I think Australia is much more entwined in US political developments than you admit, Leigh. More than a few political decisions in this country are heavily influenced by what happens there. It would be a mistake to believe John Howard makes up his mind without looking abroad first. Take the following:

Kyoto agreement - whatever your thoughts, it is inconceivable Australia would go it alone in ignoring it.

Iraq - enough said on this one.

Election campaign - negative advertising, push polling, divide & conquer strategies, dog-whistling. All nasty little tricks developed in the US and refined by the Republicans. The UK also used them in their last election.

Environmental health - maybe, just maybe, some sanity may now prevail, where the energy companies no longer dominate governmental oversight of the environment.

Mixing politics and religion - lots of other threads on OLO about this, and a growing concern that it's beginning to polute the Australian political landscape. I've yet to see anyone claim it's a good thing.

The world still has two more years to tolerate the Bush presidency. It recognises though that the worst is probably over, and the next generation of political leaders are left to pick up the pieces.

p.s.

The ABC and SBS are the only broadcasters not following the government line on Iraq. You go watch idol, while I watch what's happening overseas.

btw, leigh, australian voters dont decide what we do- john howard does.

when/if you grow up, you'll understand the difference.

Our very rhetorical right-wing members have been suddenly silent about what is happening in the Middle East.

From the latest Guardian, AMERICA’S DECLINE AND FALL By Martin Jacques, accompanied by his italics - Bush’s failure to grasp the limits of global power will force his successors to pay a heavy price.

1. Seemingly only yesterday we were all in thrall to American power - not only infusing the outlook of the White House, but dominating the debate about the future of international relations

2. Now with the failure in Iraq, the neo-conservative pompish US Project for the 21st Century, including regime change for Iraq and Iran, appear to be now so much bin-waste.

Even in our usually right-wing West' contain a middle headline - MIDDLE EAST REALITY BITES FOR BUSH.

As regards Kissinger’s suggestion that the situation is so bad in Iraq, US may be forced to make parley with Syria and Iran.

To use Syria to try and pacify the Sunni’s, trouble is the Sunnis now engaged in the Iraqi terrorism, are not only from Syria and Saudi-Arabia, but also the major portion of Saddam’s former 300,000 so-called topline military, whom America foolishly neglected to round-up after the so-called Iraq victory.

About Iran, in the West' from Rosemary Hollis - “.....the US and UK seem to have no idea that asking for help from Iran is like shiftng the boot to the other foot - yet they still expect Iran to make concessions.” - Hollis concludes how an agreement with Iran would not be much fun for the Israelies, the power balance shifting between Israel and Iran, rather than between Israel and the poorly armed Arabs.

With America temporarily neutered, Iran might be now free to go atomic, the hope that Iran might use wisdom and understanding enough to use her new power not to openly challenge Israel, but become a patron for Middle East peace.

Most Iranians may even desire such a step, rather than stoop to the American Democratic Way

Not at all Leigh - your timeliness does you credit - you are just quick out of the blocks - nothing wrong with that.

I concur with most others that US politics does affect us.

IMHO the biggest risk to the democrats is that the republicans can blame them for whatever happens next. eg If only we "stayed the course", "went in deep", "went in long" etc none of this would have happened.

After the Vietnam war the world did not stop spinning, the US economy did not collapse, neither did the Russians attack. The yanks did loose a lot of credibility though.

Similarly here. The world won't stop if we pull out of Iraq. It is quite likely that all Arab energy is spend fighting each other instead of westerners. You have to sell oil before you can spend it's wealth so chances are it will find it's way to the market. No doubt there will be plenty of human misery.

I don't think there is anyway we can stop nukes from getting into Iran. Possibly a complete embargo but Iran is too strategic to get all players (including Russia, China and Pakistan) on board.

Perhaps Leigh lives on the East Coast. That would give him a few hours lead over the rest of us. Occasionally I get to check OLO at 3 or 4 am which is 6 or 7 am Sydney time but there are no new articles at that time.