I think the 'war on terror' policy is dead in the water. In the early days it was about attacking Afghanistan, Iraq and possibly Iran. This changed to violent overthrowing of governments with a new regime set up. Both these approaches have caused more terrorism and instability. The latest approach is to encourage rebellion through social media then to arm the terrorists/insurgents/freedom fighters/dissidents to overthrow their own government. At the the same time NATO bomb the country making sure to destroy communication and media sources to give NATO and the rebels a free hand without serious media scrutiny. I think this policy will also fail as any democracy in the middle-east would be less pro-western than their current government.

As for the asylum seeker issue- the war on terror has caused a lot of people to flee their homeland. The war on terror (through the media response) has also hardened attitudes against these people. The media has also been rendered completely ineffective as an information provider and more a reporter of the 'official line' given to embedded reporters by the offical spokesmen. Around the world the same reports are given with amazing similarity. When you realise there is only one source for the information and everyone just accepts it as truth because it is cheaper than sending an investigative journalist.

I think Australia just sends troops and publicly supports US international policy. I don't think Australia drives or informs that policy at all. Australian media is not independent, even the independent media here relies on evryone else for their stories.