[Bernard Marx]

Will the US help then?

Of course we will, both because we have a long-standing alliance with the Aussies however wrong-headed any particular government may be; and because Oz is of critical strategic importance in the coming clash over control of the Pacific. We're seeing pretty much the same scenario starting to be played out with the Chinese as happened with the Japanese.

The Japanese Greater Economic Co-Prosperity Sphere (did I remember the name right?) envisioned control of all the resources from Japan south to Oz. China has much the same ambition and is building the blue water fleet to implement it. We won't sit still and let that happen. Neither will Australia when their wake-up call comes.

[tanknetter]

The Japanese Greater Economic Co-Prosperity Sphere (did I remember the name right?) envisioned control of all the resources from Japan south to Oz. China has much the same ambition and is building the blue water fleet to implement it. We won't sit still and let that happen. Neither will Australia when their wake-up call comes.

The frustrating thing, as an American, is that twerps like Rudd know this and know that the US won't just surrender its strategic interests in the area by walking away. They get carte blanche to pander to the base-voters in their Leftist coalitions, knowing that Uncle Suger WILL be their to pull their a**es out of the fire if (when?) things get rough.