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.

The United Nations is a global body made up of representative states of the world. This world is a reflection of ourselves and how we as a human race choose to create our own problems.

Unlike the Liberal party, I believe the ALP has more cohesion and will AGAIN become a force influencing the work, to enhance the strength of the United Nations, rather than detract its role further, to make the UN's task yet weaker, than it already is.

Sometimes it feels like the United Nations has become a "swear word", a target to BLAME, in this country. It is astounding.

People go to war for all sorts of reasons. They kill other people, cheat other people, make all sorts of justifications about their ill-moral terms for it, and often we find economic reasons underlying the terms of that trade is protected under the guise of world diplomacy.

People trade drugs, sell sex, hide those selling the drugs and selling other people bodies for sex... and then complain at the social ills this practice and non-transparency attracts, because it ALL gets so out of control.

Regarding the future if it is to be with ALP, at least it is that the Fair-Go Aussie will have the opportunity to engage and debate as global citizens.

I believe for example America's present role; Human Rights on the one hand and the unuseful rhetoric with Iran on the other, is crtically dangerous.

It will need Australia to stand up and help divert the war-of-words, threats and mentality of abuse, before we can be rid of the bloodshed of violence ans guns.

I believe IT is TIME.

We need to choose communication over WAR.

We need to understand that BILLIONS are displaced UNWANTED because of unfair trade, poverty and War. That our safety rests with the safety of the "whole" Globe.

We need to make the link between economic trade and village farmers. We need to grow up.

Federal ALP understands this.

I will come back to this.

Thank You Gary Brown this is a debate I have been waiting for.

http://www,miact.com
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Why did the UN not impose sanctions on Australia for attacking another country without their permission.

miacat,

Good post.

I actually understood everything you said that time. You're learning to proof-read your posts as though someone else is going to read them too :-)

WILL SOLDIERS DIE FASTER UNDER LABOR?

A good article - of the usual high standard from Gary.

Looking at Afghanistan, which is likely to be Australia's largest overseas commitment under Rudd's More Troops for Afghanistan policy:

- Australian deaths in Afghanistan will continue to mount steadily in an enviroment proving more dangerous for our troops than Iraq

- after the Election sadly there will no longer be the politician packed State funerals

- sadly too many deaths will mean dimishing returns for politicians to show a mark of respect

- our soldiers dying in yet another country far away should finally be examined and questioned by the Australian electorate.

Pete
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=4986#57427

Dear Gary

You tried to pack everything into this article. Unfortunately some of your statements neutralise one-another. You say, for example, “In general, the Labor attitude to the American alliance has been one of strong support for the relationship, but tempered by a greater attention to the Australian national interest than the conservatives”. But, in practise, will we notice any difference?.

As you explain, “For example they have always supported the various US installations in Australia (notably at Pine Gap and North West Cape) but have demanded a greater Australian presence: in office, they secured the conversion of some facilities to some form of "joint", rather than exclusively US, status”. I would not put money on any of this from Kevin Rudd and his team.

I would like to draw your attention to the rather horrific prospect that either of our major parties would definitely support a bombing attack on Iran. Some of the planes might take off from Darwin. Neither John Howard nor Kevin Rudd, the increasingly indistinguishable twins, wants to talk about this possibility. It would take over this faux election. How can you trust people who don’t tell you what they are really doing?

I somehow doubt that either would be able to contribute Australian troops to an invasion, though both would silently nod agreement to Australian SAS troopers going into Iran to carry out disruption, sabotage, disabling activities. They may already be there.

So, that is one elephant in the room. Remember that Prime Minister, John Howard may have decided something like this shortly before an election and without the consent of parliament (with MT approval from Kevin Rudd), thereby committing us to whatever lack of an exit strategy our unprofessional allies had in mind – if any.

We should also be talking about this likely violation of sovereignty, because this unilateral covert military action is a major breach of the United Nations Charter by a Permanent Member of the Security Council. Have we become so used to the USA routinely flouting international law that we don’t think anything of it

Given that the statement by Peter Garret that the first thing Labor would do would be to sign the Kyoto protocol, he was forced to withdraw immediately, I would consider labor policy to be wide open to interpretation.

It is very easy to drive from the back seat.