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Actions such as this buys the Aussies a lot of trust and good will for the future, in case they need it.

Just my amateur opinion...
the Aussies have just added onto the good will they've built up over many years and
many wars (serving in places like Vietnam with the US).

I remember Paul Harvey (the news commentator) mentioning how Howard was
under fire for keeping Muslim boat-people from legally landing in Australia...
after 9-11, he looked like a freakin' genius.

And after the Bali Bombing, I read one quote in which he suppossedly told a victim's
relatives "We're going to get the bastards that did this".

The Aussie system may be a bit more socialist than the USA...but they're A-OK...