Afghanistan to test Australia-US ties

The Rudd government would welcome a greater emphasis on Afghanistan by the next US
president but experts say it could be the first real test for Australia and a new
administration in Washington.
Americans go to the polls on Tuesday to choose between Democrat Barack Obama or
Republican John McCain as the next US president.
Australia, a steadfast ally of the US, enjoys a close relationship with the current
Bush administration and Foreign Minister Stephen Smith expects that to continue
whomever is the next American leader.
"We've been working very well with the United States and we expect that to
continue," Mr Smith told the Nine Network.
"The first priority will be to ensure that the alliance ... continues in good shape
and good order. We expect that to occur.
"The second most important thing is to encourage the United States to be engaged in
our region in the Asia Pacific."
Mr Smith said the government intended to "hit the ground running" to cement its
relationship with the new president, flagging a visit by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd
to meet the new leader in the first quarter of next year.
There was also the possibility Mr Rudd may meet the new leader when he is in
Washington later this month for the G20 leaders' meeting to discuss the global
financial crisis on November 15.
"Certainly we want to hit the ground running so far as our formal relationship or
contact with the new administration is concerned," Mr Smith said.
"The prime minister will be there in the middle of November, (which) does present
that opportunity and I'm sure he'll try and take advantage of it."
And he welcomed an expected stronger focus by both Obama and McCain to stamp out the
Taliban-led insurgency in Afghanistan.
"When you look at what both candidates have said it's clear there'll be a greater
emphasis as far as the US is concerned on Afghanistan and Pakistan and that is
something we'll obviously welcome," Mr Smith said.
But foreign policy experts believe that Afghanistan - where the US will expect more
support from its coalition allies - will be the first major test of the
relationship.
Geoffrey Garrett, chief executive of the United States Studies Centre at Sydney
University, believes Australia will continue to face tough questions on how it
supports the US even with the Bush administration out of the picture.
"I would imagine the next US president is going to be asking Rudd to deliver on his
commitment of more Australian support and I imagine that probably means more
Australian troops in Afghanistan," he told AAP.
"Don't expect the foreign policy agonising over how and whether to support the US
war on terrorism agenda to go away just because there is a new president in 2009."
Michael Fullilove, program director of global issues at the Lowy institute, says
both McCain and Obama saw Afghanistan as under-resourced and needing an injection of
troops.
"I think they'll be looking at allies to shoulder a greater burden and I think
allies around the world are steeling themselves for request in that regard," he told
AAP.
Last month, Mr Rudd categorically stated Australia wasn't planning to boost its
troop numbers in Afghanistan any time soon.
"We have no plans whatsoever to provide any additional troops to Afghanistan," he
said at the time.