[bebeacc]

Staff and wire reports

CANBERRA, Australia — U.S. military presence in Australia is expanding, with plans underway to deploy about 250 Marines starting next year and lay the groundwork for up to 2,500 over the next several years.
The Air Force and Navy are expected to expand there presence in the region as well.

The agreement was announced Wednesday at a joint news conference with President Obama and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard. It is widely viewed as a response ... Read the rest of the article here.

----------------------------

What do you think about this move? Do you think increased U.S. presence in the Asia-Pacific region is a response to China's military growth?

[Pdarassenko]

It does seem coincedental. I, for one, would love to get stationed in Australia!

[km2000]

Where else can we station MORE troops? How can we spread the forces around a little bit more and spend even more money? I think there is some room on the Moon. lets send a few thousand there.

[JanetMorris]

Where else can we station MORE troops? How can we spread the forces around a little bit more and spend even more money? I think there is some room on the Moon. lets send a few thousand there.

I think Antartica may not be fully secured for American interests as of yet, send in the Seals!

[BeksTeene]

It all about protecting US interests, whether it's addressing an emerging Chinese military, keeping trading routes open, hunting pirates, or whathaveyou. But I'm a betting man, so my money is on "emerging Chinese military."

[Fainnamoony]

It sounds like the answer to moving them from Kadena to Guam which was the plan last month, instead shift them to Australia... therefore you can fix some of the oversight issues like only one dentist per 1,000 troops, housing, more people would willingly want to go to Australia than Guam. Maybe the infrastructure would be better as well. Indonesia does sound interesting.

For educational and perspective purposes:

Peoples Republic of China's total military strength: 4,585,000 (Active, Reserve, Paramilitary)

2500+ Marines in the Outback wouldn't be too much of a deterrent to a total force that size, especially if they are already in Asia anyway and now you're moving them further away. It may sound good on the headlines but the reality is it wouldn't project a show of force to the extent that the GW has in the area already.

[BILBONDER]

I wouldn't mind getting stationed in Australia...

[ethigSmimbine]

It all about protecting US interests, whether it's addressing an emerging Chinese military, keeping trading routes open, hunting pirates, or whathaveyou. But I'm a betting man, so my money is on "emerging Chinese military."

The way the other countries are afraid of attacking US home land cause "guns outnumber people", China is as tough to attack cause their people outnumber out bullets. Mutual assured destruction really.

[zibTefapparia]

With any luck, any Marines that wind up stationed "Down Under" won't collectively screw the pooch and turn it into "Okinawa-Redux."

[Lictimind]

Staff and wire reports

CANBERRA, Australia — U.S. military presence in Australia is expanding, with plans underway to deploy about 250 Marines starting next year and lay the groundwork for up to 2,500 over the next several years.

The Air Force and Navy are expected to expand there presence in the region as well.

The agreement was announced Wednesday at a joint news conference with President Obama and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard. It is widely viewed as a response ... Read the rest of the article here.

----------------------------

What do you think about this move? Do you think increased U.S. presence in the Asia-Pacific region is a response to China's military growth?

Australia has always been a check point for the rest of the Western Pacific. During World War Two, Australia was the goal of the Japanese Military in their southward invasion that saw their Army occupy New Guinea, and their planes attack Northern Australia from the air. Their motive was that they would never be secure in their Pacific conquests if Australia was to remain unoccupied. This is why we sent units from the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps to Australia, where they used the bases they were issued as base camps for counter invasion of the Japanese Pacific Occupation until we could establish base camps closer in towards Japan.

This led in 1954 to the creation of the South East Asia Treaty Organization, which included the United States, France, Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia, the Philippines, Thailand and Pakistan. Its purpose was to provide a check against China and the Soviet Union in the region, and it produced mixed results. One of the major results of this organization was the Vietnam War, which started off with troops or NGOs from the US, New Zealand, Australia, the Philippines, and Thailand, while the other major result is the current political situation in the western Pacific.

This new situation is certainly necessary in light of the actions between the two Koreas, and between China and several of the nations in the Western Pacific, and the fact that China is adding the major military tools that would be necessary in order for China to project its military force beyond the Pacific shores.

[C7JjVczP]

This new situation is certainly necessary in light of the actions between the two Koreas, and between China and several of the nations in the Western Pacific, and the fact that China is adding the major military tools that would be necessary in order for China to project its military force beyond the Pacific shores.

So you are of the opinion that China or North Korea has imperialistic intentions for Australia at this time? Do I understand this correctly?

[QvhhbjLy]

So you are of the opinion that China or North Korea has imperialistic intentions for Australia at this time? Do I understand this correctly?

No, not Australia, but Australia can and does stand in the way of China's imperialistic intentions throughout the Western Pacific, and weakening Australia would be the prudent strategic move. Unlike most of the nations in the Pacific, Australia - like the USA and Great Britain - is an Island Nation, and so has a very strong Navy (The USA qualifies as an Island Nation because it faces the Ocean on at least three out of four directions), much stronger than the Chinese Navy. Only the US Navy is stronger, and only the US Navy has the resources and can reach anywhere in the Pacific and place China in Check at any time. The USA and Australia combined have the resources to stand almost invincible in the Pacific, and add the other Pacific Navies, and you insure success.

[echocassidyde]

No, not Australia, but Australia can and does stand in the way of China's imperialistic intentions throughout the Western Pacific, and weakening Australia would be the prudent strategic move. Unlike most of the nations in the Pacific, Australia - like the USA and Great Britain - is an Island Nation, and so has a very strong Navy (The USA qualifies as an Island Nation because it faces the Ocean on at least three out of four directions), much stronger than the Chinese Navy. Only the US Navy is stronger, and only the US Navy has the resources and can reach anywhere in the Pacific and place China in Check at any time. The USA and Australia combined have the resources to stand almost invincible in the Pacific, and add the other Pacific Navies, and you insure success.

True, which they would also have without staging a MEU on Australian soil, requiring all of the land-based supporting infrastructure which is extensively costly and absolutely contingent by nature. Spratley's, South China Sea, all of that jazz isn't our fight. Our only tie into that area is the entangling alliance we've established with Taiwan, which is becoming less and less relevant as China becomes a more open, global society. While they're not really there yet, which direction do we anticipate a move of this nature would push them? Are we really that anxious to enter yet another Cold War?

[KellyMP]

True, which they would also have without staging a MEU on Australian soil, requiring all of the land-based supporting infrastructure which is extensively costly and absolutely contingent by nature. Spratley's, South China Sea, all of that jazz isn't our fight. Our only tie into that area is the entangling alliance we've established with Taiwan, which is becoming less and less relevant as China becomes a more open, global society. While they're not really there yet, which direction do we anticipate a move of this nature would push them? Are we really that anxious to enter yet another Cold War?

In the first place, the Marine Corps is NOT really a separate service, so wherever you sent the US Navy, the US Marine Corps is sure to follow.

In the second place, the Australians know just how to deal with us from their previous experience. They are providing us a Naval Base and other installations sufficient for the MEU you talk about, and the Crews of the ships and the Overhead that will call the Base Home for the duration. They will be at Darwin, which is on the North Shore, and – given we left behind some well-constructed bases there when we were there in 2002, and before that between 1941 and 1945 — I am willing to bet that we are being returned to those self-same installations we used before.

In the third place, I’m willing to bet that one lesson we learned from the USS Cole is that we don’t send the Navy anywhere without the physical security necessary to make it safe to dock the ships and secure the bases. The Marines can provide that security.

In the fourth place, we have been in a quiet “Cold War” with China for a very long time, and they have been taking much of our Heavy Industry as well as much of the rest of our Manufacturing, and have been selling us the finished products while refusing to respond in kind. If that means that we are now heating up the war, then that is their fault. Can we help it that their provocative actions leave their neighbors sitting at the door with their rifles drawn because they have reason not to trust them? I would prefer to protect the nations that ask for our protection, and help those who need just a little more help to supplement their own. The Chinese need to understand that they have yet proven to the rest of the world that they are trust worthy, and the Koreans are even worse but on a smaller scale.

As for Taiwan, they are the exception that proves the rule. When Mainland China is willing to accept Taiwan into the fold as a separate government within China – the exact option that Hong Kong got - then I will say that maybe China is waking up to the realities of the world.

[Badyalectlawl]

In the first place, the Marine Corps is NOT really a separate service, so wherever you sent the US Navy, the US Marine Corps is sure to follow.

In the second place, the Australians know just how to deal with us from their previous experience. They are providing us a Naval Base and other installations sufficient for the MEU you talk about, and the Crews of the ships and the Overhead that will call the Base Home for the duration. They will be at Darwin, which is on the North Shore, and – given we left behind some well-constructed bases there when we were there in 2002, and before that between 1941 and 1945 — I am willing to bet that we are being returned to those self-same installations we used before.

In the third place, I’m willing to bet that one lesson we learned from the USS Cole is that we don’t send the Navy anywhere without the physical security necessary to make it safe to dock the ships and secure the bases. The Marines can provide that security.

In the fourth place, we have been in a quiet “Cold War” with China for a very long time, and they have been taking much of our Heavy Industry as well as much of the rest of our Manufacturing, and have been selling us the finished products while refusing to respond in kind. If that means that we are now heating up the war, then that is their fault. Can we help it that their provocative actions leave their neighbors sitting at the door with their rifles drawn because they have reason not to trust them? I would prefer to protect the nations that ask for our protection, and help those who need just a little more help to supplement their own. The Chinese need to understand that they have yet proven to the rest of the world that they are trust worthy, and the Koreans are even worse but on a smaller scale.

As for Taiwan, they are the exception that proves the rule. When Mainland China is willing to accept Taiwan into the fold as a separate government within China – the exact option that Hong Kong got - then I will say that maybe China is waking up to the realities of the world.

I may just happen to have an inkling about the current relationship between the USMC and the Navy, but I'll leave that where it is.

As for the rest, great, the Australians are good hosts, I know this from personal experience. I'm sure some lucky Devil Dogs will have a great tour, for a while. The American footprint always gets a bit heavy after years and decades expire when our servicemembers are turned loose on their local society, every time. I hope for the sake of this and other relationships we don't wear out that welcome the same way we have in Okinawa.

As for China, we've contributed very heavily towards putting them in the isolated status they've been in for so long, not to mention the influences of other previous Empires (*cough cough Japan) who've all given the Chinese good reason to not only be openly distrustful, but openly confrontational. It's a fairly recent development that we have been given some access to that society and that economy. We can come at China with one of two mindsets, we can see them as a future superpower who may one day be allies in making the global environment a safe place to operate. Or we can put them in direct opposition towards our efforts. Slapping another MEU on Australia will not only be costly and pointless, but also will be escalatory and probably not as welcoming when young testosterone-filled Marines do something counter-productive to our current relations with the Australians. Some among us are now clearly comfortable with the Imperialistic nature the US has assumed over that past century. I personally am not, despite the best of intentions Empires always trend the same direction eventually.