US TROOPS IN AUSTRALIA
Posted by digitalseance on November 22, 2011
or
WHAT JULIA GILLARD HAD TO ‘PAY’ FOR BEING THE PM OF AUSTRALIA
but first, read some background: THE CIA IN AUSTRALIA
Gillard, Abbott should heed Australia’s right to an independent foreign policy in its own region
Media Release | Australian Greens Party Spokesperson Bob Brown
Thursday 17th November 2011, 3:20pm
Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said the Gillard government should ensure the Parliament debates the US military build-up planned for the NT and the alternative of Australia charting an independent course in the Asia Pacific this century.
"President Obama, who was very warmly welcomed to our nation’s capital, today delivered an important speech about America’s increased involvement in the Pacific and the economic and military imperatives that lie behind the US plans for Australia," Senator Brown said in Canberra.
"In their acquiescence to these plans, the Australian government and opposition are giving up an historic opportunity to take an independent profile in international affairs. This should not be done lightly. Australia has its own peaceful economic, environmental and cultural interests across the region to pursue, from India to Indonesia to Japan and China."
"The Greens want the Government to put the details of the US military build-up before the public and parliament. The presence of nuclear-armed and powered warships in Darwin harbour, increased use of bombing ranges by the US Air Force and a future presence that extends beyond 2500 US Marines are matters warranting full and mature consideration by Australia’s parliament."
"The expansion of military ties with the US, supported by the Gillard government and the opposition, even though details are not available, is not the only or best way to a safer future. Taking sides between the military might of the US and the growing power, including a nuclear arsenal, of China is not the only option."
One reason PM RUDD had to go and why the US helped Gillard et al bring him down.
Support for selling uranium to India was announced by the Howard government before 2007. Labor, under Kevin Rudd, reversed that policy, so Julia Gillard, as a senior Cabinet Minister, has been part of the problem. But at least her backflip and inferred recognition of Labor’s past mistake is welcome.
Apparently, this initiative was encouraged by the US. The US could see that Australia needs to improve its standing with India and the removal of the uranium issue paves the way for better Australia-India relations. In turn, Australia can play a more useful role in regional security matters. India’s population is expected to exceed Chinese population by mid-century and as India is also a democracy, the relationship with India is going to become ever-more important. Australia needs to work harder on the relationship and a prod from the US has done PM Gillard no harm whatsoever. Labor is slowly being dragged to accept that the use of uranium for power generation is not the taboo subject that it has been for too long. Maybe one day, the sale to India will be seen as opening the option for Australia to buy American nuclear powered submarines. Peter Reith (former Howard Government Thug)
But what’s it really all about?
Palmer blasts Obama’s marines plan for NT
Peter Ker
November 22, 2011 – 1:06PM
Mining magnate Clive Palmer has accused US President Barack Obama of trying to drive a wedge between the Australian business community and China by increasing the American military presence in Australia’s north.
In a gesture that Mr Palmer said was tantamount to giving China a "poke in the eye", Prime Minister Julia Gillard last week joined President Obama in Darwin, where the Australian and US armed forces announced a deal to station 250 American troops in the Northern Territory.
The troops will engage in six-month training missions as early as next year, and the number will rise to 2500 by 2017.
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Mr Palmer, whose business empire has extensive links to China and state-owned enterprises there, said President Obama was working in the interest of American businesses when he struck the troops deal.
"America is a competitor with Australia for selling a lot of their services to China," he said.
"It is in the US interests to restrain Australia and not compete so hard and Obama is pursuing a US interest."
Mr Palmer said housing the troops in Darwin held little strategic benefit for Australia’s defence forces, but was a major snub which could hamper the business community.
"We were showing a lot of hostility to someone who hasn’t showed any hostility to us, to someone who is one of our biggest trading partners and who is in our region," he said.
"While traditional ties and values are important we’ve got to put the interests of trade to the foremost.
"Do you think 250 marines in Darwin makes any difference to the military logistics of the world … the symbolism of this is to just be rude to the Chinese ambassador, just to poke in the eye the people who are out here."
Mr Palmer’s comments follow a pointed response from Beijing to the Darwin military deal, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin saying last week: "It may not be quite appropriate to intensify and expand military alliances and may not be in the interest of countries within this region."
