Permanent US Base in Oz?
Evertonian
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Permanent US Base in Oz?
Smith flags US Military presence in Territory
The Federal Government has confirmed it is in talks with the US about stepping up an American military presence in the Northern Territory.
Defence Minister Stephen Smith is in Darwin today to talk with the Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson about increasing the number of joint training exercises involving Australian and US defence personnel.
Mr Smith says the United States is also looking at positioning equipment in the Territory so troops can play a greater role in disaster relief in the Asia Pacific.
"The closer you can pre-position stores and equipment for disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, the more quickly you can get in to the field," he said.
Mr Smith says there have also been discussions about buying land near Robertson Barracks in Darwin for this purpose.
He says there are plans for more American boats, planes and troops to visit or be based in the Territory.
"We have been working closely to look at the possibility of more training, more exercises," he said.
So, if Indonesia gets ambitious, they'll have something else to think about perhaps?
The Federal Government has confirmed it is in talks with the US about stepping up an American military presence in the Northern Territory.
Defence Minister Stephen Smith is in Darwin today to talk with the Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson about increasing the number of joint training exercises involving Australian and US defence personnel.
Mr Smith says the United States is also looking at positioning equipment in the Territory so troops can play a greater role in disaster relief in the Asia Pacific.
"The closer you can pre-position stores and equipment for disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, the more quickly you can get in to the field," he said.
Mr Smith says there have also been discussions about buying land near Robertson Barracks in Darwin for this purpose.
He says there are plans for more American boats, planes and troops to visit or be based in the Territory.
"We have been working closely to look at the possibility of more training, more exercises," he said.
So, if Indonesia gets ambitious, they'll have something else to think about perhaps?
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Permanent US Base in Oz?
Are you talking about a full on base or just pre positioning of stores / equipment ?
If a full on base, I doubt it, why would they need go to all the expense when they have us here and can fly in whenever they need.
IF pre positioning of stores / equipmen, this was announced as possibly going to or actually going to happen ages ago.
The Americans do like visiting us, that's for sure.
Are you talking about a full on base or just pre positioning of stores / equipment ?
If a full on base, I doubt it, why would they need go to all the expense when they have us here and can fly in whenever they need.
IF pre positioning of stores / equipmen, this was announced as possibly going to or actually going to happen ages ago.
The Americans do like visiting us, that's for sure.
Evertonian
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Depends on your definition of Base I suppose.
I guess it's clearly flagged for positioning, but who knows what it could end up as. As regards "ages ago", I agree, but I don't recall a Minister referring to such a facility before. I could be wrong... (I was wrong once before)
I guess it's clearly flagged for positioning, but who knows what it could end up as. As regards "ages ago", I agree, but I don't recall a Minister referring to such a facility before. I could be wrong... (I was wrong once before)
He says there are plans for more American boats, planes and troops to visit or be based in the Territory.
Used to be said that Cyclone Tracy never happened. The damage was caused by the unfortunate co-incidence of payday at every pastoral lease in the top end.
I'm now wondering how we locals will respond to the co-incidence of an oil/gas boom and the arrival in strength of US Forces .
Angeles City anyone?
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March 2011
JULIA Gillard said yesterday she was "enthusiastic" about a greater US military presence on Australian ... PM enthusiastic about more military bases in Australia ...
And a few other "announcements" like basing a US Warship in Darwin as it's home port.
I wonder whether Tindall would be expanded or maybe one of the other vacant or semi vacant airstrips around the top end.
I always thought that basing US Troops on a PERMANENT basis (outside of what we already have based here on a permanent basis) was not on the Agenda. It will be interesting to see what happens re this.
Re "Bob Brown", now the US has got rid of the DADT, he'd be happy as he could openly serve with or "service" his "mate".
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JULIA Gillard said yesterday she was "enthusiastic" about a greater US military presence on Australian ... PM enthusiastic about more military bases in Australia ...
And a few other "announcements" like basing a US Warship in Darwin as it's home port.
I wonder whether Tindall would be expanded or maybe one of the other vacant or semi vacant airstrips around the top end.
I always thought that basing US Troops on a PERMANENT basis (outside of what we already have based here on a permanent basis) was not on the Agenda. It will be interesting to see what happens re this.
Re "Bob Brown", now the US has got rid of the DADT, he'd be happy as he could openly serve with or "service" his "mate".
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I'm not keen on having American troops based permanently on our shores.
However, it makes for cheap defence and we need to draw the Americans further south anyways since our Admiralty has left us short on promised naval capabilities.
Buying Growlers is an interesting potential development-
RAAF fighter-bombers to become 'Growlers' | The Australian
However, it makes for cheap defence and we need to draw the Americans further south anyways since our Admiralty has left us short on promised naval capabilities.
Buying Growlers is an interesting potential development-
RAAF fighter-bombers to become 'Growlers' | The Australian
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Wouldn't you guys have to ask Queenie first?
In fact I wouldn't be surprised if when she's over here in Perth next week she does a quick trip to Rockingham (Place where the poms seem to hang out) to case out a plot to stick one of here castles just in case
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" I'm not keen on having American troops based permanently on our shores."
I don't think the Aust Gov't would want a permanent US Force based here either
as I don't think that would be politically acceptable to the Aust voters but that is MHO only.
Does anyone know how many US personnel (excluding the Embassy) we actually have here ?
"However, it makes for cheap defence and we need to draw the Americans further south anyways since our Admiralty has left us short on promised naval capabilities."
Yes, we are short of Naval capabilities but are we really needing cheap defence ?
Are we under any significant threat that it is required and that can't be sent here in short order if needed ? After all, the US seemed to get various ships to various places close to us pretty quickly when the disasters struck over the last few years.
Bob Brown - Prescilla, Queen of the Parliament
Needs to be sent back to Tasmania.
I don't think the Aust Gov't would want a permanent US Force based here either
as I don't think that would be politically acceptable to the Aust voters but that is MHO only.
Does anyone know how many US personnel (excluding the Embassy) we actually have here ?
"However, it makes for cheap defence and we need to draw the Americans further south anyways since our Admiralty has left us short on promised naval capabilities."
Yes, we are short of Naval capabilities but are we really needing cheap defence ?
Are we under any significant threat that it is required and that can't be sent here in short order if needed ? After all, the US seemed to get various ships to various places close to us pretty quickly when the disasters struck over the last few years.
Bob Brown - Prescilla, Queen of the Parliament
Needs to be sent back to Tasmania.
Mr Smith says the United States is also looking at positioning equipment in the Territory so troops can play a greater role in disaster relief in the Asia Pacific.
"The closer you can pre-position stores and equipment for disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, the more quickly you can get in to the field,"
"The closer you can pre-position stores and equipment for disaster relief and humanitarian assistance, the more quickly you can get in to the field,"
Yep there it is. Its all about disaster relief and helping all of those poor people around SE asia in the event of a "disaster" Nothing to do with the US' own interests or agendas at all
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It might stop the Australian Gov't and NGO's having to run to Ray's outdoors (a large camping chain) everytime they want bulk tents and other equipment - that might previously have been in store at Bandiana Ordnance Depot
Recently the US just parked a ship off shore, enough to cater for thousands, generate fresh water and a fully equipped hostpital. Seems like a good system to me.
Recently the US just parked a ship off shore, enough to cater for thousands, generate fresh water and a fully equipped hostpital. Seems like a good system to me.
Doesn't the US Navy have a 1megawatt permanent broadcast facility at Naval Communication Station Harold E. Holt near Exmouth? and wasn't that implicated in Quantas 72 and possibly 71ADIRU problems?
So, if the USA already has a permanent base, the precedent has been set, so why not another?
So, if the USA already has a permanent base, the precedent has been set, so why not another?
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"Doesn't the US Navy have a 1megawatt permanent broadcast facility at Naval Communication Station Harold E. Holt near Exmouth? and wasn't that implicated in Quantas 72 and possibly 71ADIRU problems?
So, if the USA already has a permanent base, the precedent has been set, so why not another?"
That one, then you have Pine Gap, not sure what presence they have at Woomera.
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So, if the USA already has a permanent base, the precedent has been set, so why not another?"
That one, then you have Pine Gap, not sure what presence they have at Woomera.
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Mr Smith says the United States is also looking at positioning equipment in the Territory so troops can play a greater role in disaster relief in the Asia Pacific.
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At least we have plenty of space up north, it's just such a tough place to live.
Maybe New Zealand would welcome them with open arms - they seem to be getting on better nowadays
Maybe New Zealand would welcome them with open arms - they seem to be getting on better nowadays
it's just such a tough place to live
Plenty of land available, as long as you can come to an arrangement with the traditional owners. (Hint - offer lots of traditional money)
The real problem is water. We're just going to have to build more dams.
Interesting time ahead.......possibly.