Posted on 06/09/2022 3:19:41 AM PDT by markomalley
Australia’s government lashed out at “loose” comments by the former defence minister Thursday, after he revealed sensitive plans to buy US nuclear-powered submarines over their British rivals.
Peter Dutton, who left office as defence minister a few weeks ago after his conservative coalition lost elections, disclosed his previously secret plans to choose the US Virginia-class submarines.
The multibillion-dollar project is the centrepiece of Australian efforts to toughen its defences in the face of a more belligerent China under President Xi Jinping.
The comments by Dutton, who is now opposition leader, were “damaging to Australia’s national interest”, said the new defence minister and deputy prime minister, Richard Marles.
(Excerpt) Read more at insiderpaper.com ...
Business as usual.
We all know, classified information when leaked, openly blasted, or accidentally spilled ONLY matters if you’re a low level pee-on. If you’re a higher level political figure, then classified information is just a tool you can use in political chess games without consequence.
Now, if this were some junior enlisted kid or officer, holy shit! They would nail him to the wall, beat him with a Bible and then crucify him with the “justice system.”
Some kid taking pics of where he lives and works: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/08/01/sailor-faces-charges-submarine-photos-cellphone/31005689/
Glad (or not) to see Australia is just like us in that respect too.
My guess is that the leak is intended to lock the current Leftwing government into a purchase from the US instead of Britain. Calling a leak of a political decision a leak of classified information is over-reach.
My guess is that the leak is intended to lock the current Leftwing government into a purchase from the US instead of Britain. Calling a leak of a political decision a leak of classified information is over-reach.
Australia had a very serious problem recruiting enough Navy personnel to staff their Collins-Class submarines.
I hope they can muster the crews necessary for a Virginia-Class submarine or 6.
Comments?
Ever owned a British vehicle ?
Two German vehicles.
Never again.
Both were joys to drive when they worked. When they had any kind of a problem (and that happened far more often than it should've), they quickly turned into nightmares.
Japanese vehicles ONLY from now on. They can be assembled in the US, but need to be designed in Japan. Period.
The Brits haven't even figured out how to brush their teeth, let alone how to get the screen doors off of their subs.
There is a limited to the number of subs that the U.S. can build at any one time. Building subs for Australia will delay the delivery of subs to the U.S. Navy.
Funny, but I already knew that. I am pretty sure, there was a story about the subs coming from the US and some of the accoutrements from Great Britain, not long after the story broke about the sub deal with France being scrapped..
I had a coupla beemers and a dozen Mercedes and all were good cars.
The BMWs were way less reliable and had to be taken in for breakdowns way more than the kraut cars.
Since I retired, nothing but Toyota products, Rav4, Highlander, Camry, it doesn't matter, they rarely break.
The last American designed car I owned was a Caddy from the 70s, POS.
It was known as a Rolls Hardly, rollled down one hill, hardly made the next hill.
I bought it right off of the dealer floor, kept it less than a year and had it towed more than I drove it.
Never again.
It’s the curse of Joe Lucas...
As long as the reactor isn’t made by Lucas...:)
Nice post.
My family was VW for the car side of things for the 60’s through 90’s—but the last purchase was a Vanagon in ‘84 that was minimal for problems and lasted 15 years.
While I’m Toyota all the way in some ways, I would prefer that all the parts were made in and easily available in North America. The supply chain is becoming more problematic.
Lucas, Prince of Darkness
I’ve been driving a Kia for the past couple of years. Very reliable and great value for money. Here in Australia the go to brands for good and reliable cars are Toyota, Kia, and Hyundai.
Exception: Hyundai Anything that’s painted white the paint peels off all the time a class action lawsuit against Hyundai was in place in Cal but a Obama appointed judge decided that paint only has to last to the open door of the sales room...White especially..
You know Hyundai is Korean, not Japanese, right?
I trust Peter Dutton’s judgement more than I do the Labor party’s.
I also knew about the information he ‘disclosed’ which suggests it wasn’t all that secret and hasn’t been for a while - it’s been quite a long time since I had any special access to secret information.
Labor is trying to score political points.
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