U.S. war criminals in Oz as Australia boosts its involvement in U.S. war machine

Hillary Clinton arrived in Melbourne today (6/11/2010) and will soon be joined by Secretary of Defence Robert Gates. These high level U.S. war criminals will then be meeting the Prime Minister and other politicians as part of the annual AUSMIN talks in Canberra on Monday. The whole visit and itinerary has been kept secret, supposedly for "security" but more likely to prevent any public protests against U.S. imperialism and the U.S. Australian alliance. On the agenda for the talks include the development of new U.S. bases in Australia, escalation of the conflict with Iran and of course Australia's involvement in the increasingly bloody Afghan war. If anyone has any details of any snap protests planned please post ASAP.

Reports from the mainstream press reveal the visit is part of the Gillard government's increasing involvement in the U.S. War machine.

More U.S. Military Hardware in Australia
The Age reveals that the U.S.will store equipment and supplies in Australia as part of a new regional posture to respond to natural disasters and "other contingencies". Presumably these "other contingencies" include potential military conflicts with the rising power in the regions China.

More training with U.S. forces
The Age also revealed more intensive training with Australian force

A new U.S. Space Warfare Base in West Australia
Robert Gates is expected to announce the building of a new U.S. base at the Harold E Holt Naval communications station at Exmouth in West Australia. Laughingly defended in The Australian as not US bases as such, but truly joint facilities, this base is squarely aimed at ensuring the U.S. continues to militarise space and achieve hegemony down here on earth. It is being presented as a response to China’s 2007 shooting down of old satellite, which is again laughable China’s action was in itself a response to U.S. moves to use space for its own military ends. Whatever the case, like Pine Gap, Australia is again providing essential support to the U.S. nuclear war machine, a contribution more important in reality than any contribution of a few thousand troops in Afghanistan or Iraq.

More U.S. naval ships to visit Australian ports
As part of the U.S. projecting its military power into the Asia Pacific to contain Chinese power, we can expect more nuclear armed and powered vessels in Australian waters.

Preparing for war on Iran
As the U.S. prepares the option of military action against Iran, according to the Australian The two sides will enhance co-operation on Iran. A sinister phrase given Australia’s involvement in both the initial invasion of Afghanistan and its membership of the “Coalition of the Willing” in the illegal invasion of Iraq.

Continued warfare in Afghanistan
Gillard was reported in the Herald Sun as saying "I think Australians are concerned about the war in Afghanistan – they’re concerned about our troops there, they’re concerned about our strategy and what happens next," she said. She has already committed Australian troops to Afghanistan for next ten years and it will be interesting to see if the U.S. demands an increased level of troops from Australia for this bloody and unpopular war.

Hilary Clinton is apparently also giving a televised discussion with “young Australians” at a secret location tomorrow on Sunday. To submit questions visit this site for details .

It is a real shame that due to the secret nature of this visit, Australians did not have the opportunity to show what they thought of the criminal nature of the U.S. wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere around the world and to declare that we don’t all agree that Australia should blindly follow and support the U.S. in its new Cold War with China in the Asia Pacific.

To protest the Afghan war though please consider attending a demonstration in Melbourne on Friday 12th of November.

Visit some Australian peace web sites to learn more about the campaign against Australia’s involvement in the U.S. war machine

Anti-U.S. Base Campaign
http://www.anti-bases.org/

Protest campaign against Australia – U.S. war games held every two years in Qld
http://www.peaceconvergence.com/

Info about the non-violent Afghan war civil disobedience action taken at Swan Island near Melbourne
http://nonviolencestories.wordpress.com/

Stand Fast – War veterans against Afghan War.
http://stand-fast.webs.com/