No request to base US missiles near Darwin, defence minister says   

UnSubRocky wrote on Aug 8^th, 2019 at 2:36am:


First up, why station them in Darwin?  Who is a threat to Australia to the point where we need IRBM to counter them?  Isn't there anywhere else, closer to their intended target(s)?

Second question. whats in it for us to make us a target for who ever hates the US to the point they would target Australia?

Mr Hammer wrote on Aug 8^th, 2019 at 5:49pm:


I don't want them on Australian soil at all, Hammer.  If our defence relationship is so important to the US, then we should get something in return for host their IRBMs.  What are they going to pay/give us?  Do you know?

Oh, and your attitude is rather interesting.  Tell me, would Washington be willing to allow say, Hawaii to host Australian missiles?  I somehow doubt it...   

Brian Ross wrote on Aug 8^th, 2019 at 5:35pm:


You put up the question "US Missiles in Darwin?". I made the sardonic response that we could say goodbye to Darwin -- implicit that Darwin would be a military target.

The first question has been answered partially in the first paragraph. However, I would assume that you mean "in the Darwin region". Much as I consider Shoalwater Bay to be "in the Rockhampton region". The threat to Australia happens to be any country that is an enemy to the United States.

The answer to the second question is Australia is already a target of potential attack because of the alliance of Australia and the United States. Look to the history where Darwin was attacked because of the US navy being anchored in the port of Darwin. If the enemy of the United States wanted to put a dent into the American's military capability, taking out an outpost in the southwest Pacific region would be very helpful. Not that there are not more strategic places that the enemies of the United States could target first.

UnSubRocky wrote on Aug 8^th, 2019 at 8:15pm:


Well. there was actually other reasons why the Japanese attacked Darwin Harbour in 1942, Unsub.   It was a secondary fleet base which backed up Singapore and had several hundred thousand gallons of fuel oil and several thousand rounds of ammunition for ship's guns.  The Japanese felt they were more of a target than a single US freighter or even a US criuser..

Now, we are allied to the US but what value is that alliance?  It appears to be far more valuable to Washington than it is to us.   We have been involved in Vietnam, Somalia, East Timor because of our alliance with the US.  We have lost many Australian sons, fathers, brothers and what have we gained in return?  Cheaper weapons?  We have seen our requests for US aid in four disputes/conflicts we have been involved in (West New Guinea, Kondfrontasi, East Timor I and East Timor II), denied.   Yet it appears our presence in US conflicts is essential (Vietnam, Somalia, Gulf War I, Afghanistan, Gulf War II) to the success of the US effort - diplomatically and militarily.

Personally, I believe we have sold our blood too cheaply.   Our Prime Minister should hesitate a little longer before he picks up the phone to take the call from el Presidente.  Lets make them wait for change and see if they are willing to increase their bid for our support.

As for being a target for any US enemy, well yes and no.  Only the PRC has missiles with the range to reach Australia but why would they bother, unless there were targets here worth attacking, such as US IRBMs?   Afterall, we are more than willing to sell them whatever they desire.

Brian Ross wrote on Aug 8^th, 2019 at 8:41pm:



It's called the nuclear umbrella - check it out.

If there was no request to install missiles in Darwin, then why was the subject even brought up? Is someone testing the water?

Brian Ross wrote on Aug 9^th, 2019 at 12:49pm:

China shouldn't be whinging about increased tensions between our countries when it's getting it's claws into countries very close to us. Namely Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Imagine if China sets up bases in these countries? It's on the cards.

Mr Hammer wrote on Aug 9^th, 2019 at 12:56pm:


In your Sinophobic imagination perhaps, Hammer.  China does not build bases overseas very much.  It has one in Bangladesgh, one in Myanmar, another in Pakistan and minor ones in the Indian Ocean.   Hardly the stance of a country intent on world domination. 



Now compare that to how many the US has around the world...

Brian Ross wrote on Aug 9^th, 2019 at 2:35pm:

What about the ones they have built and are building in international waters via sand dredging? Those ones that are not very far away from Australia?

Brian Ross wrote on Aug 9^th, 2019 at 3:18pm:

You better look it up Brian. Here's a article for you-

Nine News

PM warns China not to consider building naval base in the South Pacific

By Chris Uhlmann • Nine Network Political Editor
4:19pm Apr 10, 2018

The Prime Minister has warned China not to consider building military bases on South Pacific Islands.
"The maintenance of peace and stability in the Pacific is of utmost importance to Australia," Malcolm Turnbull said.
"We would view with great concern the establishment of any foreign military bases in those Pacific Island countries and neighbours of ours."

It comes after a Fairfax Media report which said that there have been early discussions between the Chinese and Vanuatu governments about a military build-up in the island nation.
The Prime Minister said Vanuatu has assured Australia than no approach had been made.

But 9NEWS has confirmed that the Australian Defence Force is aware that China has sounded out Vanuatu about increasing its military engagement.
A senior defence official said China "has certainly expressed its interest" in a greater military presence to the government of the tiny South Pacific nation.

Brian Ross wrote on Aug 9^th, 2019 at 5:13pm:

The article features Turdball's reaction  you silly old fart.

This shows Australians serving both USA & UK 'Unionist' needs - even if they are in other parts of the world.

The day Australia becomes a Republic is the day it becomes part of the Anglo-Saxon Global Empire of Politics where the United Nation's is but its shadow.

Every 'non-Western' nation will let rip into Australia!

Mr Hammer wrote on Aug 9^th, 2019 at 5:19pm:


Turnball, ScoMo, what's the difference, Hammer?  They're both Tory idiots.   

Brian Ross wrote on Aug 9^th, 2019 at 8:28pm:
You may remember the Indos had to be kicked out of TimTim  Brian.

Australia is already a target because of Pine Gap and the Omega stations ... but having intermediate range US missiles actually based on our soil? 

A bridge too far? Just silly, pointless, useless and provocative toward the Chinese.

Leave 'em out.

Darwin's non-military, non-political population are leaving Darwin in droves.
They say they don't want to be around to see a good example of Darwinism at work.

Captain Nemo wrote on Aug 20^th, 2019 at 1:08pm:


Indeed.  Australia's tallest man-made structure, the Omega tower, demolished in Gippsland

Before it was built Omega had become primarily a civilian air navigation system.  The US Navy had stopped using it in the late 1970s and early 1980s.  I wonder why the Chinese would target a system their own aircraft use?

Captain Nemo wrote on Aug 20^th, 2019 at 4:26pm:


Omega used VLF. It was primarily a navigation system initially for Submarines to fix their position to allow them to more accurately target their objectives, thousands of miles away (any navigation problem is one of two positions, your own and where you are going).  Omega however was replaced quite rapidly by GPS in the mid-1980s.

For communications with submarines you require ULF - Ultra Low Frequency radio, which can penetrate the ocean.  Australia has one set for ULF - at NW Cape - which is an ex-US Navy system.  The US Navy rather than relying on ground stations now uses airborne stations on aircraft.  As a consequence they basically abandoned the Harold E. Holt communications base and handed it over to the RAN.