The United States has developed a new defence outlook that will see it bringing forces presently stationed in Europe into our part of the world. This has resulted in rumours that the US may be quietly negotiating with Australia to base a carrier battle group at West Australia's HMAS Stirling.
As part of the US troop buildup we are now sharing training facilities with US Marines in the Northern Territory. The prospect of a carrier battled group calling HMAS Stirling it's home port would be the equivalent to bringing a new industry to Australia, generating more trade money than the existing car manufacturing and steel production in this country - combined.
The presence of a carrier battle group would involve the stationing of at least one of the US Navy's twelve nuclear powered aircraft carriers in Australia, with nine squadrons of attack aircraft and support from at least two missile cruisers, numerous destroyers and frigates - and attack class submarines. Such a battle group would comprise men and women in uniform in numbers consistent with those of a new city.
It would not be without costs to the Australian taxpayer. It would require a huge expansion of HMAS Stirling and we would be called upon to virtually build a new city to house our visitors, but playing host to the US Navy would be a big boost to the Australian economy. It would be ongoing, and it would more than compensate for the nine billion dollars such a plan is expected to incur in development costs.
If this rumour progresses to a definite proposal, it will stir conflicting passions in this country. There is a distinct left wing anti-American slant present in some Australian minds and those people already resent any form of cooperation with the Americans. Against that, our defence capacity would gain an amazing lift. We have a defence treaty with the US that insists on a mutual defence pact, but the presence of a naval battle group would certainly make any potential aggressor think long and hard.
The anti-American lobby will protest that hosting a US battle group will make us a nuclear target in the event of an Asian war. It is also inevitable that those people violently opposed to nuclear reactors will be horrified at the prospect of nuclear propelled naval vessels, equipped with nuclear weapons - being welcomed into Australian waters. Then there is the matter of politics. The various political parties will need to look at the voting intentions of their supporters before they commit either way to such a proposal - if it eventuates.
We live in uncertain economic times. The Euro countries are facing massive fiscal shortfalls and their long term fate is uncertain. We are experiencing a minerals boom, but we are also losing manufacturing industries to low labour cost countries. The prospect of a housing boom to accommodate the US fleet and the massive building programme to expand HMAS Stirling would be a huge shot in the arm for the Australian economy - and it would progress for at least a decade.
If rumour progresses to fact, we would be wise to give it at least careful consideration. Weigh up all the pros and cons - and keep in mind that old adage that warns us " to be careful abut what we wish for ! "
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