Australian & US Military Cooperation

Australia and the United States have found themselves fighting common enemies on the battlefields of the world for over half a century. Australian ground forces have repeatedly stood shoulder-to-shoulder with American troops in conflicts from Korea and Vietnam to Afghanistan - and now in the 2003 Iraq war. This study looks closely at the key factors which, for over fifty years, have shaped, interpreted and applied the aims and aspirations of this mutual defence agreement to the real world of shifting threats, changing strategic balances and the democratic uncertainties of domestic politics. A departure from the current literature, the ANZUS alliance, now updated to take account of the new post 11 September 2001 realities, is presented as an accessible and concise survey of this often neglected but increasingly important trans-Pacific link between the American giant and its durable Australian ally. Suitable as supplementary reading at the 3rd year undergraduate and postgraduate levels of courses studying international relations generally, but also useful for those engaged with elements of global and regional security, and strategic defence analysis.'Should Australian troops have been sent to Iraq? For anyone who wants to better understand the nature of the US/Australian military alliance, this book is essential reading...an intelligent and astute examination...invaluable reading for anyone who cares about the use of force in international relations.' Dr Gail Lugten, University of Tasmania, Australia 'Chris Hubbard traces the history of a fifty-year military and political partnership, with new insights into the Australian side of the alliance. His account is essential reading for anyone interested in Australian-American relations.' Dr Alan Tapper, Edith Cowan University, Australia '...it will be of value to anyone seeking a balanced examination of Australia's most important international relationship. Sympathetic to the alliance, yet critical where warranted, it contains far more than the usual list of costs and benefits.' Defender - The National Journal of the Australia Defence Association