Australian Defense Minister Stephen Smith will formally welcome the first contingent of U.S. Marines at a ceremony outside of Darwin, after 250 troops arrived Tuesday.
The U.S. troops presence will eventually grow to a 2,500-strong air-ground task force by 2016, as per President Obama’s new bilateral defense deal with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, first announced in November. The deal also includes an increased presence of U.S. warships and military aircraft – including B52 bombers – to operate from Australian bases.
Part of Obama’s ‘strategic pivot’ to Asia-Pacific, the move is aimed at countering growing Chinese military and economic influence in the region. In announcing the expanded military presence President Obama said “it’s important for [China] to play by the rules of the road. We will send a clear message to them that we think they may need to be on track, in terms of accepting the rules and responsibilities of being a world power.”
Traditionally, the “rules and responsibilities of being a world power” means to act in a way that is subservient to the U.S., thus the need for Obama to “send a clear message” of militaristic provocation to the Chinese that their growing influence in recent years are American prerogatives.
To this end, Obama has announced troop deployments to not just to Australia, but to Singapore and the Philippines. He has also strengthened economic and military ties to South Korea, Japan, Thailand, and Guam, all of whom already have significant U.S. military presence.
Former national security adviser to President Jimmy Carter Zbigniew Brzezinski described Obama’s approach as overly confrontational. As he told Slate in January, “to define our engagements in the east in terms of China is a mistake. We have to focus on Asia but not in a manner that plays on everyone’s anxieties … It becomes very easy to demonise China and they will then demonise us in return. Is that what we want?”
The expansion of U.S. military presence in Asia-Pacific occurs despite crippling fiscal deficits and impending cuts to the defense budget. The deployment also has no discernible necessity in terms of defending the nation from a military threat, making the imperial and economic aspects of this particularly blatant.
Can some bright soul out there please reveal …… Why China, and why China NOW….??? Does the doughnut really think 2500 Marines will cower China's votes on Syria and the roster of Neocon projects [Iran] that America has been drafted into…???
Not that I qualify, but I suspect you really know the answer already, MvG; establishing the next boogie-man. As to "NOW", from what I've read the USAF & USN have been promoting China as a foil to grab funding for new toys for the past few years.
I am perplexed as to why China is willing to fund such actions. I marvel at the whole idea of Uncle Sam escalating tensions with His banker and a banker possessing sizeable manufacturing capacity, to boot.
But then I also fail to understand pundits lately denouncing the "paranoia of Putin" as Romney clucks about the "Russian threat".
These are all trip wires for further belligerence.
It's what the 2500 are preparing for that will matter…I imagine these 2500 are there to create and expand existing infrastructure to support a much larger for, including air forces – probably long range bombers and the "secret" nukes they'll lager close-at-hand. I'd count on the local populations to eventually rise up in opposition once it becomes clear that, with the US forces there, if there should be an actual physical confrontation between the Chinese and the US, Darwin will assuredly be one of the high priority targets – well within the range of the Chinese missiles. I wonder how long it'll be before funding for another "missile shield" will start it's way thru the Congress?
Never underestimate the power of terrorism and false flags. Look at what they've done with those two little tools in the Middle East, Europe & right here in the US. Divide and you'll conquer. Won't be long now before Australia is plagued with all kinds of "terrorist" attacks and the fear and paranoia take over and sow the seeds for the Right Wing Fascists to do their best work. History repeats itself again and again and again. The Empire probably sees Australia as its colony now.
Being a person that lives in Darwin, the Marines will not have a base of their own, they will be housed on an Existing Australian Army base and the troops will be rotated through on a training basis. Darwin has several tropical/savanah large scale training areas.
"Say hello to my little friend", the JL-2, you will now live under her shadow.
Well, that certainly takes care of that little problem, eh?
Enjoy your pact with the devil. And don't ever say that you weren't warned.
Darwin will be a lot worse off for their being there.
I hope the Chinese inform our new hosts that by allowing the presence of these shock troops, that Australia will now be on a targeting list for China's ICBM's. After all it's the way to follow the "rules and responsibilities" of which Obama speaks.
If there was a democracy in the US the two party system would demolish itself and give the alternative voice a chance to be heard, if there was a functioning democracy in US these two systems wouldn't be the only voice out there, the media would invited all other to joying in and say their part of political view. So what is left, US is and have been a military regime growing rapidly in in last 22 years, its been produced, constructed by non but these two political system. For last 60 years if not more, US is at war, creating wars and committing war crimes all over the world, from Vietnam to Balkan to Afghanistan to Iraq and Etc.
The system itself is so divided, corrupt and involved in its militarism aspect that both system have no other option left when it comes to democracy, they are deep into militarizing the entire world, that is to say if thats enough for the system. But I wonder if China got paid when the payment was due on the last months of 2011….?
There goes the neighborhood. I hope Aussies realize that Fascism has just arrived at their shores. Won't be long now before Australia looks like Iraq or Lebanon.
Bi-lateral defense deal? So Obama will be welcoming Australian troops onto US soil and allowing them to set up a base and operate under a SOFA giving them immunity against prosecution? Nah – I doubt it.
What if China established a military base in say, Costa Rica? I guess the M.I.C. just has to find some new "enemy" to justify its parasitic existence. A few muslim guys in caves in Afghanistan is growing old….
A new vassal state for the empire to imperil. Ask the folks on Okinawa how great it is to have marines there.
Reading these comments make me shudder. There is little knowledge in them. First of note is that it was AUSTRALIA who actively pursued this contingent not the US who initially suggested it – there goes the imperial monster aspect. Why did they request it? Simple really, CHINA was starting to throw its' weight around and take for granted that it could do what it wanted, a reality check was needed to allow it to reconsider. Australia could not do this, remember prosperity for Australia has come on the back of China, yet it needed to do this so that China understood it has to separate business from politics. The US economy is now picking up by the way. So i would say that 99% of comments on here are just hogwash and posted with little knowledge!
To the dope who posted a comment about "what if China established a military post in Costa Rica?" Well they have already been active in pursuing military bases in Australia's region, so why not a counter? They have also been making military threats to the Philippines and claiming territoral rights in areas where there are already clearly defined guides. They and NOT the US are building up arms and military might. Australia lives in the region and has about the same population as greater N Y city. I really don't think they want to be a vassal state to China and are already close culturally to the US so that point is stupid! As to the foolish comment on Bi Lateral defence it was Australia who enacted the ANZUS treaty (however stupid this was) to enter the war in Iraq as one of only 3 countries involved from the outset – it was NOT a US request – so Bi Lateral – i think so. To allow China to gain ascendancy in this part of the world – would not that mean the neighbourhood is then gone? To act prudently to avoid a confrontation by thus sending a message of a unified commitment NOT of containment, but of WILL to resist if it is put to the test – will actually be in the interest of peace, rather than by taking NO action would undoubtedly see China push the envelope at a later stage – history repeating itself? NO – rather LEARNING from the mistake of not taking adequate action early enough!