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| The Big Four Alliance: The New Bush Strategy |
| 2005-12-03 |
| Over the past six months, the Bush administration has upgraded its budding âstrategic partnershipsâ with India and Japan. Along with the steady "special relationshipâ with Great Britain, what is beginning to emerge is a global coalition system--it is too soon to call it a true alliance--for the post-Cold War world. Much work remains to be done to translate the expressions of similar political interests and values into usable military strength. Still, the prospects for expanding the number of genuine âstakeholdersâ in the Pax Americana are quite bright. |
| Posted by:john |
| #11 A strategic partner does not have to have the power projection capability. Japan can't get out of the box either. The Ausies have world class SF troops, and their strategic location is critical to power projection in the world. They are our only true friend in the region, the Phils are cowards and ran in Iraq, and will be there when the world needs them. they have more to offer than Japan and should always be one of our top allies. |
| Posted by: 49 pan 2005-12-03 21:23 |
| #10 Ed - I was only speculating on basing, logistic resorces, etc. The Aussies fight above thir weight, but not that high |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-12-03 18:57 |
| #9 Well, maybe we could give Australia statehood, but only as a blue state until it permits basic freedoms like legalizing guns. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-12-03 18:48 |
| #8 PS. They already spend more GDP than any NATO (except US) is not strictly true, Turkey spends more than any NATO member. But I have bad vibes about Turkey as the Ataturk secularists withdraw and Turkey moves to an islamic republic. |
| Posted by: ed 2005-12-03 18:42 |
| #7 Frank, I like Australians and they have a top notch military for its size. But the Australian miliary is only 50,000 troops and their reserves are small. They already spend more GDP than any NATO (except US) so their size or capability won't increase soon. While Australian special forces and light infantry is very good and welcome in Afghanistan, the Australian military is not set up for power projection. They have their hands full keeping the Indonesians at bay. In a South Asian crisis, the US will have to pour troops into Australia to make sure nothing bad happens to a friend. If the ball ever goes up with China (e.g. Taiwan), I expect the Australians will stay neutral, positive if Labour is in power. |
| Posted by: ed 2005-12-03 18:37 |
| #6 It's called the Anglosphere. |
| Posted by: Elmomosh Spenter5561 2005-12-03 18:12 |
| #5 population does not equal strength. Diego Garcia could very well be a member.... :-) Aussies have earned the same special relationship that brits have. We need to include Howard in all the planning and ops - they have better location when it comes to the SE Asia portion, and as a pincer on China |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-12-03 17:48 |
| #4 Australia won't be the fifth member of a Big Five. |
| Posted by: ed 2005-12-03 17:19 |
| #3 Temperamentally and culturally, the US is closer to Australia than any other country, and we should develop close relations at all levels. But with only 20 million people, Australia won't the the fifth member of a Big Five. |
| Posted by: ed 2005-12-03 17:17 |
| #2 You beat me to it, 2b. |
| Posted by: BH 2005-12-03 17:08 |
| #1 don't forget the Australians! |
| Posted by: 2b 2005-12-03 17:06 |