An interesting article. Like many, I think we ought to disengage from the US. For me it’s ethical. I’m tired of Australia being dragged into US wars, assisting with war crimes and murderous violence- making us accessories to their crimes. I’m thinking of the US using chemical weapons in Vietnam, their absolute destruction of Iraq, which cost hundreds of thousands of lives, the war in Afghanistan, which ended by abandoning women and girls, their use of illegal extrajudicial killings via drone attacks. I could go on. We need, I think, to align with other nations in our area and not be just an aircraft carrier for US military.
I think Albanese will not want to rock the boat before the federal elections, but may be more outspoken if re-elected.
Australia does not have to cancel the US leg of AUKUS, but it could also do other things.
One would be to put funds into accelerating the UK-Aus leg of AUKUS to build the new and technically superior Astute class subs in the UK and Australia.
A more radical option would be to dump the Astutes, apologise to the French, and seek nuclear versions of the French subs, as Malcolm Turnbull favoured.
I note our growing military connections with South Korea and Japan, including building Huntsmen self-propelled artillery in Geelong.
Our defence should be independent as US priorities are not the same as ours.
Trump's USA is an unreliable ally now and we must be real about the consequences.
A most excellent and insightful article . If only the Australian Labor government and LNP Opposition were not so determined to grovel to every whim and order of the US excuse for a government !! This is a bewildering humiliation of the Australian nation. The lack of self respect is a disgrace , as is the outright refusal of the government to allow any kind of debate about Foreign policy. That Australians have been fed hollow
platitudes and claptrap by the PM , FM and AG is unforgivable, and insulting to the nation’s intelligence . Thank you for this important contribution.
History will not be kind to both major parties on this vital issue.
"Given this situation, what is the Albanese government so afraid of?"
I seriously doubt the Albanese government is all that afraid of US reaction, or that of Trump or his administration.
What he *is* afraid of is the off-their-tits over-the-top scare campaign that the Murdoch press would run against him and his government if he distanced from our "great and powerful 'friend'". This would be immediately amplified by 7West and at least 50% of remaining media outlets (60%+ of 'our' ABC too). The Lib/Nat/LNP/CLP opposition (to the extent they're different from the Murdoch press) would fall into line and take advantage of the scare campaign. As would the likes of the IPA, CIS and Advance.
All of them know there's almost nothing Australians like more than falling for a scare campaign. We do it enthusiastically, and will even go looking for things to be scared of if nobody is running a campaign at any particular time.
Even if he wanted to, Murdoch couldn't get away with not running such a scare campaign. His own audience would turn on him if he didn't. (Just read the unhinged idiots in the 'comments' section of any online Murdoch presence.)
It's the scare campaign Albanese is scared of - and with good reason. In Australia, scare campaigns (almost?) always work.
My only criticism of this excellent article was that it failed to canvass the power and aggression of the Mullahs of Murdochristan and the supine alternatives - but you've nailed it.
It's time everyone (other than the Coalition, of course) came to terms with the fact that Murdoch is a hostile force that will never give you a fair hearing and essentially walk away from them. They have a right to exist and we have a matching right to ignore them.
One of the reasons I support The Greens (apart from superior policies on this and a host of other important issues) is that Murdoch saves his most apoplectic rage for The Greens.
Canada could really use the support of our ally and fellow member of the commonwealth. While almost all "allies" of the US are joining hands in unity Aus chooses to be neutral? So Five Eyes is now Three Eyes? Those who kowtow to the tRump reign are akin to writing rubber cheques, they will bounce.
An interesting article. Like many, I think we ought to disengage from the US. For me it’s ethical. I’m tired of Australia being dragged into US wars, assisting with war crimes and murderous violence- making us accessories to their crimes. I’m thinking of the US using chemical weapons in Vietnam, their absolute destruction of Iraq, which cost hundreds of thousands of lives, the war in Afghanistan, which ended by abandoning women and girls, their use of illegal extrajudicial killings via drone attacks. I could go on. We need, I think, to align with other nations in our area and not be just an aircraft carrier for US military.
I totally agree, and meanwhile China sends warships to circle our country, and our military missed it! Sigh.
I think Albanese will not want to rock the boat before the federal elections, but may be more outspoken if re-elected.
Australia does not have to cancel the US leg of AUKUS, but it could also do other things.
One would be to put funds into accelerating the UK-Aus leg of AUKUS to build the new and technically superior Astute class subs in the UK and Australia.
A more radical option would be to dump the Astutes, apologise to the French, and seek nuclear versions of the French subs, as Malcolm Turnbull favoured.
I note our growing military connections with South Korea and Japan, including building Huntsmen self-propelled artillery in Geelong.
Our defence should be independent as US priorities are not the same as ours.
Trump's USA is an unreliable ally now and we must be real about the consequences.
A most excellent and insightful article . If only the Australian Labor government and LNP Opposition were not so determined to grovel to every whim and order of the US excuse for a government !! This is a bewildering humiliation of the Australian nation. The lack of self respect is a disgrace , as is the outright refusal of the government to allow any kind of debate about Foreign policy. That Australians have been fed hollow
platitudes and claptrap by the PM , FM and AG is unforgivable, and insulting to the nation’s intelligence . Thank you for this important contribution.
History will not be kind to both major parties on this vital issue.
"Given this situation, what is the Albanese government so afraid of?"
I seriously doubt the Albanese government is all that afraid of US reaction, or that of Trump or his administration.
What he *is* afraid of is the off-their-tits over-the-top scare campaign that the Murdoch press would run against him and his government if he distanced from our "great and powerful 'friend'". This would be immediately amplified by 7West and at least 50% of remaining media outlets (60%+ of 'our' ABC too). The Lib/Nat/LNP/CLP opposition (to the extent they're different from the Murdoch press) would fall into line and take advantage of the scare campaign. As would the likes of the IPA, CIS and Advance.
All of them know there's almost nothing Australians like more than falling for a scare campaign. We do it enthusiastically, and will even go looking for things to be scared of if nobody is running a campaign at any particular time.
Even if he wanted to, Murdoch couldn't get away with not running such a scare campaign. His own audience would turn on him if he didn't. (Just read the unhinged idiots in the 'comments' section of any online Murdoch presence.)
It's the scare campaign Albanese is scared of - and with good reason. In Australia, scare campaigns (almost?) always work.
Absolutely 💯 percent agree.
My only criticism of this excellent article was that it failed to canvass the power and aggression of the Mullahs of Murdochristan and the supine alternatives - but you've nailed it.
It's time everyone (other than the Coalition, of course) came to terms with the fact that Murdoch is a hostile force that will never give you a fair hearing and essentially walk away from them. They have a right to exist and we have a matching right to ignore them.
One of the reasons I support The Greens (apart from superior policies on this and a host of other important issues) is that Murdoch saves his most apoplectic rage for The Greens.
Australia’s allies are human rights abusers, totally destroying international law. We are the company we keep.
Outstanding analysis. Bang on. We need to start openly talking about how fucking crazy our ‘major’ ally is.
Canada could really use the support of our ally and fellow member of the commonwealth. While almost all "allies" of the US are joining hands in unity Aus chooses to be neutral? So Five Eyes is now Three Eyes? Those who kowtow to the tRump reign are akin to writing rubber cheques, they will bounce.
Wake up. No one likes a bully.
Perspective is important. They are running away. Like in a zombie apocalypse movie. 🍿
Being pushed away by fascists