Many Australians do not want to admit it, though are aware, that our country is a satellite country of the United States. As far back as the sixties, while growing up in the States, I remember my conservative father laughing over the then President Johnson, naming Australia as a mere extension of the State of Texas. Looking back, I understand my father’s satirical mirth: he knew even then, that the US was totally in control of Australia, especially when it comes to foreign policy.
As personal background, on my mother’s side, the family goes back to the original Australians, those criminals punished by Britain, and exiled to the back bushes of NSW, exiled to a lifetime of hard labor. On my father’s side, the Middletons held some sway in the state, though my great, great grandfather gambled the estate, and lost. My grandmother was a German Jew, an immigrant to this country, escaping the growing fascism. My family line is quite interesting, particularly my great uncles, who became influential in the Church and in sectors of academia. Although born in Canada, raised in America, my heritage is Australian.
In effect, I have great fondness for the US and Australia.
Despite my father’s satirical mirth over 60 years ago, naming Australia as a mere foreign policy poodle to the US, as some say, has “got my goat” for many years.
It is known to many readers of history that the world drastically changed after WWII.
The US created the security state, NSA 68, and soon later, the US’s allies followed suit.
Because of the creation of the Cold War by the security state, the CIA had declared war on communism, enforcing regime change across the planet. The number of civilian deaths and military deaths because of this ideological war stretches into the multi millions, particularly in Africa and southeast Asia. The US security state has been starting wars all over the planet, responsible for more deaths than the entire death-count in WWII.
Australia was not neutral to the US Security State influence, because in Australia, the communist party had become strong in the 50s. There is evidence of CIA infiltration into our democratic elections. Suddenly influential MPs were removed from office, including a left leaning Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam. Indeed, the Whitlam government ensured our free Medicare system, a university education that was tuition free, and Whitlam was an antiwar politician. Since the CIA in collusion with the UK, pushing out one of the most popular PMs in our history, in my view, Australia has been under the thumb of US influence ever since.
Many older Australians, WWII vets and their children, believe if it were not for the US battle against the Japanese in the pacific, and winning, we would all be speaking Japanese today. This is true. Though it has been over 75 years, and we are more up the America gazoo than ever.
After WWII, with the creation of NSA 68, (CIA, etc.) the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand combined to create a “spook” alliance, currently called The Five Eyes Network.
As I have written many times before, I believe these security agencies, combined with corporations and big tech, (and their subsidiaries and cut outs) run the entire planet. No matter what governments the people vote into office, nothing changes in terms of foreign policy. Australia joining every war and regime change operation since Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, whether illegal or not, our Aussie young men and women follow orders and many die.
A few other examples (though not all) are necessary:
The most recent example is the Australian government cutting off funds to UNRWA to support the people of Gaza. On order from the US, Australia followed orders to stop funding UNRWA based on zero evidence that the organization had colluded with Hamas on October 7. Like a pet hamster, Australia simply followed orders. (This makes Australia complicit to war crimes).
During the Trump Administration, the CIA had their sites on Venezuela. Suddenly, the US declared an unknown actor, Juan Guaidó, as president of Venezuela. Despite the fact the people of the country had elected President Maduro by an 80% margin. Australia stood by the US in this absurd claim, declaring this CIA creation the true president. Taking orders again.
AUKUS (Australia, UK, and US) alliance, brokering a deal to construct a Nuclear Sub for Australia. This caused a diplomatic issue with China. Ironically, China is Australia’s largest trading partner. Cutting our noses despite our collective faces. Again, following orders.
Finally, the unlawful imprisonment of Julian Assange. Although a few Australian MPs have spoken out on the issue of an Australian citizen as a political prisoner by orders of the US in Britain, nothing substantial has occurred, and Assange is facing his final appeal against extradition next week.
Australia’s domestic politics runs along quite well, of course, with the typical in-fighting, immigration and sexual scandals. However, foreign policy is decided and ratified by orders of the United States, and our combined spy institutions: CIA, ASIO, etc.
This is a sad situation for Australia. But we are not alone as the US and our “allies” follow the same orders, taking us into perpetual wars.
When an authority tells you something important and your eyeballs tell you otherwise, believe your eyes.
Australia can do so much better.