Wednesday, November 16, 2011

U.S. troops headed to Australia, irking China

CANBERRA, Australia — The United States announced plans Wednesday to establish a permanent military presence in Australia, part of a high-profile foreign policy shift toward Asia that is intended as a counterbalance to China’s growing power.

Starting next summer, the United States will send 250 Marines to bases here for six-month tours, eventually rotating 2,500 troops through the country. President Obama announced the partnership at a news conference with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, describing it as a key step in his administration’s evolving emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region as the United States winds down wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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1 comment:

Ecgbert said...

Saw that story earlier today.

So much for the idiots who assumed he would be a peace president.

It's almost official: Australia is an American colony, unofficial since WWII when Aussies realized Britain was broke and couldn't defend them. (Aussie troops fought the Japanese in New Guinea.) Broke from WWI, in the Depression Britain granted independence to its white colonies like Australia and Canada. Essentially after WWII America's taken over the old British Empire.

Loving the mother country is natural and good, but... why this?

Seriously, why does a country of surfers, desert outdoorsmen (Crocodile Dundee) and players of tougher sports than American football (soccer, rugby, Aussie football) need American soldiers protecting it? My guess is they really don't.

And from whom? I don't think China wants to invade.