Australia and the U.S.

Charles Krauthammer wrote half a good article in the WaPo last week—“The Art of Losing Friends.” Krauthammer discusses the United States’ relationship with Australia, an issue that may not be big in America, but is a serious election topic here:

Australia does not share only a community of values with the United States. It understands that its safety rests ultimately on a stable international structure that, in turn rests not on parchment treaties but on the power and credibility of the United States.

Except for the disturbing subtext of disdain for treaties, this does identify the dependence that Australia has on the U.S. Like it or not, Australians need to recognise that the United States and Great Britain are our closest allies and the cultures that we have the most in common with (it could almost be argued that there is no significant difference between cultures in the anglo-sphere of the United States, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa).

One of the consequences of sharing the values of the U.S. and of throwing our lot in with them is that our friends’ enemies have become our enemies, and thus we have become a target, especially when we are identified as an easy target—a large country with a long border, but a small population, close proximity to the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, and a relatively small defence force. As Krauthammer notes, terrorists can get at the United States through us:

The terrorists’ objective is to intimidate all countries allied with America. Make them bleed and tell them this is the price they pay for being a U.S. ally. The implication is obvious: Abandon America and buy your safety.

Australia must stand by its principle of not giving into terrorists’ threats. The example of Spain emboldened the resolve of the terrorists and gave them reason to think that their methods are successful. An essential element of the war on terrorism is to demonstrate to the terrorists that their methods are ineffective and will do nothing to further their cause.

I say that Krauthammer wrote half a good article because after this good and sensible beginning, he descends into partisan Kerry-bashing, which ruins an otherwise excellent piece.