Local politics is not so much on hold as locked down for the visit of Barack Obama. Cue media gushing.
Foreign policy
Barker: has ANZUS passed its use by date?
Would abandoning the ANZUS treaty substantially affect Australia’s strategic circumstances?, asks Geoffrey Barker.
Crikey Says: Crikey says: Voters recognise that China is the main game
Australians, it seems, are well aware that their governments must operate in a far more multi-polar world than in previous decades.
In foreign policy, Gillard needs to undo the damage of the Rudd era
Julia Gillard needs to remove foreign policy emphasis from China and undo the damage of the Rudd government era while focusing on other nations in the South East Asia region, says a foreign affairs expert.
Crippling Obama: no we can’t
Expect the upcoming US midterms to be brutal for the Democrats, with the Republicans likely to get significant increased power. But will Obama — thanks to a fracturing of the Republicans with the Tea Party — still control the foreign policy debate? Unlikely, says Matthew Hill.
Our bogan Howard-copy PM
PM Gillard is appearing remarkably similar to ex-PM Howard, writes Samantha Maiden, from the “foreign policy is not my passion” line to her Realpolitik approach.
Greg Sheridan was right! About Julie Bishop that is…
Julie Bishop stuffed up Treasury, and now she’s stuffed up Foreign Affairs. Luckily Tony Abbott is on the ball in that portfolio…
Essential: Voters live up to stereotypes
The latest Essential Report comes in at 54-46 to Labor — no change from last week. But when it comes to foreign policy, voters are split predictably down party lines, says Possum Comitatus.
Don’t forget about Nepal
Nepal isn’t given much thought in most Western country’s foreign policy discussions — but maybe it should be. Joshua Gross explains why the country’s potential as an enemy and an ally makes it worthy of our attention.
Australia still looks to America as Asia’s sheriff
Australia may be big beneficiaries from China’s industrial revolution, but our security in the region still hangs on the US, says the Economist.
The Coalition’s shameful Red Scare campaign
The Coalition is now in the throes of the biggest Red scare since the 1950s, writes Bernard Keane.
Robb burns Rudd over Japanese diplomacy
The Prime Minister might have copped plenty of stick over the length and itinerary of his World Discovery Tour but it is clear that when Rudd plays to his strength, he is pretty impressive, writes Bernard Keane.
Will the world buy Rudd’s “middle power” reheat?
Has the idea of Australia as a middle power had its day? Kevin Rudd may soon find out, writes Associate Professor Richard Leaver.
So Kevin, why didn’t you call?
It is, to use a Canberra cliché, the “optics” of Kevin Rudd’s world discovery tour that are the problem, rather than the substance, writes Bernard Keane.
Crikey Says: Crikey Says
We are talking here about the rotating 10 elected seats on the Security Council. Which is to say that in five years time we might be taking the seat recently vacated by Michel Kafando, the ambassador from Burkina Faso.
Foreign policy tip: stop sucking up to the US
If Australia want to become a respected middle power diplomatic force, they should think about who they are hanging with. I attend many international meetings and frequently observe the Australian delegation taking their orders from the US delegation.
