Antinuclear

Nuclear submarines for Australia? a pipedream

the issue of US bases might be about to re-emerge as a hot-button political issue….Nuclear submarines are a pipedream.

Conflict looms over US military presence in Australia – Unleashed (Australian Broadcasting Corporation), Adam Lockyer and Rob Muir, 22 Feb 2011, For two decades, the issue of US bases in Australia has remained dormant. The Government and community seem to have become comfortable with their presence, as long as they are perceived as passive.

There was barely a whimper when, in 2007, approval was given for a new joint communications centre in Geraldton, WA. This was mirrored in late 2010, when arrangements were made to share training facilities.

Nevertheless, the issue of US bases might be about to re-emerge as a hot-button political issue.
This month has witnessed a radical change in the tone used in defence discourse. It was triggered by a new paper by Professor Ross Babbage, calling upon Australia to completely reconfigure its defence strategy in order to deter China, or in his previous parlance, to prepare to “rip an arm off” China.

The paper called for: the purchase of 12 nuclear powered Virginia-class submarines, instead of the locally-made conventional submarines currently planned; increased cyber-warfare capabilities; the acquisition of ballistic and cruise missiles with 20 “arsenal” ships to fire them; the reconfiguration of the army to perform long-range strike missions; and, most importantly, to increase the number of US military bases in Australia.

Defence hawks flocked to the idea….
…Given the level of support it has received, and the prominence of American bases within the plan, it might be timely to evaluate this element…….
Nuclear submarines are a pipedream. The US government, the Australian public and logistical and operational hurdles make it impossible. Similarly, the massive conventional submarine program envisaged in the 2009 White Paper is unlikely.…Conflict looms over US military presence in Australia – Unleashed (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

February 22, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, weapons and war