Washington Naval Yard, 10th September 2001.
Posted on 11/07/2010 7:50:56 PM PST by naturalman1975
AUSTRALIA can manage both a critically important economic relationship with China and growing military ties with the US, says Defence Minister Stephen Smith.
US secretary of state Hillary Clinton and US defence secretary Robert Gates were in Melbourne for the Australia United State Ministerial (AUSMIN) consultations with Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd.
The talks focused on the US Force Posture Review, which will examine the US military presence in the Asia-Pacific, and the war in Afghanistan, among other issues.
The posture review could see the US make more use of its military bases in Australia and give greater opportunity for joint training.
Meanwhile, the Australian Greens say improving ties with the US will make it harder to negotiate with China.
Greens MP Adam Bandt said there was a growing public view that a key reason for entering the Afghanistan war was because America had demanded it.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
Each Party recognizes that an armed attack in the Pacific Area on any of the Parties would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would act to meet the common danger in accordance with its constitutional processes.
For the purpose of Article IV, an armed attack on any of the Parties is deemed to include an armed attack on the metropolitan territory of any of the Parties, or on the island territories under its jurisdiction in the Pacific or on its armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific.
On September 11th, 2001, Prime Minister John Howard was in Washington DC, for ceremonies commemorating the signing of the ANZUS Treaty almost exactly 50 years ealier. The previous day, he had been at the Washington Naval Yard with President George W. Bush for one of those ceremonies.
He was left stranded in the US when all airspace was shut down the following day after what can very clearly be described as an armed attack on the metropolitan territory of of the United States. When he was finally returning home (courtesy of a flight by the USAF) he informed the United States that Australia was putting into effect actions under Article IV and V of the ANZUS Treaty.
It's a simple document - what it comes down to is this - attack one of the parties, and you attack all of the parties. That simple. That clear.
New Zealand - even though the US had suspended its treaty obligations under ANZUS to that country following a dispute that began in the 1980s, likewise went to war in Afghanistan.
America didn't demand Australia enter the war in Afghanistan - under treaty, clear as daylight, Australia was at war the moment the first plane hit the first tower.
Adam, Adam, Adam... Australia has an important relationship with China. One we really do want to go well for all sorts of reasons.
But if it comes down to a choice between better relationships with the US and better relationships with China - the choice is pretty obvious.
That statement just proves that the Greens are Watermelons -- Green on the outside but RED to the core.
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