From the ABC News:

During his years in Government former foreign affairs minister Alexander Downer developed a strong relationship with Condoleezza Rice.

For the new kid on the block, Stephen Smith, it would have been much harder work during his first meeting with the US Secretary of State.

But at a joint press conference in Washington afterwards it was all praise from both sides.

“Stephen, it’s great to have you here in Washington,” Dr Rice said. “It has really been a very good first meeting, and I look very much forward to meetings in the future.”

The Mr Smith in question happens to be my own Member of Parliament, now Foreign Minister since Labor swept into power. He’s giving the hard word — Australia’s pulling out of Iraq.

“We came to office in November last year with a longstanding commitment that we would withdraw our combat troops from Iraq by the middle of this year, and I advised the Secretary of State that when the current rotation from the Overwatch battle group is completed in the course of the first half of this year, those troops will be withdrawn,” he said.

This is what I like so much about the new Rudd government: they do the right thing, decisions seem to be made sensibly and thoughtfully, and they manage to get it all done without acrimony.

But this is interesting:

“Can I say that from a selfish, personal point of view as a person who comes from Perth in Western Australia, one of the most enjoyable parts of the meeting was inviting the Secretary to come to visit Perth and Western Australia, which I’m happy to announce she gratefully accepted.”

Condi’s coming to Perth? When will the protests be? You know I’ll be there. Perhaps the cream pie brigade could be persuaded to come along. If I can’t see her in an orange jumpsuit in the Hague, lemon meringue would be my second choice.