We need an independent foreign policy

Green Left newsletter, July 8

Sam Wainwright: Why we need an independent foreign policy

Despite Trump’s most extreme ramblings and declarations that he doesn’t care about international law, Labor is still going along with it, Sam Wainwright told the Green Left Show.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s support for the United States joining Israel’s strikes on Iran shows how wedded Labor is to the US’ military goals, Sam Wainwright, Socialist Alliance national co-convener, told the Green Left Show on June 28.

Wainwright said Labor’s repetition of the “utterly ludicrous and disingenuous mantra that Israel has the right to defend itself”, despite Israel being the aggressor, highlights Labor’s support for Israel as a projection of Western power in the Middle East.

“Israel’s attacks on Iran can’t be seen in isolation,” he said. “It has been preceded by its recent invasions of Syria and southern Lebanon, and its many acts of aggression against its neighbours since its founding in 1948.”

Labor’s support for Israel as “an unsinkable aircraft carrier” in the Middle East is why it cannot seriously confront Israel’s genocide in Gaza, he said.

“Israel has an endless free pass to break international law, break nuclear non-proliferation treaties, every rule in the book…”

Labor’s calls for a ceasefire are “completely disingenuous” when it refuses to take any substantive action against Israel … [It] is a loyal servant of big business, which means supporting US foreign policy, but it must simultaneously appeal to the sections of the population that are rightly concerned about this escalation.

“[Foreign minister] Penny Wong claims she wants a ceasefire, but continues bilateral military ties with Israel, directly aiding and abetting genocide in Gaza.”

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When asked what Labor should be doing, Wainwright said a starting point would be “unconditional condemnation” of Israel’s human rights abuses and breaches of international law.

“There is every reason to fear that intelligence from Pine Gap has been fed to Israel to aid its latest attack on Iran, and the US would certainly be using that intelligence,” he said.

“AUKUS is about more than just the nuclear-powered submarines. AUKUS Pillar II is about US access to bases, information and technology sharing … and a greater integration of Australia into US military policy and operation.”

He said the nuclear-powered submarines may never arrive, but AUKUS has “opened the door” to a greater rotation to Australia of US and British nuclear-powered and, potentially, nuclear-armed submarines, as well as B-52 bombers at Tindal in the Northern Territory.

“We are more closely integrated into US foreign and military policy at a time when the US is gearing up for a potential war with China, and Israel, its closest ally in the Middle East, is going on a violent, murderous rampage.”

Wainwright said the fear mongering about China is “ludicrous”. “There is no invasion threat to Australia.” The US-led war drive is to stop its economic and technological growth, “by force if necessary”.

“The preparedness to risk nuclear war with China to stop its economic growth began under [US President] Barack Obama, it is bipartisan policy in the US … But despite Trump’s most extreme ramblings and declarations that he doesn’t care about international law, Labor is still going along with it.”

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Wainwright said it is urgent Australia breaks from AUKUS. “There is zero chance of building a better world, of harnessing the human and material resources we need to confront climate change and achieve peace and justice in the Asia Pacific, if we are locked into gearing up for a new cold war with China.”

He said progressives need to project a vision for peaceful cooperation in the Asia Pacific and South East Asia.

“For that to happen, we need an independent foreign policy based on peace and justice and to do that we need to break the military alliance with the US.

“To achieve this, we need a peace movement that supports the struggle of Palestinians, but is broader than that, and argues for Australia to play a constructive role in world politics.”

[Sam Wainwright is a national co-covenor of Socialist Alliance and is active in Stop AUKUS WA.]

Gig - Muloobinba/Newcastle

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