Statements by top US military chief General Charles Robertson that the US needs more bases in Australia and other Asia-Pacific sites is further proof that the US Government is turning its attention away from the Europe and towards our region. With an Australian Prime Minister who wants to be US "deputy sheriff", we may see the already excessive 30 US bases in Australia swell to include US troops and weaponry stationed in this country.
By Denis Doherty
AABCC Co-Ordinator

The call for more US bases comes on the back of US moves to develop its National Missile Defence (NMD) and its policy to thwart China's desire for a united China which will include Taiwan.

NMD is a deliberately aggressive policy and has nothing to do with defence. It is the projection of US power into space so that quite literally the US can attack any terrestrial target without fear of retaliation. US military chiefs already talk of controlling space as the colonial powers controlled the sea in the 17th, 18th and 19th Centuries.

A recently released US strategic review which suggests the US reorder its priorities in response to an "aggressive" China also forms a backdrop to the demand for more US bases in Australia.

In 2000, for the first time ever, the US held more military exercises in the Asia-Pacific region than in the European 'theatre'. The evidence is overwhelming that the US and its allies are positioning themselves to fight China.

The ABC program Foreign Correspondent (19/6/01) reported on a US exercise called Cobra in Thailand to strengthen its border against China. Australia has just seen the Tandem Thrust exercise that was designed to improve US-Australian joint operations in sea borne invasions.

General Robertson, chief of the US mobility command, complained last week that US forces had "a very, very small toehold in Australia". He also mentioned New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand and the Indian Ocean.
Just what is this "small toehold" that the US has in Australia?

The US has permanent facilities with a range of sophisticated electronic, communications and intelligence gathering abilities. It has unlimited access to all Australian Defence Force (ADF) training facilities, such as the bombing range at Delamere near Katherine and the jungle training area at Shoal Bay near Rockhampton.

The use of all these facilities is subsidised by subservient Australian Governments, both Liberal and Labor.

Treaties and other agreements exist which put Australian ports, airports and military bases at the disposal of the US military in the case of an emergency.
In the event of military action, the US already has in place the necessary formal agreements and the lines of communication, intelligence and logistics needed for them to use Australian territory. Such joint operations have already been tested and practised in war games.

Not satisfied with these major contributions to the US by successive sycophantic Australian Governments, the US military now wants to put its jack-booted foot on our country through even more military bases.
One facility frequently mentioned is a US marine base at Darwin to replace a similar facility that had aroused the fury of the local community at Okinawa in Japan. RAAF bases are also in line for use by the US military so they can have high speed transport aircraft ready to overcome 'the tyranny of distance in the Asia-Pacific region'.

Every year talks are held between the Australian and US Foreign and Defence Ministers. This year it is Washington's turn to play host. The Howard Government is keen to gain and flaunt US approval in an election year. The ALP is critical (in opposition) of NMD but still supports the bases and other facilities the US has in Australia.

A major fight is looming to protect Australia's interests and to prevent Australia becoming even more involved in US aggression against China.