Guest Nanks Report post Posted November 5, 2004 The United States is preparing to test new-generation weapons, including smart bombs, on Australian territory under an agreement currently under negotiation. Brisbane's Courier-Mail newspaper today revealed Canberra and Washington were currently hammering out a new defence training agreement which included multi-million upgrades to Queensland's Shoalwater Bay facility and the Northern Territory's Bradshaw training area and the Delamere Air Weapons Range. Former ANZUS treaty adviser Ross Babbage, who has just returned from defence briefings in the US, revealed that tactics and cutting-edge communications would also be tested under the proposals, bringing the two nations closer together. Professor Babbage said there would be experimentation with self-guided smart bombs and live or "dummy" bombing raids into Australia from US aircraft carriers. He said smaller versions of smart bombs, which could pinpoint hinges on tanks, would also be experimented with, while Bradshaw would host extensive special operations, ground forces and surveillance training. A joint training centre would be built to link Australian and US forces and provide real-time battlefield assessments. Prof Babbage said the public had not yet been told the significance and benefit of the training to Australian forces. "What I can see happening is rather more than what has been revealed," Prof Babbage told the newspaper. "There will be things that will be learned together, they will try completely new things." Prof Babbage said the deal would send a strong message to the region of US support for Australia I know it's not in the least bit interesting, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to use that thread title. Carry on. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
teke184 0 Report post Posted November 5, 2004 I'm wondering how long it will take before the people of Vieques, Puerto Rico, start bitching about their jobs getting outsourced... Motherfuckers only bitched for 20 years about the testing range and then, when it closed, they bitched about how all the jobs dried up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
edotherocket 0 Report post Posted November 5, 2004 Meh...there's a lot of empty space here. Might as well use it for something. Don't see why you guys can't do this sort of thing in the States though. Is it cheaper to do it here (like making movies) or something? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NoCalMike 0 Report post Posted November 5, 2004 I'm wondering how long it will take before the people of Vieques, Puerto Rico, start bitching about their jobs getting outsourced... Motherfuckers only bitched for 20 years about the testing range and then, when it closed, they bitched about how all the jobs dried up. or the fact that it left the area a disaster. Doesn't sound very appealing to foreign countries I am sure to know that America shall be testing new weapons in your country. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slayer 0 Report post Posted November 5, 2004 Good, I could use some cultivated land from down under, plus it should get rid of any pesky Aussies in the way. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Agent of Oblivion Report post Posted November 5, 2004 I'm sure they're being compensated well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2GOLD 0 Report post Posted November 5, 2004 We TOLD you we'd get you back for Paul Hogan and Yahoo Serious! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Czech Republic 0 Report post Posted November 5, 2004 Meh...there's a lot of empty space here. Might as well use it for something. Don't see why you guys can't do this sort of thing in the States though. Is it cheaper to do it here (like making movies) or something? How about they use the footage for a movie? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
