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With helpen frens like these... global neoliberalism is creating not only failed states but destroyed societies and no amount of military intervention will fix that.

Article Excerpt
There have been two types of commentary upon 'Helpen Fren', the decision to send troops and police into the Solomon Islands in an attempt to restore order. The first commentary has reflected unease about the decision, especially in its dismissal of national sovereignty, but also because the new policy has a resonance with past colonial policy. However, as far as the broad meaning of the intervention is concerned, this unease has largely translated into silence. It is as though the deep dilemmas of the Solomon Islands' situation, especially its social disintegration, silence any sense of foreboding about where the policy may lead.

The second type of commentary has been eulogistic. The central motif of this approach has been John Howard the revolutionary leader, swimming against the tide of anarchy and casting aside impediments from the past--sovereignty here and the United Nations there. In this view, Howard is laying the basis for a future that includes a more aggressive and militaristic policy for Australia towards the Melanesian cultures of the Pacific. As the actual moment of intervention arrived, the tone became celebratory. Australia has come of age! It is taking hold of the world positively and forthrightly. There will be no nonsense from now on.

There are several backdrops behind the new policy. The first of these is significant in the short term and clearly...

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