Australia cannot "cherry-pick" in its alliance with the US and must be prepared to act outside the authority of the United Nations, the Prime Minister, John Howard, said last night.
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/06/18/1087245110184.html

But, Mr Howard said, "While Australia works with and through the United Nations where this is effective, we will not confine our interaction with particular institutional forms or processes as ends in themselves. The only real test is whether Australian interests and values are well and truly served."

"It sends the worst possible signal, to the worst possible people, at the worst possible time. It would undermine our relations with friends and allies.

"And it seeks to appeal to a strain of isolationist sentiment that diminishes us as a nation"

Mr Howard challenged Labor to explain why it said it deplored terrorism but "reserves its most pointed attacks for our great democratic ally", the US.

Labor had a "posture that moralises in the name of liberal internationalism but is profoundly uncomfortable with the legitimate use of military power and which sneers at commitments beyond our shores as contrary to Australia's national security interests".