US bombing practice in Australia will create more friction for us in region – Brown

Welcoming US B52 and stealth bombers to use Australia for practice will raise friction and tension within our Asian neighbourhood, Greens Senator Bob Brown said today.

“This reinforces the perception developed by Prime Minister Howard that we are the Bush administration’s deputy sheriff in the Asia-Pacific region.

“It is counter-productive to Australia’s most pressing security interest - that we get along well with our neighbours in Asia. The Howard Government is letting Australia be portrayed as the 51st state of the Union.

“The Greens see Australia as proudly independent, not as a venue for increasing US military practice and forward positioning as hostility to US bases grows elsewhere in the Asia –Pacific region. There is plenty of open space in Texas if more bombing ranges are needed by President Bush,” Senator Brown said.