Transcript
THE HONORABLE JOEL FITZGIBBON M.P.: Post-World War II our relationship continued to grow and deepen. Australian and U.S. forces have operated together in conflicts including Korea, Vietnam, Kuwait, Iraq, and of course Afghanistan. We've also worked together in peacekeeping operations like Somalia and East Timor. I pay tribute today to the men and women who have been casualties of any of those operations. They truly are great Americans and great Australians and we owe them a lot. They are the keepers of the peace, a peace I believe that is worth fighting for.
In this Asian century as we migrate back to what many describe as a multipolar world, our alliance will never be more important and my visit to PACOM in Hawaii provided an unnecessary but still important reminder of the importance of continuing a strong U.S. presence in the Asian Pacific region. Let there be no mistake, the Australian government will continue to view the United States as a force of good in the world. We also believe that the ongoing and responsible exercise of its economic, diplomatic, and military power in the Asia Pacific region will be crucial to the maintenance in peace and security in both that part of the world and of course globally.
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