I still think despite Iraq and some of the works of the CIA etc that the USA is the worlds great policeman.
The country is Bible based and the respect for others is well founded.
What would we have done about Saddam?
His secret police were killing their own people.
Americans might appear to be crass at times but I would rather have them in this part of the world than the Chinese or the Indians.
I think America probably already owns the real power in Australia through their secret bases and our ultimate dependency on them.
I still give them the thumbs up...
Better "another" State of the USA than "New South China".

How about neither? We could have avoided the wars in the middle east quite easily.

If ther must be a policeman in the current world, USA is the best; if there must be a challenger, China is the best.

Dynamic balanced world is best for all over the world.

According to The Hon. Wayne Swan, Treasurer of The Commonwealth of Australia, over the past decade, China and India have accounted for around 30% of total global growth. To put that in context, their contribution to world growth in 2007 alone was larger than the size of the entire Australian economy. Australian businesses have vigorously pursued opportunities to trade with China and India.

The treasurer tell us that, "China is now our second largest trading partner and second largest export destination after Japan. And India is one of our fastest growing export markets. Combined, China and India accounted for around 40% of Australia's export value growth in 2006-07."

He confirms that Australia is building strong ties with both China and India through our universities. China and India are also providing increasing numbers of skilled workers to Australia. In
2005-06, China and India were the second and third largest contributors to Australia's skilled migration intake, after the UK.

Skilled migration has been, and will continue to be, an important contributor to Australia's labour force growth in the coming decade.

Setting aside the current global uncertainty, over the medium term it's clear that as China and India continue to grow, they will be key drivers of the global economic, political and strategic landscape.
A key to Australia's economic success will be our integration with world economy - which must include both China and India.

Communicat truly you concern me, you could well be the diagram that is used in making a conservative.
It is a tactic of politicians on both sides who have nothing to say to manufacture an issue this is such.
Both China and India are growing, both are not completely happy with us.
Ignoring the thoughts of Gibo, most do, we should be concerned about both country's.
Both once they make it to the top of the tree may well treat us as badly as we, the British empire treated them, insert the name of whatever country that did bad by them.
Rudd has shown nothing to convince me his has made in China stamped on his bottom, he however has put this country my country on a better path.

Youre right Belly.
When China and India reach their pinnacles they certainly will treat Australia badly.
The reason is simple... here we have a basis of pro-caring/pro-human rights Christianity and there, they have their demon worshipping eastern religions.
The two are totally opposed when it comes to truly loving people.
In the east and in asia human life is cheap (demon powers in control of men and women, governments).
Here at least human rights gets a fair go.
I think one day we will get "the bomb" for protection of the Australian mainland from a united asia that would gobble up eveything we have built.
Actually I think we already have access to nuclear weapons.