Military - US/Australia Alliance

1. Stephen Smith is the Minister for Defence, and he represents Australia's defence interests at home and abroad.
2. The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D.C.
3. The US is one of the most important allies Australia has, and as part of the ANZUS treaty is called on in any time of need pertaining to military action.
4. Australia could be considered the US' main stratregic hold in the Asia-Pacific region.
5. Australia has participated in all of the US' wars; Korea (1950-1953), Vietnam (1965-1972), The Gulf (1990), Iraq (2003-) & Afghanistan (2004-). The US also involved itself in Australia's East Timor intervention.
6. He said that Australia as an ally adds value to the American economy.
7. It's an attempt to bolster relations between Australia and the US.
8. China.
9. A better rapport and stronger economic ties (after incidents relating to WikiLeaks and other talks).
10. Because Australia needs more allies in the region (after East Timor intervention).

1. A military base in Woomera, for a strategic outpost in the region
2. The armed forces of Australia and the US will be more closely coordinated than ever before

Government, Malaysia sign Swap Deal - Summary

1. 800 Asylum Seekers to Malaysia in exchange for 4000 'genuine' refugees.
2. They will be treated with dignity and respect, protected by human rights.
3. Very badly.
4. Yes.
5. They will be processed in Australia and sent to Malaysia.
6. The government can't guarantee the upholding of human rights.
7. To stem the constant flow of asylum seekers.

8. I don't think it will work - the planning and consideration behind this idea is non-existent and not only will it be logistically inefficient, but human rights will be brought into total disregard by Malaysia - Howard's Nauru plan was both effective and humane and, if they (the asylum seekers) were to be sent back to Nauru, there would be concrete guarantee that they would not end up being caned.

Immigration

1. According to international refugee law, a refugee is someone who seeks refuge in a foreign country because of war and violence, or out of fear of persecution.

2. People leave their countries in search of a better life, whether it be for reasons pertaining to hunger (perhaps famine), persecution (often political or religious) or another issue affecting the quality of their life.

3. Refugees must qualify for different criteria depending on the country in which they are seeking asylum - generally the criteria is composed of the reasons stated above.

4. The Middle East, places such as Afghanistan, sometimes places such as Sri Lanka and (previously) South East Asia/Vietnam.

Australia may be a Nuclear Target - Summary

1. Foreign Minister - this entails representing Australia abroad (occasionally) and looking after matters related to foreign affairs

2. That Australia may become a target of the products of the North Korean long range missile program

3. The ASEAN Regional Forum

4. North Korea has been involved in several military gaffes lately involving shell fire and weapons testing over the border into South Korea

5. North Korea's missile testing and capabilities

6. Rudd is trying to achieve status and get attention for what he believes is a problem, and wants to consolidate ties with the rest of the region

7. Although ties with the US may be as strong as ever, it could be said that ties will not make much of a change for the better

Foreign Aid Review - Summary

From Hugh White's article on the levels of aid given by Australia (written on 19 July), we can discern that White opines:

- This country spends too much on aid

- Aid that has been given has varying amounts of effectivity

- Poverty, although reduced, is still rife (1000000000 people earning <$1.25 a day)

- The World Bank predicts further decline in poverty numbers

- The primary reason of growth in Third World nations is not aid intake but economic growth

It is my belief that Australia is contributing more aid as a result of either pressure from other parts of the First World or guilt permeated by publications (often from the UN) on increasing poverty. It needs to be understood that while aid may give immediate help, growth is the primary reason of recovery economically - White is completely correct in this respect. His statement on the dwindling power of the West is provocative (and maybe slightly brash) but raises an interesting point - this article provides very interesting commentary and raises a good point - perhaps poverty (like many other problems that affect the world) has solutions beyond continual spending.