Paul,

Why would TA discuss this with the president, especially as Labor had been using megaphone diplomacy and saying that the boats would not be turned around, and the Indonesian president is unlikely to cause a diplomatic incident by disagreeing with the Australian PM. Especially considering the live cattle debacle. However, this was discussed at a lower level with some positive feedback, and will be actively pursued when a mature government is in place.

The US is not the Great Satan, and I don't see cooperation being a problem, especially since alliance with them has enabled Australia to maintain a pitifully small army.

"The US is not the Great Satan," SM that could be debatable considering that countries extreme aggressive militaristic stance post WWII. I fail to see the "benefits" Australia has received from an "alliance" with the US. I rather think the "alliance" has worked in the Americans favour, conning us into a number of political wars which were not of our doing or our business. We have been useful to the Americans as a propaganda tool, like Vietnam in the past and Afghanistan today where Australia's main roll is as a servile lackey to propagate the US myth that it is a "team effort".
A new war in our region is developing; its first stage is an economic conflict with the major players being China and the United States with India along with Australia and others playing a lesser roll. The US has already indicated it is preparing for a more active participation in our region to serve its economic, strategic and political interests. If Australia again adopts a "blind faith" in the US attitude, and indications are that is what we are doing, then we may well find ourselves on the losing side as deals are struck to carve up this part of the world for the benefit of others, particularly the US and China, of course we could adopt a more independent stance in the hope we can achieve better outcomes for
ourselves. it would also give us a stronger voice when dealing with our regional neighbors such as Indonesia and Malaysia on local issues.

Paul,

I am well aware of the greens's Stalinist roots with old communists like Lee Rhiannon who view the US through the old cold war lens. The reality is that the excesses of the US is echoed by just about every major power including Russia and China. The worst excesses of the "socialist" countries i.e. Korea and Afghanistan were thwarted by US intervention, and others such as in Grenada and Bosnia.

As for any future confrontation between the US and China, the assumption by some that China will gain supremacy and be able to dictate terms is false, because no matter how powerful China gets, it cannot get past the point where the US can inflict unimaginable damage in retaliation. As for picking sides, the US is an ally that can be trusted, and who largely shares our interests, whilst China has shown no propensity for furthering Australian interests.

The US alliance has enabled Aus to save many billions (or about 2% of GDP) on military expenditure.

"Grenada"?

Yup, that was pretty well up the US's alley. Defenseless and supremely unimportant in the scheme of things - except as a diversion.

Well, ho, ho, ho.......

Poirot,

I see you neglected Korea and only chose Grenada. Grenada was becoming a failed state, had already a leftist dictatorship (sponsored by the cubans). The US interest was that this was yet another democratic government toppled by violent means. It was easy to restore order, and gratefully accepted by the majority of the citizens of Grenada.

SM,
Australia's support for US imperialism has resulted in the deaths of young Australians in far of places like Korea, Vietnam and today in Afghanistan, plus our unjustifiable killing of thousands of non combatant civilian. These deaths are seen by the warmongering conservatives as a worthwhile investment by Australia, according to some, saving billions, not lives, but dollars. Not forgetting how well big business has done out of these conflicts.
What did Australia achieve in Korea or Vietnam, absolutely nothing. What are we achieving in Afghanistan, absolutely nothing. Afghanistan "socialist", please don't make me laugh, the country is still a collection of tribes controlled by warlords, how does that equate to socialism? As for North Korea, its some kind of police state run by ratbags, not much socialism going on there.
"the US is an ally that can be trusted" SM are you still supporting Holts slogan of "All the way with LBJ". "Trusted", trusted to serve US interests first and foremost, Australian interests will run a bad second.
Lee Rhiannon may have her roots in communism, but the Mad Monk has his roots in the ecclesiastical world of the Catholic Church, oh what can we expect come September, the Australian Inquisition led by Archy Pell?