THE DEPUTY SHERRIF SYNDROME
Unfortunately for Australia, as the hegemony of our great and powerful friend and ally abates some unpalatable choices will need to be faced.
Do we continue to look upon our great and powerful friend with closed eyes as our sovereignty is compromised or do we adopt the Keatingesque approach and put our national interest above everything else?
It is in our national interest to be seen as a sovereign nation engaging with Asia and developing mutually beneficial relations with particular emphasis on trade. At the same time ensuring that friendly relations are maintained between the two principal powers weighing for influence in the Pacific namely China and the U.S. Hence the need to politely advise the U.S. to keep their distance in our national affairs.
Israel is a different kettle of fish. Western guilt over the lack of compassion and tangible assistance for the atrocious treatment of Jews before and during WW2 has found expression in a bout of overcompensation and atonement. The complicated dynamics of the Middle East where insoluble problems are exacerbated by a growing coterie of hard line parties unwilling to compromise.
Our role should not be one of an accommodating partisan supporter.