Keeping the US and GB on side?

OK all you anti commonwealth and anti Australia sticking with the US in Iraq, here is one for you to really get your teeth into.





If the price of oil is getting so expensive, and we all know that it will run out or get unaffordable soon, what do you think the next type of primary fuel will be to run cars and homes.





Will it be natural gas?





If Australia is one of the largest holders of gas reserves in the world, and we are such a tiny country in size with open borders, hasn't history shown that fuel and war ae linked.





Now I'm not saying it will happen, but in 30 years time, when my kids are older, the oil has near run out and large countries are looking for fuel, I like to think that we could rely on people like US and GB to be our allies.





I don't like the thought of abandoning them now.

Keeping the US and GB on side?
The only reason Australia has troops in Iraq is to support our closest ally. A lot of labor supporters bang on about John Howard invading Iraq and Afghanistan but forget that Hawke sent troops to Desert Storm in the early 90's.


The war in Iraq has become very unpopular in the United States, so a Rudd government pulling troops out shouldn't cause a huge problem.


Rudd is committed to Afghanistan because of a bi-partisan arrangement made when the Liberals were in caretaker mode leading up to an election. Most of our troops are in the south of Iraq and it probably won't make a huge difference if they stay or go.


As for natural gas supplies, I doubt that this will become a huge problem. We already have massive supplies of other resources such as iron ore and coal, which has just lead to lots of ships turning up to take it away rather than any military action.





Surfa101 - The first gulf war was a highly political event and you must admit a war for oil. Yes Kuwait was sovereign nation but its past is clouded by clan wars and colonialism. Iraq believed it had a claim to this region which we could debate for hours. In the end the US protected a major oil trading partner and the Australian labor government went along for the ride. I'm not a huge fan of the current war in Iraq but my position is that we are supporting a major ally. One that has stood by Australia in the past and may be needed again in the future.
Reply:billy....desert storm was in response to Iraq invading Kuwait! It was not based on lies and deciet about WMD's. There is a massive difference. But like all good liberal you take the cut and paste approach to make it suit your argument!





As for gas deposits and becoming a target, a lot won't matter as technology will have moved passed gas and power will be maximised by from the sun and other sources.





None of this will matter if the latest report's comming out from the UN are anything to go by. Howard had years to start the ball rolling on climate change, but like everything else did nothing. He only believes it now because it could be a major part of the election. It the electorate didn't view it as important you can guarantee he wouldn't believe it. Remeber Liberal work to get re-elected, Labor works for long-term success and sometimes to their own detriment!