Thread: Aussie's bend over for the US

CANBERRA, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Western Australia will host a new multimillion-dollar U.S. defense base to spy on foreign satellites and keep watch on dangerous space junk, local media reported on Saturday.

Fairfax newspapers reported that U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is poised to announce the space base when he visits Australia next week with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

As a major expansion of the U.S. military footprint in Australia, the paper said the base is likely to be built at the top secret Harold E Holt Naval communications station at Exmouth of Western Australia.

The facility will allow Australia to become a key partner in the international battle for space supremacy.

It will have major technology and intelligence spin-offs, putting Australia at the forefront of an emerging battle between nations staking claim for territory in space occupied by 600 billion dollars (588 billion U.S. dollars) of civil and military hardware, Fairfax wrote.

According to Australian Defense Minister Stephen Smith, last year's Defense White Paper stated Australia's strategic capability advantage depended on its ability to access space and protect the nation from "foreign exploitation by space-based capabilities".

"The U.S. Space Surveillance Network is the principal system Australia and other nations rely on to detect, track and identify objects in space," Smith told Australia Associated Press on Friday.

"While no decisions have yet been made, Australia and the United States are discussing the potential for supporting the U.S. Space Surveillance Network and the development of Australia's space situational awareness."

US gets another overseas base, Australia gets - if the decisions go their way, a potential for discussions.

What a deal!!

Originally Posted by OhOh

What a deal!!

seems reasonable to me...

The facility will allow Australia to become a key partner in the international battle for space supremacy

...

All funded by the US of whAtever, seems to be a good deal to me.... and you think us aussies are dumb.

Originally Posted by OhOh

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is poised to announce the space base when he visits Australia next week with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

I wonder if the Aussie government know what will be "announced" or if they will be attending the "announcement" ceremony?

Originally Posted by OhOh

I wonder if the Aussie government know what will be "announced" or if they will be attending the "announcement" ceremony?

I kinda think they might have a bit of an idea, mate.

Lets wait and see what is announced next week.

Puts plenty of readies into the local economy as well.

Originally Posted by zygote1

Gee, do you think the Chinese government would be in favour of such a facility?

Nope, but they're still our best customer.

Originally Posted by zygote1

Australia has been hosting similar facilities for a long time.

Absolutely- Pine Gap, Exmouth, Nullungar are vital parts of the global defence network, at least for the US & Nato.

Originally Posted by zygote1

All of these facilities are part of a bigger network of shared information.

They are also, if you ask me, a vital part of Australia's insurance policy with respect to it's national security arrangements with the USA. We're a big winner in this regard, so hardly grounds for complaint.

There is a peculiar disconnect here, because the US & Nato represents a declining segment of Australia's overall export market. China is now our biggest market, India is growing strongly, Japan remains very significant but effectively stagnant. The rest of Asia is very important and growing too. Could be a source of future tension but got for now the 'Lucky country' remains so.

Originally Posted by sabang

They are also, if you ask me, a vital part of Australia's insurance policy with respect to it's national security arrangements with the USA. We're a big winner in this regard, so hardly grounds for complaint.

Do you have any evidence of the "insurance policy" or the big winnings?

Originally Posted by zygote1

The only thing your posting and the negative comments demonstrate is that you are a bunch of gullible stooges.
Xinhua News Agency -- a state news agency of the People's Republic of China, and the largest news and information gathering and release center in China

With regards to the source of the news, have you any other news sources which are currently available on this subject?

We haven't been invaded.

In all the comments previously made not one word was mentioned about who is bringing the Beer

Certainly not the first such place : Pine Gap

Originally Posted by Ningi

In all the comments previously made not one word was mentioned about who is bringing the Beer

The yanks are.

That's the point.

Anything like this that they pay for, Australia doesn't have to pay for.

The downside is we have to tag along to their farce wars in places like Iraq in return.

During the height of the cold war, America , Russia and china were spending up to 80% of their surplus on the arms race, but places who were helping the US house their troups weapons and supplies got of lightly. Japan spent something like 2% of it's surplus at the time I think.

There is a price to pay though for letting them in too much though. I wouldn't be surprised if the yanks had weapons in places like pine gap. I just hope they don't station troops in Australia. American culture is already invading Australia, and having jar head home boys everywhere would fuck things even worse..

and from New Zealand, bases at Waihopai and Tangimoana

From Wikipedia

The Waihopai Valley Facility
New Zealand's Government Communications Security Bureau operates what it describes as a satellite communications monitoring facility in the Waihopai Valley. First announced in 1987, the facility has been identified by MP Keith Locke as part of ECHELON, the worldwide network of signals interception facilities run by the UKUSA consortium of intelligence agencies (which shares global electronic and signals intelligence among the Intelligence agencies of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and NZ).
The Waihopai station is a sister operation to a similar facility run at Tangimoana which is a smaller version of Waihopai.

Originally Posted by Poo and Pee

The yanks are.

That's the point.

Anything like this that they pay for, Australia doesn't have to pay for.

The downside is we have to tag along to their farce wars in places like Iraq in return.

This from the question "Who brings the beer!"

Does this mean that you are all happy if the general population are kept befuddled by the cover story that it's OK?

Does not "tag along to their farce wars" imply that there is a cost, dead or wounded soldiers, AUS$ to fund the "tagging" along or your countries world reputation?

Don't you realise that the US skims a percentage of every currency transaction which uses the US$. Without this the US would not be able to "bring the beer" to any party.

Originally Posted by genghis61

which shares global electronic and signals intelligence among the Intelligence agencies of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and NZ

Are you happy to share the "Intelligence" and agree with the methods of procurement of these countries?

Bigot:

a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices

Idiot:

a person of the lowest order in a former classification of mental retardation, having a mental age of less than three years old and an intelligence quotient under 25.

One could be one but not both.

You know who you are.

[quote=OhOh;1592790]

Originally Posted by Poo and Pee

Are you happy to share the "Intelligence" and agree with the methods of procurement of these countries?

Apparently it seems to work quite nicely for Australia, Canada and New Zealand. They have worked closely on procurement contracts and its paid off in lower military purchase costs and in economic spinoffs. It's the secret alliance that flies under the radar screen. The USA might be Canada's most integrated military partner, but Australia is the most appreciated. Canada depends on Australia for its Asian pacific intelligence and Australia depends on Canada for its European intelligence. The USA and UK are not big on sharing outside their own relationship. By participating in activities such as Echelon, Canada and Australia aquire state of the art technology and have some influence over affairs that impact their nations. If they were not participating, the USA and UK would do as they choose to do. It can be argued that the presence of Australia, Canada and New Zealand keeps the big boys honest.

Originally Posted by OhOh

...Don't you realise that the US skims a percentage of every currency transaction which uses the US$. Without this the US would not be able to "bring the beer" to any party.

....

TH

At least there is some advantage in bending over for the Yanks - bloody waste of time doing a bender for the Poms or China.
Sure the downside is if "big brother" protects your butt as he has been doing for years then it's fair to have him expect a little assistance wnen needed? - too many Australians forget this!
America has had defence systems and space observation centres around Australia for years and glad to have them in return for the protection we receive.
Without Americas alliance with Australia Indonesia would have made a major move by now to claim much of Northern Australia which they claim is part of Indonesia and is currently shown in this way in Indonesian school Atlas'.
China owns much of Australia now ( we are so stupid in this regard) and would move quickly to gain more if it were not for the American presence.

Originally Posted by zygote1

Apparently it seems to work quite nicely for Australia, Canada and New Zealand. They have worked closely on procurement contracts and its paid off in lower military purchase costs and in economic spinoffs.

you may wish to review the NZ military part; no combat air force, navy more akin to an underfunded coastguard, and the army do try hard, though the pics I saw of Thailand dumping tanks in the Gulf as an artificial reef made me think NZ could have put them to better use. Economic spinoffs - I think not, no free trade agreement yet, they've been on the 'outer' ever since the non-nuclear policy 30 years ago.

Originally Posted by Thaiguy

At least there is some advantage in bending over for the Yanks - bloody waste of time doing a bender for the Poms or China.
Sure the downside is if "big brother" protects your butt as he has been doing for years then it's fair to have him expect a little assistance wnen needed? - too many Australians forget this!
America has had defence systems and space observation centres around Australia for years and glad to have them in return for the protection we receive.
Without Americas alliance with Australia Indonesia would have made a major move by now to claim much of Northern Australia which they claim is part of Indonesia and is currently shown in this way in Indonesian school Atlas'.
China owns much of Australia now ( we are so stupid in this regard) and would move quickly to gain more if it were not for the American presence.

I really don't see how Australia is "bending over" for the USA but if its true, simply ask us to leave. Thailand did in 1975 and the Philippines did in 1991 (?) And we left... but they seem to like it when the troops go back for a visit. Can you say cash?

Originally Posted by Lancelot

Originally Posted by Thaiguy

At least there is some advantage in bending over for the Yanks - bloody waste of time doing a bender for the Poms or China.
Sure the downside is if "big brother" protects your butt as he has been doing for years then it's fair to have him expect a little assistance wnen needed? - too many Australians forget this!
America has had defence systems and space observation centres around Australia for years and glad to have them in return for the protection we receive.
Without Americas alliance with Australia Indonesia would have made a major move by now to claim much of Northern Australia which they claim is part of Indonesia and is currently shown in this way in Indonesian school Atlas'.
China owns much of Australia now ( we are so stupid in this regard) and would move quickly to gain more if it were not for the American presence.

I really don't see how Australia is "bending over" for the USA but if its true, simply ask us to leave. Thailand did in 1975 and the Philippines did in 1991 (?) And we left... but they seem to like it when the troops go back for a visit. Can you say cash?

I don't see it that way either I was alluding to the terminology of the original post.

Originally Posted by OhOh

Bigot:

a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices

Idiot:

a person of the lowest order in a former classification of mental retardation, having a mental age of less than three years old and an intelligence quotient under 25.

One could be one but not both.

You know who you are.

Sure you can, as you are proof of the phenomenon...

Originally Posted by Muadib

Originally Posted by OhOh

Bigot:

a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices

Idiot:

a person of the lowest order in a former classification of mental retardation, having a mental age of less than three years old and an intelligence quotient under 25.

One could be one but not both.

You know who you are.

Sure you can, as you are proof of the phenomenon...

How is a person, an idiot, who can not hold any form of opinion due to their reduced mental abilities able to be bigoted about anything - due their lack of reasoning power?