Is the United States a ‘Dangerous’ Ally? A former Australian prime minister is among those who argue

[jakeXT]

A former Australian prime minister is among those who argue that it is.

Some American strategists have of late expressed the concern that the United States’ growing military ties with various nations in East and Southeast Asia give these nations a finger on the American trigger. That is, actions these nations may take on their own could involve the United States in a war with North Korea, Russia or China. This issue has been particularly raised with regard to Japan because the U.S. has declared that it views the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands as if they were parts of Japan – which the United States is committed by treaty to defend.

Now, a former Australian prime minister, Malcolm Fraser, turns the tables on this concern in an important article in the most recent issue of The National Interest. Fraser fears not that Australia will drag the United States into war, but rather that the United States will involve Australia in a war not of Australia’s making.

Fraser goes so far as to label the United States a “dangerous ally” because since the fall of the USSR Australia has “become progressively more enmeshed in American strategic and military affairs,” such that it is effectively no longer capable of making its own military decisions. He is particularly concerned by the possibility that the United States could launch military attacks from bases located on Australian territory but Australia would be given no opportunity to oppose the United States’ decisions. In short, Australia has “effectively ceded to America the ability to decide when Australia goes to war.”

Moreover, the United States’ sense of exceptionalism and its cultural insensitivity trouble Fraser. As he sees it, these qualities have caused the United States to antagonize China and Russia and have let the U.S. irresponsibly engage in armed conflicts in the Middle East. Fraser sees the conflict in Ukraine in part as a result of Washington’s attempt to include Ukraine in NATO – demonstrating a “marked lack of historical understanding” about Russia.

http://thediplomat.com/2015/01/is-the-united-states-a-dangerous-ally/

[Jesus Malverde]

1. Interesting perspective.

Thanks for all your great articles JakeXT.