chicken_lipsforme wrote on Nov 17^th, 2011 at 7:42am:


Well, suspending partisanship for a moment, is it? We haven't been told much detail about these arrangements have we? Leaving aside interrorgations who's going to be doing the castering? What are the employment and economic benefits for Australia?

You will find that US military bases are self contained communities and the occupants have little need to rely on local businesses for their needs. given that 2500 personnel is a fairly small size by US standards there may not be the full range of facilities but there will be bars, fast food outlets, shops and recreational facilities that will be much cheaper than the local alternatives.

It's a Marine base....I'd think they'll...

You will find that US military bases are self contained communities and the occupants have little need to rely on local businesses for their needs. given that 2500 personnel is a fairly small size by US standards there may not be the full range of facilities but there will be bars, fast food outlets, shops and recreational facilities that will be much cheaper than the local alternatives.

The post exchange (PX) is the largest military exchange in south eastern Europe and contains all the necessities and more that someone may need while in Kosovo, including TVs, phones, books, DVDs, CDs, small furniture, video games, computers, clothes, shoes, food, and more, all in its two story building.[1] The base also has, arguably, the best hospital in Kosovo; a movie theater; one gym; two recreation buildings that have phones, computers with internet connection, pool tables, video games and more; one chapel with various religious services and other activities; one large dining facility; a fire station; a military police station; the Laura Bush education center where classes are offered through the University of Maryland University College and Central Texas College; two cappuccino bars, a Burger King, Taco Bell, and an Anthony's Pizza pizzeria; one barber shops; one laundry facilities employing local nationals who do the laundry for those living on base; one press shops; a sewing shop; My Thai massage shops employing mostly Thai women who conduct various massages and are regulated by military officials;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Bondsteel

Quote:


You can stop right there.

Belgarion wrote on Nov 17^th, 2011 at 11:28am:


That's right, and personally I doubt very much that it'll stop at 2,500 for long. That's just getting a foot in the door. So unless there's a contract for buying local all we have is a loss of sovreignty weighed against strategic interests. And the strategic interests are extremely complex.

There's no doubt that Gillard's reversal of policy regarding supply of uranium to India is part of the strategic tapestry she's neen weaving with Obama over the past month. Geographically Darwin would complete a network of major US bases. And is particularly necessary as some, like Okinawa. Come under regular unfavourable scrutiny by host nations.

http://www.jcp.or.jp/tokusyu/okinawa/Okinawa.pdf

http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0115-08.htm

I'm quite aware that those links come from what might be viewed as exteme left positions. Nevertheless the facts are facts. Do we really want a 'camp bondsteel' in the NT.?

Quote:

We don't know the ins and outs of this arrangement yet. It may be that the facilites built for the US forces are integrated into the Australian base and there will not be the 'little America' setup common to US overseas bases. However if this is to be a permanent arrangement I can see the US eventuallly wanting to construct the facilites their people are used to on an overseas posting.

It may not reach the totally self sufficient stage it does in other parts of the world, but the US personnel stationed there will not need to shop in the local community for all their needs either.

Belgarion wrote on Nov 17^th, 2011 at 1:53pm:



Here's the 'ins and outs', they will be based at Robertson Barracks, it's an Australian military facility, they will intergrate with the standards of the base as they have always done in the past.

Yeh, that's right the US has had a semi-permenant presence on Australian bases before and that caused a huge problem didn't it?

They did not:

build their own base within our base

import their food from the US

expand exponetially from the argeed contingent

commit crimes against Australians and evade justice.

You people are carrying on like we're being friggen invaded and taken over by the US.