Australian security policy, post-11 September

Major dislocations in international affairs create opportunities as well as problems. The events of 11 September give us the opportunity to redefine Australia's relationship with the US-and how best Australia can pursue its national and security interests within the region. The US is currently a country with a very specific and yet sweeping mission-to eliminate terrorism wherever it finds it. The danger in this is that it will be a highly subjective process, not much concerned with other allies' interests or in trying to define which Islamic insurgent groups are terrorist and which are not. And Australia needs to be careful how it manages its commitment to that process. Where appropriate, Canberra should encourage international mediation between separatist groups and beleaguered governments, rather than automatically supporting US-backed military action. On the home front, internal security measures needed or adopted elsewhere may not necessarily be appropriate for Australia. Australia has largely avoided schisms in its society through engaging in open debate and encouraging tolerance - which has also helped to make Australian troops such respected international peace-keepers - and there is no need to discard approaches that have worked well for Australia in the past. What is needed is a re-examination of what has worked well before - and some sophisticated risk management-based adjustment to update Australia's defences against politically motivated violence in the post-11 September security environment.