Thanks for the article. You rightly cut through the nonsense equivalency argument we sometimes hear that "Labor would have done the same on Iraq", which has no basis beyond the same false dichotomous cynicism that got us Bush instead of Gore. As you point out, the AlP's real weaknesses in foreign policy are to do with its history of listening to the Jakarta lobby, and Rudd as a former DFAT man has that question mark over his head.

The ALP's strengths will be its more balanced position the US alliance, its ability to be a natural partner for the incoming Democratic President and Congress in achieving reform in international fora, and its ability to stand on a coherent platform of rule of law based universality, in contrast to the Coalition's exceptionalist doctrine.

Good analysis but it would be useful to know your thoughts on whether Labor will work to counter the damage done at the UN by Downer and the regime he has served since 1996 which have made such a blot on Australia's international reputation ? Will Labor shift the balance back to Asia rather than the USA ? Quite true that Rudd is a DFAT creation and likely to serve the Indonesia lobby there but he might grasp the damage done over the Howard years and seek to swing it back a bit.

I suppose referring to some of our Pacific neighbours as "busted-arse countries", bullying East Timor and going to war for the sake of "maintaining America's prestige" is something to aspire to?

An interesting and hopeful article.
Terrorism has been overblown and used politically as a means of control of the electorate driving other issues form the scene. Rudd has recently been at pains to show how he despises the terrorists. Climate change, the decline of oil, limiting resources and energy are surely much bigger issues. So far neither party has a coherent plan for climate change just a rag bag of items. On energy, a national and international issue Australia has not yet even set standards for house construction to give energy neutral dwellings, surely a place for Commonwealth input.
To my mind the biggest issue unaddressed is culpability under the ICC and our own criminal code which incorporated much of the Rome statute and commencement of prosecution. This would release us from the double standard we currently espouse.

Once again this author has overlooked the great advances and cordial relationships the Howard Government and Alexander Downer has achieved throughout our region and with our great trading partners.

Not one word of praise and in concentrating only on the negatives, inherent in all foreign policy initiative of any government, he tells us nothing of Rudds intent toward most of our neighbours.

It is amusing that this author also fails to recognise that most of what he discusses in relation to Rudd and Labor's foreign policy is based on his own assumptions. Nowhere is there any evidence of what Rudd and labor intend in most areas for they too are focusing only on the negatives.

If the author had a modicum of perspective for Labor's history in foreign affairs he would understand it is not focused on Indonesia, but traditionally focused on the UN and acquiescing to it's feeble endeavours in international relations.

Altogether this authour has a too narrowly negatively politically focused agenda.

An unemployed lick ass (sorry i meant a diplomat )and union thug would be what is true to the saying we get the government we deserve. No difference in the snake only the skin.Sorry got to go as i think it's the governments union with guns at the door. Oh i was right the police are here.