Mr Howard says any military deployment to East Timor would not limit Australia's troop commitment to Iraq.
He says his five day visit to the United States, which will include an oval office meeting with US President, George W Bush, is an opportunity to discuss the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
As the Prime Minister spoke to the media, an anti-war protest could be heard in the background.
“All of us are of the view that the new nominee for the prime ministership of the country is a very positive thing he is a person of great strength and experience.”