Howard will sink with Bush

If the Alliance is going to have any real depth, commitment and friendship it must broaden its base and engage in dialogue that allows genuine disagreement. All in all it needs to become more mature and sophisticated.

There is no guarantee that the United States would feel bound, under existing treaty arrangements or on the basis of “friendship”, to come to Australia's assistance if this country or its interests were threatened or attacked. Any number of scenario's can be written that could see the US tied up, unable or unwilling to extend itself.

The US Ambassador, Robert McCallum, has not read the ANZUS Treaty indicating that the Bush Administration does not place much importance on it. Poor John Howard, it is the central plank of his belief in the strength of the Alliance, it is the very fabric of his security blanket.

Robert McCallum, a political appointee like so many of his predecessors, has taken an interventionist cue from John Howard and sought to defend the unlawful treatment of David Hicks. His term as Ambassador might not long outlast John Howard.

Slavishly following the United States is not going to ensure it drops everything and rushes to our assistance should we request or circumstances demand it. Our security and prosperity ought to rest on the strength and skill of our diplomacy. Putting all our eggs in the American basket, particularly the basket of one particular Administration has not been wise.

United States troops are hostages to fortune in Iraq and Bush is proposing to increase his liability. Even doubling the number of US troops in Iraq could not now end the civil war; caught in the middle, the presence of US troops is now prolonging the civil war.

Everyone except John Howard can see that there is nothing to be gained from Australia staying in Iraq and any benefit has been lost with Howard's attack on Barack Obama and by extension the Democrats. Australia needs to build relationships throughout America and to do that it needs to develop self confidence and self respect. A useful starting point in that process would be to tackle pressing domestic problems.

Howard is neither smart nor experienced. His attitude towards and management of the relationship with the United States is turning into a political negative for himself and Australia.