Australia backs US war machine

by Denis Doherty,
National Co-ordinator of the Australian Anti-Bases Campaign Coalition

Right from the beginning of the latest bombings of Yugoslavia, the Liberal-
National Government has backed the US-driven/NATO assault. The ALP's 
approach has not been any better.

The Government's support for the war and all that it entails goes far 
deeper than political and moral support for NATO's aims and methods. 
Australia has a military alliance with the US which prevents independent 
and objective assessment by the Australian Government of US actions.

Shortly after the war commenced, it was announced that there were a small 
number of Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel in training roles with 
NATO forces.

It is a common practice to swap personnel to assist in the smooth 
transition of the ADF into an integral part of any combined force, as may 
be required for participation in attacks on Iraq or even Yugoslavia.

The recall of these troops would have considerable symbolic impact, 
signalling that Australia does not want to be complicit in this barbaric 
attack. Instead, the ADF stayed in place, assisting in backup roles and 
learning how to engage in a war.

The ADF personnel are a small part of Australia's contribution to the war. 
They are only what the Government admits to.

However, hidden behind the scenes are likely to be intelligence operatives 
engaged in prosecuting the war.

Whatever intelligence gathering capability Australia has will be at the 
disposal of the US/NATO.

From past experiences, it is clear that the US bases here will be on full 
alert and working overtime to analyse the large amounts of data emanating 
from the Balkans.

Australia, with a big Serbian population has linguists who could be put at 
the disposal of the US/NATO. This fact would never be known by the 
Australian public.

Hence, when the names of Yugoslavian commanders and their units are printed 
in the paper as alleged "war criminals", this could well be based on radio 
and other telecommunications intercepts from US satellites and their ground 
stations in Australia.

Indirect assistance

Australia has also given indirect assistance to the US war effort by 
sending a warship to the Persian Gulf just two weeks ago, the Australian 
Government freed a US warship to go to the Adriatic Sea.

The bombing raids by US fighters may well have been rehearsed in Australia 
during exercises such as Tandem Thrust or on the Delamere bombing 
range in the Northern Territory.

The Australian Government is acting in the interests of US imperialism, 
representing the major corporations and foreign capital rather than for the 
interests of our people and the people of the world.

Today when the Australian Government acts on the world stage it is not seen 
as an honest broker but as an agent of the US.