The war on terror is big business and the businesses that make money from war are the first to bemoan cuts to defence or national security spending. The never-ending Surveillance based Bills coming out of the US and Australia highlights another growing industry.

There was an article recently arguing that the overuse of antibiotics is a far greater threat to world security than terrorism but you can bet this simple fact won't see a corresponding increase in funding.

Corporate interests and influence on governments, as borne out by the illegal invasion of Iraq ie. use of false intelligence, and self-interested foreign policy is much more a threat than a natural threat of terror. One feeds the other.

America's CIA has become another wing of the military undergoing covert ops and interfering in the affairs of other nations purely for economic interests. The lack of morality and ethics is startling and all wrapped up in the flag of patriotism. I am not just picking on the US, China is up there with their expansionist policies and already pushing ground in international waters.

The best deterrent for terrorism is fair foreign and economic policies.

Pelican,how many countries has China invaded and interferred with their politics since 1945 compared to the USA? The USA number is over 50 and counting.China invaded Tibet and threatens to take back Taiwan ? Which nations have the track record for imperialism over the last 400 yrs?

one way that America will come to its senses in this never ending war on terror is when it starts sending its drones to kill American citizens perceived to be 'enemies' on American soil and causing catastrophic collateral damage, not 10 civilians for every terrorist but maybe 100 or 1000 and other articulate Americans will start to take notice and do something about it before all their freedoms have been denied them in their war to secure their security. Can a nation as powerful as the USA bear that cost and pay such a price?

Looking through the comments thus far reveals that few people are alarmed or upset by the American grab for power.

It is tribute to American cunning that they can engage in continuous imperialism and nobody seems to be in the least angered or afraid.

If people bothered to find out what America is doing to its own citizens and realized that that's what they'd do to everyone if they ever achieved world domination then some might be stung into action.

Australia has been flooded with American propaganda. Our politicians are American sycophants. America is moving into our country, gaining ever more privileges, more bases, more footholds, more power.

Read Information Clearing House for articles written by intelligent people including Americans who are wise to American hegemonic aims and ambitions. The Australian media is an arm of the American MSM!

Wake up, Australia. Take your country back while you can!

Dear David G.,

<<Looking through the comments thus far reveals that few people are alarmed or upset by the American grab for power.>>

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference.

We are a small fish in the pond and if the alternative is to be eaten by the Chinese for breakfast... or would living under Sharia law be any better?

If at least we had some nuclear weapons, then we could be looked at differently and needn't beg the USA for protection, but I think I'll be leaving this world earlier.

The only Colonial power left is China, it invaded Tibet, commenced acts of Genocide and in traditional manner starts settling Hans. They are doing much the same in their far west. Rants about the US are just persistent immaturity.

Do a comparison, 4 students shot at uni in Ohio decades ago V's thousands run over by tanks in and about Tianamin Square.