The US has been at war for all but 17 years of the 239 the nation has been in existence.
Successive Australian governments have hastened to send troops into every war the US has provoked in the past 70 years. Many people consider Australia's strategies, priorities, and interests have been subsumed by those of the US.
military exercises
In November 2011, US president Barack Obama announced that the military focus of the US was 鈥減ivoting鈥 to the Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, as part of this 鈥減ivot鈥, he announced that US marines were to be stationed in Darwin.
Following those announcements, a ripple of discontent spread around the nation. Numerous peace groups, academics, faith-based groups and unions began talking to one another about this 鈥減ivot鈥 and the threat it represents.