The alliance is meant to serve us (The Age - Australia)

[struggle4progress]

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First, Washington wants to deny Australian voters a policy choice on Iraq. Bush wants to shut down any political debate in Australia that raises awkward and embarrassing questions about his reckless and failing adventure in Iraq.
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Second, Armitage's argument that allies "can't pick and choose" aspects of their relationship "like an a la carte menu" has serious implications for Washington's junior partner if the set menu is not to our liking. For a number of years now, Armitage's favourite soupe du jour has been his expectation that Australia would provide military support to Washington in any dispute it has with Beijing over Taiwan. And yet it would hardly be in Australia's interests to join a military conflict against a nuclear power that will soon become our largest trading partner - in fact it would be economic poison.
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Sceptics of Bush's democratic intentions in the Middle East, who recall Washington's overthrow of democratic governments in Iran (1953), Guatemala (1954) and Chile (1973) to name only three examples, are now said to be inveterate haters of all things American.
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In fact, the alliance should not be seen as an end in itself, but as a means to an end - furthering the national interests of Australia. If it no longer performs this function because its value is compromised by unacceptable conditions imposed by Washington, we should, in Armitage's words, start thinking about life without it.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/06/14/1087065079779.html