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| Down Under |
| US military base in Australia a move to strengthen ties |
| 2004-06-08 |
| The United States will establish a major training base in the north of Australia, further tightening the military ties between the two countries and increasing Australian access to new American technology. The decision, confirmed by Australian Defence Minister Robert Hill, ends months of speculation and comes as the US shakes its forces free of Cold War thinking, a move that has already resulted in troops shifting from South Korea to Iraq. After meeting US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld at an Asia-Pacific defence ministers’ meeting in Singapore, Hill said an in-principle agreement on a base in Queensland or the Northern Territory could be signed next month. Although Hill said the base would be a joint facility and would not house any permanent deployment of US troops or equipment, it is clear that most of the cost will be borne by Washington. The US has been looking for new bases, training areas and port facilities in a global shakeup of its forces that Rumsfeld said was designed to shift the US away from static defence to a more agile, more capable and a more 21st-century posture. The US already has a significant involvement in Australia, through the electronic spy base at Pine Gap, near Alice Springs, regular port visits by its Navy ships, and large-scale training exercises. Australia, which sees a US military presence as a key to its own security and regional stability, has been increasing its defence ties under the conservative Government of Prime Minister John Howard, one of only a few world leaders to support Washington in the Iraq war. Canberra has signed on to the "Son of Star Wars" missile defence programme and is a member of President George W. Bush’s plan to block the trade in missiles and weapons of mass destruction through blockades and interceptions of ships and aircraft. Yesterday, three Australian warships sailed from Sydney to join the big US Rimpac Naval exercise off Hawaii, joining other vessels from the US, Britain, Japan, South Korea, Chile and Peru. American technology is also becoming more important to Australia. The Royal Australian Air Force will be re-equipped with a single US aircraft type, the Joint Strike Fighter, its Navy’s new air defence destroyers will be based around the American Aegis warfare system that will enable them to join the US missile defence network, and the Army is buying new M1 Abrams tanks. Defence analysts have seen little benefit in housing a permanent US force, or pre-positioning military hardware in Australia, because of the country’s distance from the most likely trouble spots. A big permanent US base in Australia would also conflict with America’s new emphasis on a leaner, agile and more flexible military. But the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s recently released annual strategic assessment said military training and exercises with the US were important for the ability of the forces to work together and as a public statement of the health of the alliance. The institute said a joint training base would be valuable and would be a positive sign that they wanted to engage Australia in a major expression of America’s continued commitment to the alliance and to a strong focus on the region. Hill said the proposed base would involve an investment of tens of millions of dollars by the US and would give Australian forces the opportunity of training with America’s most sophisticated systems. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #21 Yes, you DO! Sometimes I wish I could be more like you - and other times I'd like to strangle you! I'm sure, of course, that the feelings are mutual! Lol! As for the sad sack NMM, I think that RC's Loonie Setback Syndrome must be in play - in other words the LLL suffered badly from some event today, such as the UNSC resolution, causing NMM to be compelled to venture forth and spew! I've begun to think he just can't help himself. Pretty pathetic. |
| Posted by: .com 2004-06-09 1:21:10 AM |
| #20 I usually give people the benefit of the doubt, but this guy is just way out there. I'm still LMAO at comment #15. |
| Posted by: Rafael 2004-06-09 1:11:34 AM |
| #19 Lol! Just think, Rafael, how complete his recall is for spewing DUmmy Talking Points. I mean, sure, he could just be an idiot savante, but... |
| Posted by: .com 2004-06-09 1:02:39 AM |
| #18 I know you're intelligent. What?!? I didn't get that memo. |
| Posted by: Rafael 2004-06-09 12:52:26 AM |
| #17 What have the Well, they Oh, okay. But other than those... Lol - just had a Monty Python moment. Sorry. Blah blah blah, NMM. You miss all the points fit to print. C'mon, man. Y'know, in spite of your screechy stuff and the nasty personal attack mode you whip out from time to time, I know you're intelligent. It would be very nice to have you drop the mantle of Jester and actually talk to us. |
| Posted by: .com 2004-06-09 12:31:03 AM |
| #16 The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France--what the hell did the Brits ever give us except the burning of the White House? |
| Posted by: Not Mike Moore 2004-06-09 12:18:29 AM |
| #15 France is our Mother and sister--and she's very disappointed but loves us--just not this bunch of criminals who have hijacked our government! If it wasn't for France we'd be talking like the Brits and all would be jolly good |
| Posted by: Not Mike Moore 2004-06-09 12:15:10 AM |
| #14 I am glad to see our troops are being based with the right people in the war on terrorism. |
| Posted by: badanov 2004-06-08 10:37:55 PM |
| #13 dream on RM - I'm half Norwegian. You don't want that....clarify your request.....I'm betting you're thinking female |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-06-08 8:39:23 PM |
| #12 Mexico reminds me of an ex-girlfriend I'd rather forget.... |
| Posted by: Pappy 2004-06-08 8:31:54 PM |
| #11 I have no qualms about getting to know Norway better. Hot, hot, hot. |
| Posted by: remote man 2004-06-08 8:29:41 PM |
| #10 Michael - don't underprice yourself. $45, minimum. |
| Posted by: Fred 2004-06-08 8:18:34 PM |
| #9 And Poland is our long lost cousin at last found. |
| Posted by: Mr. Davis 2004-06-08 8:12:06 PM |
| #8 And Scotland bought us whiskey when we were underage.... Okay, I'll stop. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-06-08 5:56:22 PM |
| #7 And Norway is our 2nd cousin thrice removed we'd like to get to know better but are not sure it's allowed. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-06-08 5:55:33 PM |
| #6 England may be America's mother, but Australia is our sister. And Canada is the brother we all just a little worried about. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-06-08 5:53:07 PM |
| #5 TO: Greg Ansley, this article's author FROM:Chicago Mike RE: Your bias Greg, Being an English teacher and militant in the War on Islamofasicm, I have acquired the annoying habit of absolutely freaking out when I see articles such as your own filled with digs at those in Australia and the US intent on making sure you can still keep your freedom of expression in the decades to come. 1) Please tell me how many is a "few". As in,"...John Howard, one of only a few world leaders to support Washington in the Iraq war." Correct me if I am wrong in telling my students that a few means between 3-6. In fact, dozens of countries have supported the US in Iraq, each according to what it can contribute. 2)"Defence analysts have seen little benefit...flexible military" (2 paragraphs) Then the next two paragraphs describe how beneficial such a base would be to Australia, using the Australian Strategic Policy Institute as a source. Question: Do the people to whom you spoke at the ASPI consider themselves "defence analysts"? Do you consider them to be so? Which defence analysts did you talk to who see this new policy as of little benefit or as conflicting "...with America's new emphasis on a leaner, agile, more flexible military."? Names, names! 3) In your opinion, did Australia's and New Zealand's distance from "trouble spots" in the Pacific Theater in WWII serve as a hinderance to the eventual victory over Imperial Japan? Where would you have proposed putting forward sub bases to attack Japanes shipping in the Java and South China Sea, if not in Australia? Where would you have proposed the training of the USMC divisions that conquered Betio, Saipan, and Iwo Jima, if not in New Zealand? What is so risible in 2004 about Australian and US forces that was not the case when MacArthur addressed the Aussie Parliament after his evacuation from Corregidor in 1942? 4) Have you noticed an uptick in terrorism in the SE Asian landmass in the past "few" years? What about instability in China or the Korean Peninsula? (Pop quiz: Does "few" here mean 3-6 years or 30-60 years?) Willing to serve as your personal editor for only $25 (US) an hour. Sincerely, Michael (Go All Blacks and Cubs! See, we can get along after all.) PS Thanks Fred and .com for upgrades. |
| Posted by: Michael 2004-06-08 2:09:32 PM |
| #4 Jules - you left out Indonesia, the Straits of Malacca, and the Spratleys as nearby trouble spots |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-06-08 9:46:04 AM |
| #3 Defence analysts have seen little benefit in housing a permanent US force...in Australia, because of the country’s distance from the most likely trouble spots. Southern Thailand and Malaysia are certainly trouble spots in the area. Our presence will infuriate the Islamicists! I thank God there are countries like Australia who see the obvious benefit in deepening and strengthening the relationship between our two countries. YEA AUSSIES! |
| Posted by: jules 187 2004-06-08 9:39:21 AM |
| #2 Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi! By brother flew F-111's with the Aussie's for two years, kind of an exchange program we have with them. Definitely his favorite deployment. Right on Ptah. |
| Posted by: AllahHateMe 2004-06-08 8:17:26 AM |
| #1 The institute said a joint training base would be valuable and would be a positive sign that they wanted to engage Australia in a major expression of America’s continued commitment to the alliance and to a strong focus on the region. Everything about this is right on. England may be America's mother, but Australia is our sister. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2004-06-08 7:53:11 AM |