I’ve been meaning to post on this for ages. It’s pretty clear that one reason the government is locked into supporting whatever the US does on Iraq is that Howard is desperate to secure a Free Trade Agreement with the US. It’s not of course, the only reason. Following the US is the automatic reaction of any Australian government, especially a Liberal one, and Howard initially thought that war would be popular. But the FTA is one reason that Howard (unlike, for example, Blair ) has been an unquestioning supporter of the US Administration. Now the cat is out of the bag. Trade Minister Mark Vaile says

like-mindedness with the United States on international issues including a war against Iraq will put Australia at an advantage in the talks.

The US negotiators are busy denying all this – they’d rather have us seen as a loyal ally rather than another member of the “coalition of the billing”.