Mr Howard said his critics were out of date

He was responding to a letter from 43 former diplomats and defence chiefs who accused the government of misleading Australians over the reasons for war.

Mr Howard said all 43 retired before the 11 September attacks on the US.

"We're living in a different and more dangerous world, and some of the older approaches are no longer quite as relevant," Mr Howard said.

In a radio interview on Monday, Mr Howard denied misleading the public over the issue of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

"I might point out to my critics that at the time of the military operation, there was near unanimous agreement around the world that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction," he said.

These doddering daiquiri diplomats, would they have done any different? DeAnne Kelly, MP

The critics' letter, which was published at the weekend, said the decision to go to war was based on false assumptions and deception.

The signatories also said Australia's involvement in the war had raised its profile as a potential target of terrorism.

The government said that while there were some intelligence failings, it had not misused the information in its possession.

In a similar statement in April, retired British diplomats criticised the UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, for his support of what they described as doomed American policies in the Middle East.

'False assumptions'

The signatories to the Australian letter include former heads of the Australian Defence Force, former departmental heads and senior figures in the intelligence and diplomatic communities.

They demanded an end to the government's "rubber-stamping" of US policies, and called for a more balanced approach.

"We are concerned that Australia was committed to join the invasion of Iraq on the basis of false assumptions and deception of the American government," the letter said.

The opposition Labor Party said the statement was "unprecedented".

But the government's supporters hit back.

One MP, DeAnne Kelly, told reporters: "I think we have to ask the question, these doddering daiquiri diplomats, would they have done any different?"