You know, I just looked at the list on Aussie FReepers, and I never realized that there that many on here. It's great to have people from another country so "gung ho" over our politics!
Decisions made in Washington often affect us as much as, or more than those made in Canberra. And a lot of us are very glad that the US has a leader who takes America's alliance with Australia seriously - it hasn't always been that way.
When, earlier this year, Australia had to move troops into East Timor in a hurry, reportedly Condoleeza Rice immediately phoned our foreign minister and asked what assistance we needed, if any. If so, that is new - the US has assisted us in the past when we have asked, but that type of proactive approach is different.