The community consultation report preceding the Defence White Paper 2009 had this summary of the Australian-United States Alliance:
The Panel found that there is general public acceptance that the US Alliance is critical to Australia's security and that the assistance of the US would be necessary to defend Australia against a direct attack by a major power.
There is also an increasing appreciation of the high- end capability benefits that Australia derives from this relationship.
A number of people commented that, although Australian governments have made relatively limited ADF contributions to Coalition operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, Australia would be expected to make a much larger contribution to any high intensity conflict in the Asia Pacific region and continue to take the principal role in our immediate region.
Various individuals and groups opposed certain aspects of the Alliance, particularly: Australia's support for the US-led invasion of Iraq; Australia's association, through our Joint Facilities at Pine Gap, with the US Missile Defence program; the increasing financial burden of maintaining interoperability with high end US capabilities; and that ADF acquisition of high end capabilities was seen to be indicative of Australia's intent to continue to support high intensity, US led, conflicts.
Some also hold the view that Australia's support of certain US policies such as the war in Iraq and missile defence has diminished Australia's international reputation and, in the views of some people, made it a target of terrorism.
These observations should be contrasted with the views expressed by a large majority of Australians of the continuing value of the Australian / US relationship. 2
As a society we continue to have a bob each way on the subject of Teh United States of Big Bullies and Rapacious Spivs.
Key findings in the community consultation phase are here and final version of the white paper Defending Australia in the Asia-Pacific Century: Force 2030 is here
The final version holds few surprises and continues to see the United States as our saviour in times of trouble while broadly committing to the usual uncritical support of US foreign policy.
Like the Americans our defence force types are looking to create a cyber warfare capability, but my personal favourite is this wee bawbee which ticks off on many Howard-era dog whistles:
1.10 We have also seen the more evident emergence over the past decade of new areas of risk, such as cyber warfare, space warfare and the remote possibility that weapons of mass destruction (WMD) might be borne directly to Australia by long-range ballistic missiles launched short of a nuclear war - more of a risk during the Cold War - or by terrorist groups that might seek access to such destructive weapons.
And the irony of this statement does not go unnoticed given that the Rudd Government has this week deferred the proposed national emission trading scheme:
4.63 The main effort against such developments will of course need to be undertaken through coordinated international climate change mitigation and economic assistance strategies,and concerted international action to assure energy supply and distribution, which will need to be at the forefront of Australia's policy responses.
The WOW Film Festival will be screening at Grafton on Friday May 8 and in Yamba Friday and Saturday May 8-9. This stimulating and challenging selection of films is an eclectic mix of drama and comedy.........
