Defence expert questions Aust-US alliance

[rooboy]

A top defence analyst has told a parliamentary hearing that Australia is starting to look like the United States's ally that cannot say no.

Former Defence Department deputy Paul Dibb was giving evidence to the Canberra hearing and believes the alliance with the United States is at a crucial turning point.

Professor Dibb says the 50-year-old alliance is essential for Australia's intelligence capability, purchasing weapons and military logistics.

However, he says leading Australians are starting to question whether a new balance in the alliance has to be struck as the US has become more demanding.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1080022.htm

[Striker Davies]

1. That's the trouble with snivelling little wannabes...

like little johnnie howard who thought he could achieve fame and glory (and a fabulous new trade agreement) if he risked our troops in yet another bloody adventure.

Now he's realised that we got none of the above.

Mark Latham may lack experience and a decent cabinet behind him, but if he wins office in October/November, we can expect him to review this whole arrangement and certainly not settle for being an American bum-boy.

If President Blithering Idiot could some be prised out of the White House (most unlikely, given the already-settled "election," courtesy of Diebold) I have no doubt Latham and Kerry could develop an excellent working relationship.

But Latham and Bush will be hostile, remote and Latham will want little to do with the little wanker. Which brings us back to 1975....

[rooboy]

2. Another 1975 scenario is quite possible...

although I wouldn't put it past the current bunch of psychopaths in the WH to accuse Australia of producing WMD.

[loudsue]

3. Citizens of other countries KNOW everything bush says is a lie

Too bad the folks at the top haven't gotten a clue yet. Look at boy Blair. He bent over, bush had a go, and then didn't even bother to drive Tony home.

Tony knows he's been jilted, but he's trying to carry on with some sense of decorum.

John Howard sold out, too, and didn't listen to his people any more than Blair did.. I was really sorry to hear he was backing bush during the run-up to war.

I hope we ALL get new leaders...kinda like Spain just did.

:kick:

[nonbelief]

4. The alliance is "essential for purchasing weapons"?

Is Paul Dibb joking?

In the last few years Australia has been pressured again and again into paying big bucks for surplus American planes, ships and helicopters. Just last month Australia announced the purchase of 55 used Abrahms tanks, which are totally unsuitable for Australian defence purposes. A couple of years ago they bought Vietnam Era US helicopter airframes which are being refitted at a cost greater than any new 'copters.

The way it works is that whenever Australia considers buying from non-American suppliers, the U.S claims such purchases will threaten U.S military security in some way, and won't "fit" into the American military system., and thus will threaten the U.S -American alliance.