Australian-United States Defence Links A presentation prepared by the Medical Association for Prevention of War.

Australian-United States Defence Links

A presentation prepared by the Medical Association for Prevention

of War

MAPW (Australia) Aust-US Defence Links 2006

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Australia and the United States of America

The United States is approaching 300 million people, Australia has only 20 million

The United States spends more than $400 billion (USD) on defense, Australia spends less than $13 billion (USD)

America is the world's only superpower, Australia is a ‘Middle Power’

History of the Alliance


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History

“Without inhibitions of any kind, I make it quite clear that Australia looks to America, free of

any pangs as to our traditional links or kinship with the United Kingdom”

-Prime Minister John Curtin December 1944


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Early History

World War II – American-Australian military collaboration in the Pacific

Post 1945 US military dominance in Asia 1947-8 UKUSA agreement ASIO formed in 1949 with CIA assistance ASIS formed in 1950 with CIA assistance ANZUS Treaty signed 1 September 1951


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Key Dates

1950 Australian troops deployed to Korea 1963 North West Cape established 1965 Australia troops deployed to Vietnam 1966 Pine Gap established 1969 Nurrungar established 1990/1 Australian troops deployed to Iraq 2001 Australian troops deployed to

Afghanistan 2003 Australian troops deployed to Iraq

The ANZUS Treaty


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ANZUS

The treaty bound the signatories to: Recognize that an armed attack in the Pacific

area on any of them would endanger the peace and safety of the others

Consult in the event of a threat and, in the event of attack, to meet the common danger in accordance with their respective constitutional processes

Maintain and develop individual and collective capabilities to resist attack


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ANZUS and New Zealand

1985 New Zealand refused access to its ports by nuclear-weapons-capable and nuclear-powered ships of the US

The US suspended defence obligations to New Zealand The first US-Australia bilateral meeting was held in

Canberra in 1985 At the second, in San Francisco in 1986, the US and

Australia announced that the US was suspending its treaty security obligations to New Zealand pending the restoration of port access

Subsequent bilateral Australia-US Ministerial (AUSMIN) meetings have alternated between Australia and the US


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ANZUS Today

The US-Australia alliance under the ANZUS Treaty remains in full force

ANZUS has no integrated defence structure or dedicated forces. However, in fulfilment of ANZUS obligations, Australia and the United States conduct a variety of joint activities

Prime Minister Howard invoked the ANZUS Treaty for the first time on September 14, 2001

War and the Australia-US Alliance


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Major Military Operations

Australia has joined the US in major military operations in:

Korea Vietnam Iraq/Kuwait Afghanistan Iraq


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The Invasion of Iraq

March 2003 Australia joins the US in invading Iraq

36% of Australians oppose the invasion 2006 Australian troops still deployed in

Iraq (mainly protecting Japanese civilian workers)


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Between 20 March 2003 and 19 March 2005: 24,865 civilians killed

This is equal to 1 in every 1000 IraqisAdult males killed: 82%Adult Females killed: 9%42,500 civilians were reported wounded


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Children: Nearly 1 in 10 of those killed were under the

age of 18 Nearly 1 in 200 of those killed was a baby

aged 0-2 Most adult victims were parents leaving behind

orphans and widows Children were disproportionately affected by

all explosive devices but most severely by air strikes and unexploded ordinance

Missile Defence


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Current US proposal:

Ground-based midcourse system (nation-wide defence)

Initial deployment: 5 silo-based interceptors in Alaska and California in 2004 with another 3 in 2005

*The first of the interceptors was emplaced on 22 July 2004.

Sea-based ‘Aegis’ midcourse system (theatre defence)

Upgrades: improvements to the SPY-1 radar signal processor and the Weapons Control System to perform exo-atmospheric engagements


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Australia’s Role: history

US-Australian joint facilities used in missile defence attempts: Nurrungar and Pine Gap

Nurrungar used in Theatre Missile Defence during 1991 Gulf War

Political support for Strategic Defence Initiative withheld by Hawke

Coalition supported missile defence while in opposition


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Australia’s Role : history

US-Australian cooperation involving JORN radar since 1995

Australia formally announced involvement in US missile defence system December 2003

Australia and United States sign 25-year MOU July 2004

Australian Defence and Foreign Affairs ministers and American Secretary of State and Secretary of Defence at the signing of the MOU


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Australia’s Role : Technical Involvement

Pine GapJORN RadarAegis ships (Theatre Missile Defence)


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Australia’s Role : Regional Implications

China has publicly stated its opposition to missile defence and made reference to Australian involvement

Indonesia has been Australia’s most persistent critic on missile defence

Australian procurement of long-range cruise missiles has heightened regional anxiety


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Where Does Missile Defence Stand Today?

US system still not operational Limited success in TMD testsAll other tests have been complete

failuresResearch and development into MKVsCanada and Taiwan limiting their support


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Why is Missile Defence of Concern to Doctors?

Proliferation of WMD – grave health risk Illusion of protection

Consequences of an operational system “Real security lies in diplomacy, not in developing new weapons systems. Australia's involvement in missile defence would lead to greater vulnerability within our region, as well as implicating us in a scheme that will lead to the further proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the missiles for their delivery. This will undermine international security and stability”

Medical Association for Prevention of War, July 2004

Recommendations


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ANZUS and Regional Security

MAPW encourages the Australian Government to:

Work cooperatively within our region to truly strengthen the fabric of peace in the Asia-Pacific regionComprehensively review our commitment to the ANZUS treaty


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Australia’s Security


Thoroughly examine how Australian involvement in the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts have affected our securityRe-orient current policies with the US to address the root causes of terrorism, promote human security, including its social, educational, economic, environmental, and human rights dimensions, and strengthen the international rule of law


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Multilateral and International Commitments


Use the leverage we are said to acquire through ANZUS to encourage the legally binding commitment of the US to eliminate all nuclear weapons through the 1967 Non-Proliferation TreatyLobby for a Nuclear Weapons Convention


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Pine Gap


Review the lease of the US-Australian Joint Facility at Pine Gap especially in relation to functions relating to US nuclear war-fighting capabilities


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Missile Defence


End all involvement in the US missile defence system including both intelligence sharing (Pine Gap and JORN Radar) and military involvement (Aegis ships theatre missile defence)


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Raise your voice

MAPW ‘body bag’ protest against the invasion of Iraq, December 2002

Join MAPW in calling for a comprehensive re-examination of Australia’s defence relationship with the United States to reflect an approach based on non-violent conflict resolution and the promotion of human security:

•Write to your local MP

•Write to the Defence Minister

•Visit: www.mapw.org.au for more activities


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Medical Association for Prevention of War Australia

(MAPW)

National Office: P.O. Box 1379, Carlton VIC 3053, AustraliaPh: 03 8344 1637 Fax: 03 8344 1638

www.mapw.org.au [email protected] affiliate of International Physicians for Prevention of

Nuclear War (IPPNW)

Australian-United States Defence Links A presentation prepared by the Medical Association for Prevention of War.

Documents

us slide

usaustralia alliance

australiaus alliance

australia troops

usaustralia bilateral

anzus treaty slide

us military dominance

attack slide