Russia and China are merely reacting to Western Imperialism.The USA has over 700 military bases around the planet with 40 surrounding Iran alone.They are the supreme military force.

China is winning by economic power and has no interest in war,yet the focus has turned from Osama to Russia/China.

Both Malcolm Fraser and Paul Keating recently criticised the Gillard Govt for siding with the USA in the White Paper.ie a secret scenario of Aust joining the USA in an attack on China.

Should we be siding with the USA for their imperialistic adventurism? Our economy will be devestated if we make China our enemy.This is why people like Gina Rinehart want more of a say.Our Govt is not acting in our national interest.

Russia is not interested in war.It wants to protect it's own national sovereigty.Which country has the track record of aggression and interference WW2? Since 1942 the USA has attacked over 20 countries.

It is time we stood up to NATO and the USA and stop this march to war.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/

Julie,
Please get a grip.
Look at the extraordinary challenges facing you as a shadow minister, your party, the Australian Parliament and the nation.
There are some extremely pressing matters facing the country - asylum seekers foresmost at the moment - and you want to talk about Russia?
Look, we know you do not write these yourself, Julie.
But these pieces obviously involve someone's time and effort in your office.
Please get youir team back to engaging with fixing the enormous problems within your shadow ministry, instead of saying, "Look, over there! Russia!"

Alan I totally agree with you.

Julie you state "Of even greater concern about Russia's behaviour is that it may be using the Syrian violence to advance its influence and strategic reach in the Middle East."

What the hell do you think the US and NATO is doing, exactly the same, and with your apparent support given the myopic view you put forth.

Never mind we have a humanitarian disaster unfolding on our north-western coast and you blindly follow MR "No" and continue the folly by ignoring any semblance of dignity in solving this issue.

If this is your 'Liberal' thinking, I know where my vote will not be going next year, shameful.

Does Julie Bishop think we are wearing white hats?

http://www.kpfa.org/archive/id/81458

Our pollies are out of touch.With the power of the internet there is in Zibigniew Brezezinski "a global political awakening." Once a war mongerer himself ,Zibig is now against all this aggression because he knows that WW3 is looming and Russia,China and others do not want to be enslaved by their New World Order.

Guess what Julia? Nor do the people of the West.We do not want a one world Govt run by a fascist UN and their banker puppet masters.

Another good site Julie is, http://www.boilingfrogspost.com/ Sibel Edmonds is one courageous woman who stood up to the tyranny of the US establishment.

Very insightful and interesting article Julie. And one that underlines why we need to become entirely independent in our oil supplies! And a reason to resist any attempt to lock up great swathes of marine seascape!
If we are really over fishing, then we can buy back fishing licences and or introduce seasons and bag limits. Like that which now controls the King crab take, in northern hemisphere.
The still largely unexplored Coral sea may hold more hydrocarbon reserves than the entire know middle east reserves?
It seems patent pragmatism to explore and then exploit those same reserves, particularly if they do indeed rival or even eclipse troubled Middle East entire reserves.
Another pertinent reason is, our own indigenous traditional sweet light crude can be used almost as is as a virtually naturally occurring diesel, needing only a little insitu chill filtering, to remove the small soluble wax content, that solidifies in the injectors, on cold and frosty mornings; and our NG exits the ground at sub zero temperatures.
The very fact that there is no need to basically refine our sweet light crude, means it creates four times less carbon, than fully refined, fully imported Middle East oil sourced fuel products.
If we do indeed have the professionally predicted reserves to our immediate north, we need to exploit them.
If that then floods the international energy market; and or, basically deprives Russia of its current oil revenue incomes; and or, the power and influence it buys?
That will be, I believe, no bad thing
Nor will the conversion to a much lower carbon creating locally available fuel alternative. Or the trillions in export incomes they could produce for Australia.
Our allies will thank us, if we can ensure much lower cost and less carbon polluting oil supplies?
It really is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma, why we and we alone, prevent ourselves from exploring and exploiting these vastly lower carbon emitting, and far less costly hydrocarbon reserves?
Rhrosty.