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Originally posted by wellard:
After this years elections in both countries are out of the way expect to see the USA main pacific / Asia base based in Australia.
On the other hand is the possibility of upsetting the general Australian public by having to relax its anti nuclear stance of ships in our harbours and the increase in the likelihood of Australia becoming a terrorist target. It of course leaves the problem of a bigger / better equipped army than our own on our soil. Would the people accept that situation?
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I'm 100% behind having a US base here, because:
-The F-111s are finally being phased out by 2010
-The F/A-18 hornets are scheduled to be phased out by 2012-2015
-The Joint Strike fighter will more than likely not be ready by the time the hornets are phased out
-The Indonesian’s are buying new migs.
Its most definitely in our interests to have a US base here, we would be crazy not to. And to those who say having a US base here will make us a bigger terrorist target: We already have a US base here its called Pine Gap(will be a part of the missile defense shield). And since we are already a terrorist target (rich/western/big christian pop/east timor/iraq -> bali) it isnt going to make a difference.
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For your info the 4th largest nation (and a Muslim one at that) is right on our doorstep
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Which is just another reason to have a US base here not to mention thats its a breeding ground for terrorists.
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On the other hand is the possibility of upsetting the general Australian public by having to relax its anti nuclear stance of ships in our harbours
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Mostly its just a small number of greenies who protest every time a US nuclear ship sails into fremantle/or any other port. Its also the same said greenies who stir up fear over nuclear power plants even though we could build them out in the hundreds of thousands of miles of desert so even if they did blow up it wouldnt matter as much.
[ 08-16-2004, 06:08 AM: Message edited by: dragon_lord ]