If they are an ally, they've done a good job of concealing it, considering how Howard was greeted on his recent trip there. All things are possible, I guess, including even Canada's cooperation, as per the British opinion piece linked on Post #170:
"...a functioning successor military alliance (to NATO) has for some time been working quietly inside the dead structure: an "intelligence special relationship" coalition (Australia-Canada-New Zealand-UK-US) with occasional help from others."
These are head-spinning times.