Posted on 08/10/2014 1:53:40 PM PDT by naturalman1975
IF the US sends troops into Iraq — very unlikely at the moment but by no means inconceivable — Australian troops are overwhelmingly likely to go with them.
If Barack Obama sustains airstrikes against the Islamic State extremists who are butchering and terrifying the population of northern Iraq, and decides he needs something like a coalition of the willing to share the burden and spread political ownership of the intervention, then Australian planes are overwhelmingly likely to fly as part of the action.
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The Prime Minister virtually made this commitment when he saw Obama in the White House in June.....
Abbott, unlike most visitors to the White House, was not asking for something; he was offering something. He specifically told Obama that if the US needed to go back into Iraq, Australia would help.
However, this is not a case of Australia blindly doing Washington’s bidding.
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But Abbott has a broader purpose as well, and that is to stiffen the spine of American leadership.
Canberra sees this as being in the direct national security interests of Australia.
Ever since Obama promised to bomb Syria if it used chemical weapons against its own citizens, and then reneged on the promise, there has been a steady deterioration in the observance of basic international norms on security.
US allies in Europe and Asia are deeply, if generally privately, concerned about the erosion of US strategic credibility and the reluctance of the US to exercise leadership.
.....
Canberra believes US credibility in the Middle East flows directly into US credibility in Asia.
And US credibility in Asia is critical to Australian security.
So Abbott will walk a long mile with Obama, if needs be. But he will be making the trek for Australia’s sake, and in Australia’s interests.
(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.com.au ...
Obama insults Australia in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...
The 1990’s was full of Democrats who supported attacking this and that; sending troops all over the place.
They even went on and on about attacking Iraq.
Until Bush won.
In fact, Bush ran and won on a platform of not getting into military conflicts; or no longer being the “World’s Policeman,” so to speak.
All of this War/bombing/intervening stuff is status quo for the Democrats.
Can't have enough of them. God love 'em.
It’s sad that Australia has no one better to follow than Obama...Australia is a true friend to Americans...
Exactly! Either that or he has sold them out just like he has us.
if you’re waiting on us to lead, you’re backing up.
My God bless you Australia! Good to have our friends “in the land down-under!”
I have a friend from Australia. Became an American 4 years ago.
He once asked me what I thought of Australia.
Told him that I considered him an American before he took his oath and as far as I’m concerned Auzzies are just as tough as Americans and our country is enriched by his presence and I’m happy he is an American.
Please, no one start with the guns thing.
They are still kewel people.
British troops considered Australians “half a soldier” already (due to the rough life in the outback); while less formal than Brits, they were tough soldiers.
What do the Brits know?
We allowed fewer of their men to return home after they attacked us, twice and then they couldn’t handle their Shiite during two wars.
Even after we lent and leased them equipment.
So, in order to secure our investment, we fought Germany for them, to show how it’s suppose to be done.
If Germany hadn’t Bombed Pearl Harbor....
The Brits knew they’d have lost even more of the empire if the Aussies hadn’t been available to find Japan in the east and the Germans in the desert.
Thank you, Australia.
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