Our Troops, Our PM : Their War.

John Howard wrote an article in the U.S.A's Wall Street Journal(not a direct link (what do you expect from wall street) it's the ABCs story) recently, raising a few questions in the minds of many Australians, well in my mind at least.
Why is OUR prime minister promising the american (re)public(ans) that we will commit OUR troops?
Why did Johnny say that our troops would be back within a couple of months, and then attack Latham when he said they should be brought home now?
And If