(S (S (BASENP (NN Opposition) (NN leader) (NNP Kevin) (NNP Rudd)) (VP (VBD said) (SBAR (S (S (BASENP (NNP Howard)) (VP (VBD needed) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB avoid) (S (VP (VP (VBG taking) (BASENP (NNS sides))) (PP (IN in) (BASENP (JJ American) (NNS politics)))))))))) (SBAR (IN as) (S (BASENP (PRP it)) (VP (VP (VBD was) (ADJP (JJ important) (PP (IN for) (BASENP (DT the) (NNP Australia-U.S.) (NN alliance))))) (SBAR (IN that) (S (BASENP (NNS leaders)) (VP (MD could) (VP (VP (VB deal) (PP (IN with) (BASENP (DT each) (NN other)))) (PP (IN despite) (BASENP (PRPD their) (JJ political) (NNS affiliations)))))))))))))) (PERIOD .))