PM Howard's speech on declaring war against Iraq
'There's also another reason and that is our close security alliance with the United States. The Americans have helped us in the past and the United States is very important to Australia's long-term security. It is critical that we maintain the involvement of the United States in our own region where at present there are real concerns about the dangerous behaviour of North Korea. The relationship between our two countries will grow more rather than less important as the years go by.'

Not to mention that America has deliberately provoked the North Korean crisis with its bellicose rhetoric and the best thing would be for it to depart the region, it seems to me that the the 'US Alliance' is the real and basic reason for Howard's extraordinary commitment of Australia to this illegal and unnecessary war. Not only did Australia not have to participate in this war at all, if we participated it could have been only under the banner of a UN mandate, or a limited or token commitment of forces, perhaps some naval force only. Instead Howard has gone to the utmost, committing substantial forces, without UN mandate, against the will of the people, against the wishes of countries in our region and around the world, against advice that it will damage our relations in the region and increase our exposure to terrorism.

The view Howard seems to take as a fundamental personal belief is that the more servile and slavish Australia is to America, the more reckless our commitment, the more we are prepared to debase ourselves for America, the more it is in our interest, as if America will reward those who fawn upon it rather than follow its own interests as overriding policy. As someone has said, he is backing American in case Indonesia invades us. As if Indonesia would invade us, and as if America would come to our assistance, unless it was in their own interest. Just as he cannot cut the apron strings with the British Monarchy, nor can Howard cut the apron strings with the US Presidency. It is more than weak, outdated and humiliating: it is positively dangerous for Australia.

PM Howard's speech on declaring war against Iraq
'There's also another reason and that is our close security alliance with the United States. The Americans have helped us in the past and the United States is very important to Australia's long-term security. It is critical that we maintain the involvement of the United States in our own region where at present there are real concerns about the dangerous behaviour of North Korea. The relationship between our two countries will grow more rather than less important as the years go by.'

Not to mention that America has deliberately provoked the North Korean crisis with its bellicose rhetoric and the best thing would be for it to depart the region, it seems to me that the the 'US Alliance' is the real and basic reason for Howard's extraordinary commitment of Australia to this illegal and unnecessary war. Not only did Australia not have to participate in this war at all, if we participated it could have been only under the banner of a UN mandate, or a limited or token commitment of forces, perhaps some naval force only. Instead Howard has gone to the utmost, committing substantial forces, without UN mandate, against the will of the people, against the wishes of countries in our region and around the world, against advice that it will damage our relations in the region and increase our exposure to terrorism.

The view Howard seems to take as a fundamental personal belief is that the more servile and slavish Australia is to America, the more reckless our commitment, the more we are prepared to debase ourselves for America, the more it is in our interest, as if America will reward those who fawn upon it rather than follow its own interests as overriding policy. As someone has said, he is backing American in case Indonesia invades us. As if Indonesia would invade us, and as if America would come to our assistance, unless it was in their own interest. Just as he cannot cut the apron strings with the British Monarchy, nor can Howard cut the apron strings with the US Presidency. It is more than weak, outdated and humiliating: it is positively dangerous for Australia.