/nickbryant/2009/01/howards_freedom_medal.html#commentsanchor
On January 14, 2009, The Washington Post published a report on John Howard's receipt of the Medal of Freedom. The article includes comment on John Howard's occupancy of Blair House at a time when it was being sought by the family of president-elect Barack Obama. The full text of the article can be found at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/13/AR2009011301710.html
On January 7, 2009, The Sydney Morning Herald published an analysis of John Howard's receipt of the Medal of Freedom written by Anne Davies, their correspondent in Washington. The article is titled, 'Bush says thanks with medal for Howard' The full text can be found at http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/bush-says-thanks-with-medal-for-howard/2009/01/06/1231004019270.html
On January 15. 2009, The Sydney Morning Herald published a longer account of the ceremony at which John Howard was awarded the Medal of Freedom. The report is written by Anne Davies, the paper's Washington correspondent, and is titled, 'Last man standing honours his pals'. It includes comments on the Bush administration. The full text of the article can be found at http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/01/14/1231608794986.html?feed=fairfaxdigitalxml
On January 6, 2009, the ABC released a report from its Washington correspondent, Michael Rowland, titled 'Howard to get US Medal of Freedom' . The report attracted a wide range of reader comment. Ninety-eight readers' responses follow the report. The report also includes a audio link to an interview with John Howard, in which he gives his views on the significance of his having been awarded the medal. The full text of the report and the audio link, together with reader comments, can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/01/06/2459675.htm
On January 6, 2009, Radio 3AW announced that John Howard was to receive the Medal of Freedom. Eight listeners emailed their comments. The report and listener comment can be found at http://www.3aw.com.au/blogs/3aw-generic-blog/howard-gonged-by-bush/20090106-7anz.html
On January 6, 2009, Greens spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young issued a media release on behalf of the party titled, 'Howard no Mandela despite Bush's Medal of Freedom'. The media release details the Greens' objections to John Howard's receipt of the Medal of Freedom. The full text of the media release can be found at http://sarah-hanson-young.greensmps.org.au/content/media-release/howard-no-mandela-despite-bush%E2%80%99s-medal-freedom
Similar material can also be found at http://greens.org.au/node/4554
On January 6, 2009, The Independent Weekly published an article dealing with the Green's critical response to John Howard's receipt of the Medal of Freedom. The full text of the article, titled 'Greens say Howard medal just a pat on the back', can be found at http://www.independentweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/greens-say-howard-medal-just-a-pat-on-the-back/1400756.aspx
On January 8, 2009, Dallas Fraser had a letter published in The Border Mail, which criticised John Howard's receipt of the Medal of Freedom. The full text of the letter can be found at http://www.bordermail.com.au/news/opinion/letters/general/bushs-medal-of-no-value/1402202.aspx
On January 14, 2009, ABC News released a report detailing Stephen Kenny's criticism of John Howard being awarded the Medal of Freedom. Stephen Kenny is the former lawyer of convicted terrorism supporter David Hicks. The full text of the report can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/01/14/2466221.htm
On January 14, 2008, The Independent Weekly published a fuller account of Stephen Kenny's objections to John Howard receiving the Medal of Freedom. The article is titled, 'Kenny says medal for Howard regrettable'. The full text of the article can be read at http://www.independentweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/kenny-says-medal-for-howard-regrettable/1407329.aspx
On January 14, 2009, The Sunshine Coast Daily Online published an opinion piece from commentator Bill Hoffman unfavourably comparing john Howard with Nancy Wake (another Australian recipient of the Medal of Freedom). The full text of the comment, titled 'Medal of Freedom loses some of its shine', can be found at http://www.thedaily.com.au/blogs/bill-hoffman/2009/jan/14/medal-of-freedom/