US gets military base in Western Australia

[Doondoo]

AUSTRALIA'S close defence alliance with the United States is to be further entrenched with the building of a new US military communications base at Geraldton in Western Australia.

The Age has learned that the US is to build the base, which follows three years of secret negotiations with Canberra.

The base will provide a crucial link for a new network of military satellites that will help America's ability to fight wars in the Middle East and Asia.

.....

The base, about 370 kilometres north of Perth, will control two of five geostationary satellites — those with the highest priority parked over the Indian Ocean to monitor the unstable Middle East. Building may start within months.

Visiting fellow at the Australian Defence Force Academy Philip Dorling said that once the base was operating, it would be almost impossible for Australia to be fully neutral or stand back from any war in which the US was involved.


http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/us-gets-military-base-in-australia/2007/02/14/1171405295243.html

[Selatius]

1. I'm sure China and India are not happy with the news, especially China

China is fed up with foreign intervention and foreign colonial domination and foreign interference in their neck of the woods. It might be why they decided it was proper to build anti-satellite missile systems.

[rodeodance]

2. so, the Aussies will be glued to us forever, whatever we do!

Visiting fellow at the Australian Defence Force Academy Philip Dorling said that once the base was operating, it would be almost impossible for Australia to be fully neutral or stand back from any war in which the US was involved.

[GregW]

3. They already are

Via the installations at Pine Gap (CIA) and North West Cape (Navy VLF)

[IndianaGreen]

4. Is this the reason PM John Howard attacked Obama?

Howard got paid by Bush to surrender Aussie sovereignty to US military adventures, and in gratitude, Howard decided to attack Obama because the election of an antiwar President would lead to no more money for American lapdogs.

[no safe haven]

6. Australian sovereignty was sold off long ago

by Liberal Party sycophants. Howard is no different to Harold Holt who signed an agreement with LBJ for a spy satellite facility at Pine Gap in 1966 during the Vietnam War era. This current spy station is the post-911 equivalent, and Howard, like the good little lapdog he is, acquiesces to all WH directives.

[ohio2007]

5. How many square meters will this communication station occupy?

Sounds like it's only going to be the size of a radio station, not exactly a sprawling US embassy compound located in the green zone.

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2007/02/14/15N_PINE_GAP_wideweb__470x218,0.jpg

Looks more like renting an outbuilding in the outback .

[Thothmes]

7. Australian Base

Not sure this is such a big deal. U.S. Navy has maintained a communications station (Harold E. Holt) since as least the early 70s that I know of.