Remember the actions required to secure a relatively peaceful independence for East Timor (our backyard almost) and which countries led and supported UN action for peaceful transition. From Wikipedia which gets it fairly accurately: "A coalition of nations sent troops to support the peace keeping mission. The forces were led by Australia, which provided the largest contingent and the out of theatre base for operations, supported by New Zealand, who sent the second largest contingent, and took responsibility for the more volatile southern half of the main border, France, whose special forces joined the ANZACs on the first day, as well as contingents from Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Fiji, Kenya, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, Portugal, Sweden, and the United Kingdom." ie No USA and " While the United States supported the transition authority, it did so mainly by underwriting contracts to replace destroyed infrastructure and thus avoided a direct military involvement, allowing the ANZAC led force to take the lead. The United States did, however, deploy a contingent of American police officers to serve with the International Police." IMO Australia needs to put our own interests first. And second! I am very concerned about the consequences to Australia of the action now proposed to support the USA (we do not want to be fighting in every country from India to the Mediterranean).
