Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard is the man whose occupation of the Blair House prevented Barack Obama from moving in early, the Washington Post reports.

We now know who is booked at Blair House, kicking President-elect Barack Obama and his family to the waiting list and across Lafayette Park to the Hay-Adams Hotel. The only overnight visitor at the presidential guest manse is none other than John Howard, a former Australian prime minister and leading member of President Bush’s coalition of the willing in Iraq.

Howard and his entourage will be bunking at Blair House on Jan. 12, the night before he, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe are to be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Bush, said Sally McDonough, a spokeswoman for first lady Laura Bush. The three current and former heads of state are longtime political allies of Bush, and Blair and Howard were key partners in the U.S.-led war in Iraq.

Blair and Uribe also were invited to stay at Blair House, but declined Bush’s invitation, a second White House official said today. Blair, who traditionally stays at the British Embassy, and Uribe apparently found other accommodations, said the second White House official, who spoke only on the condition of anonymity.

This whole thing is a non-controversy, anyway. President-elects usually move into the Blair House on January 15th. The residence will, according to the White House, be available to the First Family by that date. But the Obama’s were interested in moving in early, which is why we’re hearing that it’s currently occupied. As Outside the Beltway notes, it’s not the President-elect’s house. It’s the “President’s Guest House” and the President, Bush until January 20th at noon, is hosting John Howard there.