[paraclete]

Why does the US need a military strike base in my country. Our alliance has existed for fifty years during some of the turbulent times in world history and yet now, when those threats have passed we get this. Why?
US bid for multibillion-dollar nuclear aircraft carrier strike group in Perth
Is this an instrument of economic policy designed to ruin the relationship between my country and China. The Chinese are already sensitive about the stationing of a small number of US marines here so this makes no sense

[tomder55]

why does the US need a military strike base in my country. Our alliance has existed for fifty years during some of the turbulent times in world history and yet now, when those threats have passed we get this. why?
US bid for multibillion-dollar nuclear aircraft carrier strike group in Perth
Is this an instrument of economic policy designed to ruin the relationship between my country and China. the Chinese are already sensitive about the stationing of a small number of US marines here so this makes no sense

Fine ;you don't want the revenue associated with keeping supplies at port for a fleet that will spend the vast majority of it's time at sea ? We'll move on . The basing at Perth is one a few options proposed ;and although it is probably the best option from our standpoint ;it is only 1 of the options being proposed.

[paraclete]

Fine ;you don't want the revenue associated with keeping supplies at port for a fleet that will spend the vast majority of it's time at sea ? We'll move on . The basing at Perth is one a a few options proposed ;and although it is probably the best option from our standpoint ;it is only 1 of the options being proposed.

I like Guam better, you throw the carrot but in reality the supplies for the base will come from the US on US shipping, etc. You think we are stupid. It demonstrates how little you know about us. We might get to supply you with some electricity but that would mean building another carbon spewing power station, but then your nuclear ships are capable of supplying electricity to the base while docked. You want to do it here because it is cheaper but in reality you will screw deals for us worth trillions and no doubt pick up those contracts for your own industries. Go build the base in Pakistan, your ally, their economy could use the boost, but then the R&R is a little restricted there isn't it, so not an option. We don't need more americans in the Indian Ocean, We don't need one of your strike groups to attack our neighbours and we sure don't need an american presence in Perth, a capital city of a state which produces a large percentage of the nations wealth, which is already booming and has labour shortages

Some of us have long memories we have seen american R&R here before, not pretty, we don't need the listening posts in our restraurants, the specialist hotels to keep the boys under control, and under survelliance, so we know what an american base means.We have moved on, we like being left alone at arms length from american culture

[tomder55]

Go build the base in Pakistan, your ally,

And here I thought Australia was an ally .

We don't need more americans in the Indian Ocean, We don't need one of your strike groups to attack our neighbours and we sure don't need an american presence in Perth, a capital city of a state which produces a large percentage of the nations wealth

You are in a minority in your nation ,where the majority appreciates our presence in the region ,and our alliance for a century .

[paraclete]

Odd sense of history, Tom, the alliance has been for sixty years not a century and only our fawning politicians are in favour of a wider US presence. We, the silent majority, do not want US bases on our soil. An Alliance works in times of war but in peace we are just good friends. As friends we should be able to say we disagree with you

You have spoken about Australia and Pakistan in the same terms as allies yet we have stood beside you in major conflicts where we had no national interest and Pakistan actively conspires against you, harbours your enemies and may even be responsible for the death of your troops. We do not fly under a flag of convience. We have watched you undermine our business interests and so we know what the alliance is worth to you

[tomder55]

And here I though both our nations participated as allies in WWI .

only our fawning politicians are in favour of a wider US presence.

did you look at the poll on the link you provided ?

You have spoken about Australia and Pakistan in the same terms as allies

Not I .

[paraclete]

The way I see it Tom that was not a formal alliance between our two nations. We fought in WWI and WWII long before you found it convenient to do so, we honoured our alliance and long association with Britain. You found Australia a convenient base in WWII and a formal alliance was put in place after WWII. Since that time we have honoured the alliance in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan