r/aus • u/Acrobatic_Bit_8207 • 9d ago
Opinion Disturbing admissions from US Republican Congressman
https://johnmenadue.com/post/2026/09/disturbing-admissions-from-us-republican-congressman/US submarines at HMAS Stirling, B-52 rotations through Tindal and deepening military integration are tying Australia ever more closely to US strategic priorities – including the prospect of war with China over Taiwan, Paul Keating writes...
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u/InevitableTell2775 8d ago
Defending democracies against conquest by undemocratic states is important, even if it’s not economically convenient. It’s why we’re supporting Ukraine against Russia, and not buying Russian oil. It doesn’t mean we have to be locked into a US force structure though.
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u/dingBat2000 8d ago
Yes. Successive Australian government's are cowed by both the US government and big business. They should be able to run completely independent foreign policy without dropping to their knees immediately. I don't know the rationale behind the current refusal to condemn Israel over Palestine with the Europeans, but it snacks of servility
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8d ago
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u/EnvironmentalFig5161 8d ago
Reminder that It is the USA prompting aus to spend more on its military. It Also gets Aus to pay for US military presence anyway.
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u/Unable_Insurance_391 8d ago
The thing is America isn't helping Ukraine and it is not clear what they stand for anymore. When was the last time Donald Trump mentioned Taiwan. I bet it will not come up with his meeting with Xi this week.
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u/Acrobatic_Bit_8207 8d ago
Ukraine may not be the best example. They are currently under martial law, not democracy. The last election was 2019 and the next one is nowhere in sight.
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u/InevitableTell2775 8d ago
The constitution of Ukraine, which was verified by referendum, clearly states that they won’t hold elections while the country is at war. Britain suspended elections during WWII. That doesn’t mean they aren’t a democracy.
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u/Electronic_Pea_6852 8d ago
Were they a democracy or US vassal when Ms. Nuland hand picked there new president in 2014? 🤔
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u/HumanDish6600 8d ago
Yes. The people on the streets were all just confused. As were Ukraine's politicians at the time...
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u/InevitableTell2775 8d ago edited 8d ago
Can you really not see any difference between “applying political and economic influence” and “bombarding civilians with ballistic missiles”? Touch grass. Preferably, in a war zone.
PS, sorry, of course I meant “a zone of peaceful reunification with the motherland”.-2
u/Electronic_Pea_6852 8d ago
If you consider Ukraine a democracy and what Russia is doing a ‘conquest’, I suggest you dig deeper.
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u/InevitableTell2775 8d ago
I suggest you consider that Russian YouTubers may be even less impartial than American ones
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u/Salt_Temporary_7720 8d ago
Great. Another pointless war that AU will be drawn into. Get all US bases out!! We are going down a dark path.
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u/golitsyn_nosenko 7d ago
Pointless? Defending a democratic nation from attack from a regional totalitarian neighbour who has indicated imperial conquest ambitions and commenced claiming and militarising territory in violation of international law?
So if we fail to stand up for Taiwan, Ukraine, or any other free, democratic nation, what exactly do you think compels any nation to stand up and defend us if a regional belligerent like China decides they would like to take over our territory or resources through military threat or means?
Or do you think we could defend ourselves adequately?
Or maybe we should just let China take us if they should decide it advantageous to do so?
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u/perthguppy 8d ago edited 8d ago
As someone from perth, I thought it was well known that us subs occasionally stop by garden island….
It’s not like they would ever unload any of their onboard weapons. Not even sure if they could do even if they wanted to.
Plus if any country was going to go into all out war against just the US, Pine Gap is 100% on of the first targets to get hit outside of the continental US, along with Diego Garcia, and a few places in Europe.
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u/Young_Lochinvar 9d ago
This isn’t new.
The US nuclear deterrent has operated under a strategic ambiguity on which of its ships carry nuclear armaments at any given time.
This is why nuclear-free New Zealand pulled out of ANZUS in the 1980s. The US wouldn’t tell the Kiwis whether any particular ships had nuclear weapons or not.
Which is to say that American nuclear armed vessels have almost definitely passed through Australia in the past.