THE Obama administration is appalled at the Gillard government’s cuts to the defence budget.
The genial platitudes of the AUSMIN meeting should not disguise reality. Americans have a tendency to lavish praise on allies…
But privately they are extremely disappointed and concerned at the Australian action, the infinitely fatuous denials of Defence Minister Stephen Smith notwithstanding… The Americans would like to do more with Australia, but the government is too timid. The Obama administration was deeply shocked that after the marine announcement, which involves an enhanced US commitment to Australian security, the government then slashed the Australian defence budget by a staggering 10 per cent in one year.
Anyone familiar with the US-Australia relationship knows the Americans are appalled by this.
