Trashing the Treaty of Lombok

Understanding is not approval.

ABC radio reported the president said both Ms Gillard and Mr Obama had guaranteed they had "no intention of disturbing Australia's neighbours"

'No intention' is the defence used by killers when they seek to have murder charges reduced to manslaughter. Intention or otherwise, the neighbours are disturbed.

Imagine a similar number of Chinese troops being stationed in Bali. Would we accept the "normal bilateral agreement" line? If my neighbours in suburban Malang (East Java) invite Ambonese fighters, the preman (thugs) usually used for 'protection' to settle in and flex their muscles I'd be rapidly reappraising my community relationships.

Does Indonesia have territorial ambitions on Australia? It's about as impossible to erase this deeply-embedded but absurd fear in the Australian psyche, as it is to convince people that the US will dash into the fray should we be attacked.

The Indonesian armed forces would be formidable defenders of their land, but don't have the equipment, funds, reasons or enthusiasm to invade anyone, let alone a continent. The lunar terrorists occasionally embrace Australia in their Caliphate plans but these crackpots are on the fringe of the fringe.

The last test of US resolve came during the 1999 East Timor Referendum crisis when appeals were made for American involvement. The then president Bill Clinton moved a few warships into the region but kept them over the horizon. The tension with Indonesia was an Australian problem.

The realpolitik is that future US policy will be based on that nation's national interests at the time and having a US Marine base in the NT will make not a whit of difference. If Washington decrees these troops will be deployed elsewhere or sent back to their northern hemisphere home, Canberra can only bleat.

In the meantime we have to remain in this region for the rest of our existence. Better we put our energies into really trying to get to know our neighbours than being matey with the Marines.

They're just passing through. The people next door are here to stay.