Australia: Sheriff of the Asian/Pacific region

The Australian-American alliance is as solid as a rock but both sides have no intention to rest on their laurels.

The Lowy Institute, the initiative of Frank Lowy, a migrant penniless Jew who became a billionaire and the head of the Westfield Empire, found recently that only Indonesia, the Middle-East, Iran and Iraq generated fewer positive feelings than the United States. The poll found that, of the 39 per cent of Australians who felt negatively towards the US, almost all thought Australia paid too much attention to Washington's views.

There is no doubt that anti-Americanism is on the rise in Australia, fuelled by the unpopularity of the Iraq war and our involvement in Afghanistan. Australia is not only a strategic partner in the coalition of the willing but was the first nation to send troops to the invasion of Iraq.

In the globalised Pacific, Australian is seen as the region's deputy sheriff, some sort of a gun-toting enforcer of the US law on a Wild West frontier. On October 20, 2003, George W. Bush said on CNN: "No, we do not see Australia as a deputy sheriff; we see it as a sheriff".

Who better than Rupert Murdoch, the Australian-born now American citizen, chairman and chief executive officer of News Corporation to come to the defence of the alliance. Commenting on the strained relations between France and the US, Mr Murdoch said "none of us wants to see America and Australia share the same fate".

"First and foremost, Australians must resist and reject the facile, reflexive, unthinking anti-Americanism that has gripped much of Europe. Recent surveys have shown such sentiments to be more prevalent than ever, and perhaps even on the rise." Mr Murdoch said that America had to work to address criticism that it took Australians too much for granted and not come calling only when in need.

"Australian sentiment is thankfully nowhere near Europe's level of hostility - but it could get there and it mustn't. In the coming century America will find Asia more important than ever - and its alliance with Australia more useful than ever."

Mr Murdoch made it abundantly clear he did not want to indict the current administration of John Howard as during his premiership the working relationship between Canberra and Washington has arguably never been stronger.

The personal admiration of Mr Howard for the President of the US is well documented. The Australian-American alliance is based on common sense and the dreaded fear Australia has of its neighbours because of its isolation in the Asian/Pacific region.

Addressing the recent American-Australian Association benefit dinner, Mr Howard said that Australia should never forget that no more powerful nation than the US has emerged in mankind's history extolling the universal values of personal and political democracy. "What happens to American power and prestige in the 21st century is not some abstract topic that we can all discuss over dinner or in a lecture hall as if it has no bearing on Australia's political and economic future, and especially on our security". In short, the Prime Minister of Australia is reminding us that there is no one better than America to come to our defence if trouble comes our way.

Mr Howard also said that a perceived coalition defeat in Iraq would deal a terrible blow to American prestige and the security of its allies including Australia. "If the coalition leaves Iraq in circumstances seen as defeat, the ramifications of that will be enormous," he said.

To further strengthen the Australian-American alliance, Sydney University has announced that they have beaten off strong challenges from Melbourne and Canberra to host the influential new United States Studies Centre, the $50 million think-tank which will be Australia's leading centre on political, economic and cultural issues. The federal government has pledged $25 million in funding for the centre and the NSW state government is also a supporter. The new centre will conduct research, raise awareness, dispel myths, groom new leaders and increase ties between the two countries.

The American-Australian Association, formed in Australia this year, is an affiliate of the 58-year-old US-based Australian-American Association. Mr Murdoch's links to the US association began when he bought into the US media in 1973, 12 years before he became a naturalised US citizen. His father, Sir Keith Murdoch, was one of its founders.