Antinuclear

Clinton to Australia to sell spy base and military stuff

Australia’s defence planning continues to promote the interoperability of its forces with those of the US, in part through provision of secure bases such as the new tracking station but also through equipment purchases.

An alliance still in the national interests, The Age,November 6, 2010 “…The US is also concerned by China’s increasing military might, which includes a capability for satellite warfare in space. One response to that capability is a satellite tracking station being built on Australian territory.

The base, which will adjoin the US naval communications station at Exmouth in Western Australia, will eavesdrop on foreign satellites and monitor more than 500,000 pieces of space junk – potentially dangerous debris from space missions of various nations – estimated to be in orbit….

Australia’s defence planning continues to promote the interoperability of its forces with those of the US, in part through provision of secure bases such as the new tracking station but also through equipment purchases.

In the latter respect Canberra remains committed to the increasingly expensive – and increasingly contentious – Joint Strike Fighter project, while other US allies such as Britain and Denmark are scaling down their involvement. The Gillard government should at least review its plan to buy 100 of the fighters for an estimated $16.5 billion….

November 6, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, weapons and war | antinuclear, Australia, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear weapons