Saying it is inevitable is an easy thing, but inevitable is not imminent. Inevitable could mean five years' time, in 10 years' time. We simply don't know.

It didn't create the threat but it certainly increased it.

We have to be realistic about this ... we are all foreign countries as far as the US is concerned and there is no case of any sort of increased dependency on Australia, especially after 9/11, and the US does not want to depend on any one country for information.

Australia doesn't want to be seen to be introducing a new capability into the region and that's unfortunately how the perception could come about.

a change of direction.

Mark this well, the laws of economics are the last thing the roads booster is thinking about