"robert arndt" wrote in message
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"The Raven" wrote in message
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"Chad Irby" wrote in message
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In article ,
(robert arndt) wrote:

I say sell Oz some surplus strategic bombers and throw in some
tactical nukes for good measure. That ought to send a message to
Australia's asian neighbors in the region that are contemplating
using
WMDs against Australian citizens or supplying them to terrorists.

Why in the world would the US want to sell someone else nukes, when we
can drop one anywhere on the planet with 12 hours notice, and keep
control over the ones we have?

By putting them into the hands of allies the US can play Pontious Pilate
if
need be.

The Raven

Tell me, what is there to prevent North Korea from selling some nukes
to Al Qaida for immediate shipment to targets in the US, UK, and
Australia once the N Koreans have produced a significant quantity?

One could say the same thing about any number of countries.

Firstly, would NK want to sell nukes?
Do they have "sufficient" numbers? If not, when would that be?
Would they want to sell them to Al Qaeda?
Would Al Qaeda be able to afford them?
Would they be able to deliver them to the customer without being detected?

I'd
say that would enable THEM to play Pilate wouldn't you say?

I see your point but I think that situation is highly unlikely considering
how closely they are being watched.

Australia is at a crossroads right now militarily.

Why?

They are a lot
closer to Indonesia, North Korea, China, and the Phillipines than we
are.
The threat of war closer to their home is valid and the
Australian forces must now switch from a defensive posture to an
offensive one- ready to respond to any provocation against their
nation.

Australia has no hope of sustaining any offensive actions against a
neighbour, not without a lot of support from it's allies........

Australia has no plans for any offensive actions and realises it would be
difficult to defend itself from a landed attack. The concept has always been
to hold any enemies off at a distance. Stop them before they get to
Australia otherwise it's going to be hard to stop them.

Having said that, Australias greatest defence is it's natural environment
and distances. Logistics for any sort of invading force would be near
impossible to maintain.

If they want to purchase strategic bombers and tactical nukes
then that's alright by me...

Australia already has strategic bombers capable of dropping nukes. Just no
nukes.

the US has enough to spare.
Just imagine what's going to happen if war breaks out against N Korea
and China gets involved in the Taiwan Straight. No more "easy wars
against pathetic nations". Both N Korea and China will have the
capability of hitting us with nukes along with the uneasy Japanese and
S Koreans caught in the middle.

Which "us" are you talking about, America presumably.

You seem to be implying that if Australia had nukes the chances of a nuclear
war would be diminished...........

War could easily spread southward as
terrorists attempt to aquire WMDs. Sydney would make an excellent
target. All it would take is a small ship with a WMD detonated in the
harbor.

You don't need a WMD to attack Australia. As far as Sydney is concerned, we
could do without it.

Maybe as an American you could care less.

I'm not American and don't live in America.

But Oz doesn't want a 9/11
to happen to them. And they HAVE been threatened already by Al Qaida
cells operating in Indonesia and the Phillipines.

You need to see these threats for what they are, scare tactics to make
Australia reconsider assisting the US. Sure, the threats still need to be
treated with respect .

Australia was one of the few nations that actually provided combat
troops for OIF. We needed them and they did an excellent job with a
mere 2000 troops. I say give the Aussies what they need.

The real question is "Does Australia really want nuclear weapons with all
the political, economic, and diplomatic issues it will raise?"

I think it would set Australia up as a bigger terrorist target than ever.

The Raven