Hi Chris,

"Well, all powers operate that way. That is how order is imposed in this competitive world."

What order, whose order, more like order through subjugation. No war has led to "order" , just the opposite for the majority. Tell me how for the millions that perish in war, how they obtain "order". Australia is an aggressor nation, that is a fact, our blind adherence to American imperialism has made us so, but we chose to be belligerent in the world, we could have taken a different path. What "order" were we trying to impose in Korea, Vietnam, The Middle East and Afghanistan.

You ask for solutions, they are to be found in peace and not war. Being party to aggressive military alliances such as ANZAS and this new BS that ties us into purchasing aggressive nuclear attack submarines from America only goes to heighten tension and build suspicion of Australia, and our motives. If Indonesia was to do the same deal as Australia, but with China instead of America, how would you fell, threatened! I certainly would.

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Dear Chris Lewis,

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You wrote :

« … there is a clear difference between Australia's prospects when supported by the US than without US support … How do you think events would play out now if the US was not around? Please explain rather than just saying things like we should be independent … »
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I consider it an immense privilege to have been born and bred in Australia by parents who were also born and bred in Australia. I place an extremely high value on our democracy and our sovereignty as a free, independent nation.

Apart from health and happiness, I place that above all else.

The US has a long history in the Indo-Pacific, dating back to the last battle of the War of Independence which occurred in India in 1783. Since that date, it has constantly maintained a presence in the Indo Pacific. It acquired Pearl Harbour in 1875 and entered the Second World War when the Japanese bombed it on 7 December 1941.

The first Americans arrived in Brisbane on 22 December 1941, and by 1943 their number had risen to 150,000 with the largest concentrations in Queensland. General Douglas MacArthur, who became the Supreme Commander of South-West Pacific Area in April 1942, initially established his headquarters in Melbourne.

For the past 80 years, the US has maintained an important presence in the Indo-Pacific.

There are currently 375,000 military and civilian personnel assigned to the United States Indo-Pacific Command including 1,714 based in Australia.

In addition, the joint Force Posture Working Group decided last May to expand the aviation and maritime co-operation of our two countries.

And let us not forget that the US proved to be Australia's best and only ally in WWII and I see no reason to believe that it will not continue to be so in the future – irrespective of AUKUS.

Unfortunately, I can’t say the same thing for the UK.

Churchill betrayed us at the Arcadia Conference in 1941 and resisted the return of our troops from the Middle East to defend Australia :

http://www.pacificwar.org.au/battaust/Britain_betrays_Australia.html

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Thank You Banjo Paterson. I too consider it a
great privilege to have been born and raised
in Australia. And I agree that it is a good
thing to have the US presence and support.
Although I must admit that having lived and
worked in the United States for almost ten years
I would not want to live in that country.

Did anyone watch 60 Minutes on Channel 9 last night?

"All the President's venom." featured the horrifying
antics of former President Donald Trump and how close
we came to World War with China. More disturbing is
the fact that legendary Watergate reporter Bob
Woodward said that Donald Trump's antics as a bad
loser might make him a big winner at the next American
election and he would tear up any nuclear sub agreement
that the US had made with Australia. Scary stuff.

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Dear Foxy,

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You wrote :

« … I agree that it is a good thing to have the US presence and support »
.

Yes, we are two branches of the same genealogical tree.

Not only are we siblings, we are also “brothers in arms” :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjxNZH0qIe0&ab_channel=Lerche48al.WernerS.
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Donald the dictator has never won the popular vote and I doubt that he ever will …

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I consider Foxy's antics to be pretty horrifying too.