See some strategy here? Closer ties with India. Better weapons for Australia, a watchful peace with Russia, bases in Afganistan, Iraq and the 'stans. One is curious if someones in our Govt is not smarter then we think. Sure looks like some cagey longer term positioning...
Iran and China are the mostobvious reasons for this sort of strategic positioning. North Korea too and Pakistan too if Musharraf gets overthrown by islamists.