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First contingent of U.S. Marines arrive in Australia

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These marines should be praised as the 'crown jewel' of the freedom world, they 'might' stop an incoming Chinese ICBM falling at Disneyland in L.A.! They do have 'space suits' in combat!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

If I were Australian, I would consider it a day of shame.

Such as it is, as an American, I consider it a day of shame.

There is no proper reason for this. Its just futher militarization of the world, American style.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

The US posturing counter to the Chinese is par for the course but I think it's the Australians acceptance of US military cooperation that's got the Chinese bristling. Very few countries are in a big hurry to host chinese troops and the apparent openness to the cooperation with china sounds a bit hollow as I highly doubt they would be very receptive to allowing chinese military craft in their territorial waters.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

If you say so then it must be true.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

MustardKing

If I were Australian, I would consider it a day of shame.

Well as an Australian l dont see it that way. I see it as a practical expansion of a long term alliance and just a way of increasing military cooperation between our two nations. Not to mention it might do a bit to increase security in the area. Only time will tell. But a bad thing? No way....

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Not to mention it might do a bit to increase security in the area.

So you think its a good idea to increase security where and when it is not needed? Sorry, Cletus. But I guess I mistook you for someone who valued freedom a bit more than that.

just a way of increasing military cooperation between our two nations.

Right. And the Aussie military personnel will be stationed on U.S. soil, when, do you suppose?

This is just a first step. 2,500 marines is a lot of people, and it won't be long before talk of a permanent base will start, and the excuse will be something like logistics.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Feel sorry for the locals who will have to deal with the drunk grunts on a night out.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

White House has also made clear it wants to extend its capability to deploy for disaster relief missions in Southeast Asia............Wasnt they were in a disaster retreat backin1950,the Chosen reservior? That winter was really a big disaster for the marines!

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

@ExportExpert: What about all the bloody drongos in Darwin! Local yokels and Marines make for some interesting behaviour at the bars.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

MustardKing

So you think its a good idea to increase security where and when it is not needed? Sorry, Cletus. But I guess I mistook you for someone who valued freedom a bit more than that.

So you obviously dont know much about the region do you? You realise Darwin where these troops will be based is closer to Asia than it is to any other Australian city. You do realise Indonesia has a fairly bad problem with islamic extremists (Bali bombing, embassy bombings etc). You do realise the troops in Darwin and the Navy and Airforce assets will be close to the Spratlys. You do realise that there have been numerous natural disasters in the region that the US has helped out with in the past.... Nah guess you didnt think of that hey? Oh and so what if there is a couple of thousand US troops exercising in Australia. We have the room, the facilities without impacting the community and it helps us. What freedoms exactly are they taking away from us Australians.

Right. And the Aussie military personnel will be stationed on U.S. soil, when, do you suppose?

Funny we already have military personal on rotation with US units. Have had for decades..... And besides we are benefiting from having your troops in Oz thats why we invite them to participate in our exercises all the time. And when they are on the numbers reach into the tens of thousands. But you forget that hey.

This is just a first step. 2,500 marines is a lot of people, and it won't be long before talk of a permanent base will start, and the excuse will be something like logistics.

They are going to a permanent base, its an Australian military base. Incase you where not aware when they build military facilities in Australia they overbuild them to handle an influx of troops whether it be from US or other allies. So there is plenty of room for a mere 2500 marines. Not to mention the navy and airforce people that will also be coming.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Feel sorry for the locals who will have to deal with the drunk grunts on a night out.

I take it you have never been to Darwin?

There is not a US serviceman living or dead who can outdrink a Territorian.

I can see PTSD cases increasing. (Pretending To be a Solid Drinker)

7 ( +8 / -1 )

@ Cletus: Nicely said. I have served with some Aussie military types in the past, and they were some good guys.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

You realise Darwin where these troops will be based is closer to Asia than it is to any other Australian city.

So what?

You do realise Indonesia has a fairly bad problem with islamic extremists

Huh? Are they going to be deterred by U.S. marines in Darwin? If they were being sent there to battle Abu Sayef strongholds that would be something. But they aren't. And if they are in the future, its not really necessary to have them on standby in Oz.

will be close to the Spratlys.

The Spratly disputes have been doing fine without U.S. intervention...as if a side can clearly and fairly be chosen if fighting broke out anyway.

You do realise that there have been numerous natural disasters in the region that the US has helped out with in the past.

Yeah, there was the tsunami a few years back. And the U.S. managed to help despite not having so many Marines in Oz. You expecting another one soon?

and it helps us.

To do nothing.

What freedoms exactly are they taking away from us Australians.

None. But when you stack the dominoes, they tend to fall. I am sick of American militarism. And this is antagonizing China too, and giving that country, which has shown restraint, another reason to start globalizing their military just like the U.S. does. Why do you suppose they are building air craft carriers now? All this time, they didn't bother. Why now?

Funny we already have military personal on rotation with US units.

But not a block ot thousands stationed in the U.S. And war games are different.

They are going to a permanent base,

I was talking about a permanent American base. When you get it, don't say I didn't warn you.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

MustardKing

"You realise Darwin where these troops will be based is closer to Asia than it is to any other Australian city." So what?

So we in Australia have a small population and a massive landmass. Even a small amount of US service personal is a welcome increase to our security in this region especially given how remote and distant to other parts of Australia.

"You do realise Indonesia has a fairly bad problem with islamic extremists" Huh? Are they going to be deterred by U.S. marines in Darwin? If they were being sent there to battle Abu Sayef strongholds that would be something. But they aren't. And if they are in the future, its not really necessary to have them on standby in Oz.

No but they can assist in event of a disaster like the Bali bombings. Evacuating wounded etc. And as l said given how stretched our military is with its commitments to the war on terror, border security etc. A few thousand extra troops in the region is actually welcome. Oh and you seem to forget our ongoing commitment to Timor following its independence and our military involvement to assist with removing the pro Indonesian forces....

"will be close to the Spratlys." The Spratly disputes have been doing fine without U.S. intervention...as if a side can clearly and fairly be chosen if fighting broke out anyway.

Oh yes it has hasnt it, just look at the bullets flying between the Vietnamese, Philippines and China in recent years.

You do realise that there have been numerous natural disasters in the region that the US has helped out with in the past.

"and it helps us." To do nothing.

Oh yes thats right we do nothing. Maybe you should go look up the nothing we have been doing at the side of the US since WW2. Then come back and say we have been doing nothing. Clearly you have no clue about our history, militarily or otherwise.

None. But when you stack the dominoes, they tend to fall. I am sick of American militarism.

I am not a big fan of the US military and there ways but this is a good thing for both nations simple as that.

And this is antagonizing China too, and giving that country, which has shown restraint, another reason to start globalizing their military just like the U.S. does.

Seriously who cares about China? What right does China have telling Australia who they can and cant let into their own country. To me the fact China tried to tell us who we can have in our own nation is more threatening than having the US there.

Why do you suppose they are building air craft carriers now? All this time, they didn't bother. Why now?

Um sorry!!! What do you mean now? You do realise they have been studying carriers and the technology for the past 30 years. You do know that dont you? Apparently not!

"They are going to a permanent base," I was talking about a permanent American base. When you get it, don't say I didn't warn you.

Yawn, we already have permanent US bases, have for decades or didnt you realise that either....... Please catch up

3 ( +5 / -2 )

So US troops ultimately hold loyalty to what country? Now I am sure they re all really good guys and I have met some stellar US milititary personel but Australia essentially is giving up parts of its sovereignty. Your country, do as you like.

So what happens when they decide there is 'tension' and begin boarding Australian flagged vessels and get snotty as they did Canadian vessels inside Canadian territorial waters during the 2010 Olympics? How much Aussie pride ya going to be feeling then? Are you even going to know about it? Defend it or lose it.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Snubbing me by making an exclamation and declaring "You didn't know that" is a childish way to discuss this. Please knock it off. I don't know everything about the region to be sure, but you keep digging deeper and deeper into a pretty low barrel of excuse to try and make this look important.

You do realise they have been studying carriers and the technology for the past 30 years.

OH NOES! Not studying! I did say "building" didn't I? Checking...yes, I did!

What right does China have telling Australia who they can and cant let into their own country.

None, and they didn't do that. But it still antagonized them, just as Australia would be antogonized if N.Z. hostest a contigent of Chinese troops.

Then come back and say we have been doing nothing.

I didn't say that either! I said the U.S. will help you to do nothing. In other words, they won't be any help that they could not have been without being stationed there.

just look at the bullets flying

Its a dispute! It happens! And the bullets won't stop for a U.S. presence! The U.S. has no claim and no authority!

No but they can assist in event of a disaster like the Bali bombings.

Its not necessary to be stationed there to do it. And they can only do it with Indonesian permission.

Oh and you seem to forget our ongoing commitment to Timor following its independence and our military involvement to assist with removing the pro Indonesian forces....

The U.N. can ask for more troops in East Timor anytime.

So we in Australia have a small population and a massive landmass.

Are you expecting an invasion?

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

MustardKing

Snubbing me by making an exclamation and declaring "You didn't know that" is a childish way to discuss this. Please knock it off. I don't know everything about the region to be sure, but you keep digging deeper and deeper into a pretty low barrel of excuse to try and make this look important.

LOL, thats a good one. You come out making nonsense statements and showing you know little to nothing about the region, let alone the country and you expect people to not respond.

"You do realise they have been studying carriers and the technology for the past 30 years." OH NOES! Not studying! I did say "building" didn't I? Checking...yes, I did!

Hmm now whos being childish.... "OH NOES". Yes they have been studying them, studying their designs and how to best build them. Afterall that is what you do when you are going to build something you study the designs and use that as your basis. They did that with the first carrier they ot back in the 80's and have been doing so since and the result is they will build their own with the learnings from these designs.

"What right does China have telling Australia who they can and cant let into their own country." None, and they didn't do that. But it still antagonized them, just as Australia would be antogonized if N.Z. hostest a contigent of Chinese troops.

Actually they did, they complained to the Australian government about the issue. So again what is it to them they are not even a neighbour of Australia's. So it makes your NZ analogy pretty pointless now doesnt it?

I didn't say that either! I said the U.S. will help you to do nothing. In other words, they won't be any help that they could not have been without being stationed there.

They will train with our military and therefore that is something we wouldnt have otherwise had.

"No but they can assist in event of a disaster like the Bali bombings." Its not necessary to be stationed there to do it. And they can only do it with Indonesian permission.

Hmm they are a lot more useful there than tens of thousands of km away. And thats the point. And yes they would require permission just as the ADF needed permission before they helped evacuate the wounded. Its more about where they are located when it comes to disaster relief wouldnt you agree.

"So we in Australia have a small population and a massive landmass." Are you expecting an invasion?

Ha ha, try reading an Aussie paper someday mate. You will see our ADF has its hands full with the war on terror and stopping the flood of illegal boat people entering our country. My point is even with our whole defense force in the north of Australia as it is, it is still very stretched and we welcome the addition of US troops stationed in our country. And according to the polls the majority of Aussies agree. Of course except the tree huggers but hey!!!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Cletus and MustardKing, please stop bickering. Focus your comments of the story and not at each other.

MustardKing: I am sick of American militarism.

Oh, OK. Well then all of your points are valid.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

I am Australian, and yes this makes me feel ashamed.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Well Australia you brought the war to your doorstep, now the Chinese will have you as target for sure.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

@Cletus

LOL, thats a good one. You come out making nonsense statements and showing you know little to nothing about the region, let alone the country and you expect people to not respond.

Not MustardKing's first time and it won't be his last time :)

0 ( +1 / -1 )

What, no protests? Amazing!

Mustard:"as an American, I consider it a day of shame"

Not as an American, just as a military-hater.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Not as an American, just as a military-hater.

Sounds like you believe one is not compatible with the other. Both are relevant in this Sargey old boy, and I don't deny it. The Founding Fathers of my country also had problems with standing militaries. Having ours based in foreign countries is surely making some turn over in their graves, a place it seems many Americans like to go to have a pee these days.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Well then all of your points are valid.

Thank you!

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

I stll would like to see the Marines off Okinawa and headed for home. I still support Chalmers Johnson's book Dismantling The Empire as we never wanted to be policemen for the world.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Wish we could send ALL of them from Okinawa, Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines. Since there is so much space there, they should bot be a bother. Also now that it is not against regulations the Marines can have a gay old time. Also the Aussies are more like Americans and the military spouses can stop complaining about our vending machines. I think selling alcohol from them is the best! Go to Australia and don't come back!

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Simply put, this is no different than the co-operation and show of military unity between two countries such as Germany, South Korea, Japan, Phillipines and now Australia. Too bad some people don't understand this and blindly ASS-U-ME the "imperialistic" US is trying to take over the world.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

china, world champion whiners! took the award from France sometime in 2009

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Wish we could send ALL of them from Okinawa, Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines. Since there is so much space there, they should bot be a bother. Also now that it is not against regulations the Marines can have a gay old time. Also the Aussies are more like Americans and the military spouses can stop complaining about our vending machines. I think selling alcohol from them is the best! Go to Australia and don't come back!

YuriOtani, I can find no flaws in your cogently argued position. Also not found: cogency, an argument.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

None. But when you stack the dominoes, they tend to fall. I am sick of American militarism. And this is antagonizing China too, and giving that country, which has shown restraint, another reason to start globalizing their military just like the U.S. does. Why do you suppose they are building air craft carriers now? All this time, they didn't bother. Why now?

agree. australian economy has been doing relatively quite well riding on the back of china.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

china, world champion whiners! took the award from France sometime in 2009

if china were to station troops in venezuela, i'm pretty sure the u.s. would whine too. but then again, only the u.s. can have something like the monroe doctrine.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Back on topic please.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Readers, please keep the discussion civil.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@YuriOtani,

Wish we could send ALL of them from Okinawa, Army, Air Force, Navy and Marines. Since there is so much space there, they should bot be a bother. Also now that it is not against regulations the Marines can have a gay old time. Also the Aussies are more like Americans and the military spouses can stop complaining about our vending machines. I think selling alcohol from them is the best! Go to Australia and don't come back!

You do realize if Americans left Okinawa and near by islands would become part of China after they put a serious whipping on the Japanese forces? Japan doesn't even have the balls to reclaim their islands up North from Russia.

Where would you condemnation be then?

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

As a long-term resident of Darwin, I'm insulted by Cletis' snide remarks. While there has been a military presence here since WW2, it has been low-key - until recently. Darwin residents who are not involved with the defence industry are not happy with this 'development' or 'evolution'. While the young, male miners and soldiers who have transmigrated here through Australian government incentives consume huge amounts of alcohol - and drugs - this does not apply generally to the rest of our community. We will be holding public meetings to ensure that these new transmigrants know how to relate peaceably within the Darwin community and we will be protesting long and loud if respective governments don't listen to long-term residents. We love our tropical environment and want to protect it for future generations of peaceful Territorians.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

You do realize if Americans left Okinawa and near by islands would become part of China after they put a serious whipping on the Japanese forces?

Is this why Australia needs American soldiers in Darwin? As if China has a made a land grab anywhere but Tibet in the last several hundred years! As if islands around Taiwan were not stolen from the Chinese by Japan during the Sino-Japanese war! As if the Japanese Maritime SDF were not one of the best funded in the world!

Where do you get these panic attacks?

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Silvafan, there is the SDF and we are not helpless. Any attack on Okinawa by China would bring about an American response. I say send all of them to Australia. They can try and out drink the Aussie, fat chance. They can defend them from the evil *your pick".

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

DianaR

As a long-term resident of Darwin, I'm insulted by Cletis' snide remarks. While there has been a military presence here since WW2, it has been low-key - until recently.

By recently you mean in the early 90's when Robertson Barracks opened and most of the frontline units based in southern states moved north and where located there. Units like the 1st Armored, 8/12 Mdm Reg, 5 RAR and 2nd Cav to name a few. So for the past 22 years the presence has been dramatically increasing, its not a recent thing at all.

We will be holding public meetings to ensure that these new transmigrants know how to relate peaceably within the Darwin community and we will be protesting long and loud if respective governments don't listen to long-term residents. We love our tropical environment and want to protect it for future generations of peaceful Territorians.

Thats good, you need good community consultation between the government, military and residents to outline everyones issues. However one thing you and this article fail to mention is that these troops will not be based full time at Robertson Barracks, they will be there for 6 months a year and a good portion of that they will be away in the field training. But you did tip your hand a bit, in an earlier post l said in the polls it appears the majority of Aussies are not opposed to this except the tree huggers and what comment do you conclude your argument with "We love our tropical environment and want to protect it for future generations of peaceful Territorians" So as l said most Aussies other than tree huggers agree with this.....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

So as l said most Aussies other than tree huggers agree with this.....

Well, you may have her politics pegged. (though I hardly see a reason to sneer about protecting the environment...its childishly spiteful). But that does mean you know what most Aussies think. I don't remember hearing about a vote on the issue.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

MustardKing

"So as l said most Aussies other than tree huggers agree with this...." Well, you may have her politics pegged. (though I hardly see a reason to sneer about protecting the environment...its childishly spiteful).

Sorry but who is sneering about protecting the environment, l do believe l didnt sneer about that but rather pointed out that she was speaking on behalf of the entire community yet her biggest issues where environmental and peace related. Now to me that spells out a particular tendency and we see plenty of them in Oz the types that are against anything and everything and want to see us living in caves in order to protect the environment and peace. Phh maybe if they worked with rather than against everything they would achieve more.

But that does mean you know what most Aussies think. I don't remember hearing about a vote on the issue.

Thats correct there was no vote, why would there be. There will be 2500 troops in country for 6 months then they leave and after 6 months another 2500 come. Its not a continuos presence. And as for your snide remark about me knowing what most Aussies think, l dont claim that at all l just read the Australian news papers and see the polls they conduct. Have you read an Australian newspaper MustardKing? Doubt it very much

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Clearly you have no clue about our history, militarily or otherwise.

When Darwin was bombed by the Japanese in 1942, it was precisely because of the American presence there. History could well repeat itself.

I wonder if you buy the Battle of Australia rubbish?

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

MustardKing

"Clearly you have no clue about our history, militarily or otherwise." When Darwin was bombed by the Japanese in 1942, it was precisely because of the American presence there. History could well repeat itself.

Sorry couldnt stop laughing.... That is hilarious sorry.

So your saying the presence of a couple of US destroyers, some troop ships and a US sea plane tender and 10 P-40's heading to DEI made Darwin a target. Not the 45 other ships from the RAN, and other navies and civilian ships. Or the fact that there was a large buildup of RAN, RAAF and RAA personal in the area. Or the fact that Darwin was now the closest Allied base since the lose of the DEI to the Japanese. No of course not it was purely the US vessels that caused it.

OMG seriously. You are grasping now arnt you.

I wonder if you buy the Battle of Australia rubbish?

I wonder if you know anything about Australia other than watching the movie Australia and reading a few books.... Sorry thats so funny.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Cletus and MustardKing, please do not address each other anymore on this thread.

Go grab an atlas and look up Indonesia, now in 1942 this whole area was occupied by Japan. And Darwin ( a couple of hundred km away) was the only and l mean ONLY allied port that was left in the region.

(Who knows if Im using the quote button correctly)

dont you want to highlight this? the last kids book I read highlighted that Japan was in Indonesia, that was the edge of where they went, but didnt mention at all about getting to Australia

Cant you get the marines to work on taming some of that tropical bush?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Well hope the Marines get some good training and enjoy themselves in their time off. There is not enough of them to shift the balance and China needs to chill. How are these Marines a threat to them?

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

How are these Marines a threat to them?

In about the same way we hear about it every time China sends a warship to the open sea.

America has about 700 foreign bases across the globe. China has zero. The math is not hard. The real question is, why is China a threat to America to the point that we need troops in Darwin?

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Wow! -6 thumbs! Denial and cognitive dissonance all the way! Its amazing how effective brainwashing is!

I swear if we bombed China back into the stone age, and reduced it to a size of say, New Jersey, there would still be a terror of China and a small sigh of relief for having American troops in Darwin to save us if they ever decided to hurl a rock!

If this were a game of Risk!, all players would just give up, because the owner of North America once again has so many troops all over the map that its obvious that no one else stands a chance. Only a totaly noob would think otherwise.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

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