Just when you thought the ALP could not sell out anymore, we saw this week Defence Minister John Faukner gave General David Petraus, the general who oversaw the "surge" in Iraq and now head of U.S. Central Command an honoury Order of Australia medal for his work in Iraq. As the World Socialist Website points out, this move highlights the subservient relationship of the Australian governmnent to U.S. imperialism regardless of the party in power.
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/nov2009/faul-n06.shtml
Supposedly the ALP opposed the war in Iraq Fawkner however grovelled as he presented the award to Petraus
“Tonight we recognise it was you, General Petraeus, who designed and implemented the strategy which delivered success in the war,” Faulkner said. “This award recognises your achievement.” Flanked by top military officials who had gathered at the Australian ambassador’s residence in Washington, Faulkner praised Petraeus for his integrity and reputation, declaring he had “greatly strengthened the Australian and United States military relationship”.
This is symptomatic of how under the parties of the "left" the ALP in Australia and the Democrats in the U.S., Bush's War on Terror is not only continuing but being esculated particularly in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
For more coverage of this event visit:
The ABC website
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/04/2732984.htm?section=justin
The Age
http://www.theage.com.au/national/australian-gong-for-us-commander-in-ir...
