SYDNEY - U.S. President Barack Obama will use a visit to Australia next week to announce that America will begin stationing Marines at a base in Darwin, reports said on Nov. 11.This has been a long time in coming but if I remember my geography correctly, it seems like the Marines have found a 29 Palms west....only with a bunch of critters that can kill ya.
In a front page exclusive, the Sydney Morning Herald said the new permanent military presence was a sign of heightened concern about the rise of China.
But seriously, it would appear that the move toward the Pacific has begun in earnest...next step? Get outta Japan so we don't have to hear the nationals crying about us being there.
This is amazing news! I've always loved working with the aussies! And well I would much rather do a udp to Australia than okinawa
ReplyDeleteits beyond amazing.
ReplyDeletei've heard the rumors for years but they finally appear to have done it.
i think next you will see fleet pre-positioning more, and maybe a build up in diego garcia of air forces, maybe more B2s there?
ReplyDeleteThe training we could do their with the aussies will be amazing. The bonds we will build is going to be Awsome
ReplyDeletefrom what i understand Diego Garcia is about maxed out....besides that's really a Air Force, Navy operation. what you'll probably see is this base turning joint cause i know the army is ready to pile into the pacific.
ReplyDeleteAs an Aussie, frankly I'd prefer some air or naval bases, but I suppose a Marine presence is a good start.
ReplyDeleteHey you blokes wouldn't be interested in basing a couple of PAC-3 batteries, a couple of THAAD batteries, a fighter wing, 3-5 extra tankers, 2 surface action groups and a couple of subs down here too by any chance would you?
ReplyDelete(Not that I'm trying to sponge off the USA to cover our force structure shortfalls or anything...)
:D
Aussie Digger; I wouldn't be surprised if eventually they started to deploy some MAG assets there. Who knows? Maybe you'll be seeing F-35B's there someday. Also, the idea that it could end up as a joint base with the Army, as Sol suggested, is not too far fetched. That means lots of helicopters, and to me that seems like a prime ah-64 training area. All of that outback could probably make a great gunnery range.
ReplyDeleteYou are right about Japan being the next step.
ReplyDelete