Alliance strong, but our defence outlay weak (Australian interview with Donald Rumsfeld)

The Australian ^ | 18th November 2005 | The Australian

[naturalman1975]

THE US-Australia alliance is stronger and closer than it has ever been - even though Australia spends less on defence than the minimum required of Washington's NATO allies, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has declared.

In an exclusive interview with The Australian, Mr Rumsfeld said George W. Bush had ordered an extensive upgrade of Australia's access to US intelligence.

The US President "has directed it", Mr Rumsfeld said.

"He is determined we find ways to co-operate with Australia in intelligence-sharing at a new level, and we are doing so."

Australian sources confirm this is happening particularly in counter-terrorism, combating the spread of weapons of mass destruction, and in joint US-Australian military operations such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

Speaking in Adelaide before today's AusMin meeting, Mr Rumsfeld hailed the performance of Australian troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. "They are as competent and capable and well trained and well run as any forces there in Iraq," he said.

The US Defence Secretary said there was "no question" but that the Australian SAS had played a militarily meaningful role in Iraq and Afghanistan, and rejected the idea that Australia had committed only a token force to the operations. "You talk to our folks who worked with (the Australians). They recognise competence, they recognise contribution, and they value it."

While Mr Rumsfeld would not be drawn on any timetable for reductions in US troop levels, he said the coalition force would be looking to decrease its footprint in Iraq in the period ahead.

This would be made possible by Iraqi government forces taking increased responsibility for the country's security.

"We have no desire to stay in Iraq," he said. "We are already transferring responsibility to Iraqi security forces."

Mr Rumsfeld remains the most ebullient and upbeat of US leaders. "The situation in Iraq is getting better, no question," he declared with characteristic certitude, "though you don't see it reflected in the media.

If you think of where they've come from, a country that has decades of experience with nothing but a dictatorial, repressive regime ... They're preparing now full-speed for a new election under a constitution."

On Canberra's level of defence spending, Mr Rumsfeld was at pains to say this was entirely a matter for the Australian Government and that he should not tell Australia what to spend.

However, he made some telling comparisons on military budgets.

"The US, I think, currently spends about 3.1per cent of gross domestic product," he said.

"Most of our NATO allies and partners are down in the bottom rung at 2 per cent, which is the NATO minimum - very few are over that.

"These are choices that countries make."

Australia spends approximately 1.9 per cent of GNP on defence.

Mr Rumsfeld rejected recent terrorist claims that Australia was a terrorist target because it had troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Look at the terrorist attacks that have occurred," he said. "They've attacked countries that do have forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and they've attacked countries that don't have forces in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Mr Rumsfeld gave a strong commitment to the US continuing its security role in Asia.

"The US is a Pacific nation - we are a nation that is dependent on the seas and on space. We have close relations with countries here in Asia," he said. "If anyone looks at our global adjustments, our force posture has shifted away from a Eurocentric force posture to a more balanced force posture around the world."

He said the region could continue to rely on the US alliance system as the bedrock of regional security.

[HHKrepublican_2]

Well what do you expect there the sons of Irishmen!

[Rocky Mountain Mama]

I love Aussies.