Malcolm Fraser on Australia's dangerous policy

Listening to Malcolm Fraser and his robust criticism of the the Untied States and Australian policy, it is hard to recognise the Cold War warrior of the 1970’s

US a Dangerous Ally: Former Australia PM. “The US will eventually bring Australia into a Direct Conflict with China”

Want China Times,

24 January, 2015

In his new book titled "Dangerous Allies," Malcolm Fraser, the former prime minister of Australia worries that the Canberra's dependence on the United States will eventually bring the nation into a direct conflict with China. His words echo those of Georgetown University professor Amitai Etzioni in and article he wrote for the Diplomat on Jan. 20.

Australia has always been strategically dependent on other great powers since gaining independence in 1901. It relied on the United Kingdom until World War II and then transfered that dependence to the United States afterwards. The relationship grew stronger with the signing of the Australia, New Zealand, United States Security Treaty in 1951. Fraser said that the treaty does not require the US to defend Australia, only nneding to "consult" it in case of an attack.

In Fraser's book, he describes how Australia's blind faith in the UK before World War II left the country unprepared for war. He then goes on to say that currently many feel more vulnerable because of the country's dependence on the United States. What Fraser and many Australian leaders fears most is that the United States will get Australia involved in a coflict not of its own making. "Australia effectively ceded to America the ability to decide when Australia goes to war," said Fraser.

Fraser labelled the United States a "dangerous ally" as Australia has become progressively more enmeshed in American strategic and military affairs since the end of Cold War.

Just as with the armed conflicts in the Middle East, Fraser said that the conflict in Ukraine took place partially due to Washington's attempt to include Ukraine in NATO. He went on to blame the United States lack of historical understanding towards Russia on the matter.

Washington's policy to "contain" China can eventually lead to trouble for Australia. Believing that the United States will eventually use Australia as a base to attack China, Fraser suggested the removal of all American military facilities from Darwin in the north and Pine Gap in the center of the country as soon as possible. The former Australian leader added that the country should be more independent of the United States in both defense and foreign affairs. While recommending that Australia shore up its diplomatic activities throughout Asia and at the UN, he also suggested an increase in defense spending to 3% of the country's GDP.

Jared McKinney, an American defense expert said that Fraser's book is often redundant and sometimes appears simplistic and one-sided in its historical interpretations. Still, he praised Fraser's great service to Australia and it said would be a shame if his arguments were unable to incite the sort of grand strategy debate.

This is what he said about Russia and Crimea back in March

US thinks rules are for inferior nations, it's in their DNA'

COLD WAR AND PEACE (ft ex Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser)

Kosovo's secession demonstrated that international law is only as applicable as the force used to back it. But with Crimea now free on the wings of that precedent, the West cries foul. Why does the western world fail to recognise parallels between Kosovo and Crimea? Is it a case of double standards or the result of decades of adversarial EU and NATO policies towards Russia? Oksana is joined by former Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser, to canvass these issues.