Obama increasing military presence in the Pacific.

[24champ]

About time Prez. ^5


With military bases and tens of thousands of troops in Japan and South Korea, the United States has maintained a significant military presence in Asia for decades. Australia lies about 5,500 miles south of China, and its northern shores would give the U.S. easier access to the South China Sea, a vital commercial route.http://news.yahoo.com/countering-china-obama-asserts-us-pacific-power-234612474.html

"The United States is a Pacific power, and we are here to stay. Let there be no doubt: in the Asia Pacific in the 21st century, the United States of America is all in."

China is already having a conniption fit over this. **** em.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

We need to be cutting troops in overseas bases but this is just a redeployment of some of them. No big deal considering we have 10s of thousands of troops in Asia already.

About 250 U.S. Marines will begin a rotation in northern Australia starting next year, with a full force of 2,500 military personnel staffing up over the next several years. The United States will bear the cost of the deployment and the troops will be shifted from other deployments around the world. Having ruled out military reductions in Asia and the Pacific, the Obama administration has three main areas where it could cut troop strength: Europe, the Middle East and the U.S.

[24champ]

We need to be cutting troops in overseas bases but this is just a redeployment of some of them. No big deal considering we have 10s of thousands of troops in Asia already.

I like the strategy of shifting focus on to China. Obviously it's known they are stealing our technology and jobs. What the Chinese are doing lately are staging military exercises in the South China Sea and have clashed with our allies. That's not good for US interests.

There's more to do and hopefully Obama continues the hard line talk when it comes to China.

[Bronx33]

Lets see if china calls barrys bluff.

[hazefrog]

I like the strategy of shifting focus on to China. Obviously it's known they are stealing our technology and jobs. What the Chinese are doing lately are staging military exercises in the South China Sea and have clashed with our allies. That's not good for US interests.

There's more to do and hopefully Obama continues the hard line talk when it comes to China.

Stealing our jobs? Don't our elected officials enact policies that allow such things to occur? And if not shouldn't that beef be taken up the corporations which choose to move operations overseas?

[Arkie]

**** the deficit. The Military-Industrial complex lobbies for war.

[cutthemdown]

This is the first move to a major presence in Australia. They are good friends and it will be a great spot for Marines to be deployed to. China flexing its muscle and we have to thwart that. The troops stationed overseas don't cost us that much and are good for cooperation and security with our allies.

Anyone who has a problem with it can vote for Ron Paul I guess which is your right.

[cutthemdown]

I like the strategy of shifting focus on to China. Obviously it's known they are stealing our technology and jobs. What the Chinese are doing lately are staging military exercises in the South China Sea and have clashed with our allies. That's not good for US interests.

There's more to do and hopefully Obama continues the hard line talk when it comes to China.

China trying to claim basically the whole ocean in that area. It will be up to Japan, Australia and the USA to stand up to them. Countries like Vietnam better hope we do or they won't be able to even fish in their own territorial waters.

For decades China has been leave us alone, we leave you alone. But they seem to be changing, getting more aggressive around the world, we have to fight them.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

China trying to claim basically the whole ocean in that area.You have a link for that statement?

For decades China has been leave us alone, we leave you alone. But they seem to be changing, getting more aggressive around the world, we have to fight them.
Geeesus, you radical Right Wing nuts are, for lack of a better word.....idiots.

The troops stationed overseas don't cost us that much Are you really this uniformed and ignorant to make such an assnine statement?

Do you know that each (http://www.marketplace.org/topics/economy/federal-budget/cost-soldier-deployed-afghanistan) troop in Afghanistan is costing us over 1 million a year?

[Odysseus]

They are still reducing the size of the Army by 30,000 soldiers. A lot of soldiers do not have a choice and have decided to get out.

EDIT: Marines and Navy have reduction limits.

[Odysseus]

**** the deficit. The Military-Industrial complex lobbies for war.

There is a seriously low supply of butter so I am pretty sure the guns orders are going to have to come down.

[Rohirrim]

Those Aussies are annoying. We should keep an eye on them.

[Rohirrim]

China trying to claim basically the whole ocean in that area. It will be up to Japan, Australia and the USA to stand up to them. Countries like Vietnam better hope we do or they won't be able to even fish in their own territorial waters.

For decades China has been leave us alone, we leave you alone. But they seem to be changing, getting more aggressive around the world, we have to fight them.

Shop at Walmart. Build China's army. ;D

[24champ]

You have a link for that statement?

It's not an entire ocean, however it is known that China is wanting to control the South China Seas, this affects our shipping routes and our allies in Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam.

The Philippines and Vietnam have accused Chinese government vessels of repeatedly intruding into their claimed territories in the Spratlys and of disrupting oil explorations in their territorial waters in the first half of the year.Last year, the Indonesian navy came close to a shooting encounter with Chinese vessels, which strayed into waters off Jakarta’s Natuna island gas field near the South China Sea. Indonesian officials played down the incident as an intrusion by ordinary fishermen unrelated to the South China Sea dispute.

China’s claim over virtually the entire South China Sea, which Beijing first made public in 2009 before the United Nations, appears to overlap with Indonesia’s territorial waters off Natuna. China has not detailed the limits of the South China Sea claim, according to maritime experts.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/us-assures-philippines-of-2nd-warship-amid-south-china-sea-territorial-disputes/2011/11/16/gIQAEizySN_story.html


The United States is giving another military warship to the Philippines with a third one possibly on the way in the future.

[cutthemdown]

Shop at Walmart. Build China's army. ;D

Ive been doing really good buying American. Trying really hard.

[cutthemdown]

It's not an entire ocean, however it is known that China is wanting to control the South China Seas, this affects our shipping routes and our allies in Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam.



http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/us-assures-philippines-of-2nd-warship-amid-south-china-sea-territorial-disputes/2011/11/16/gIQAEizySN_story.html


The United States is giving another military warship to the Philippines with a third one possibly on the way in the future.

Tons of articles like this. Thats why we are making the trade pact with all these small countries over there. This is smart stuff and I for one give Obama props for this move. Let's give him some good credit where it is deserved instead of just ****ting on every move like its the broncos offseason and Obama is the GM.

[mhgaffney]

The US already has a major presence in Australia.

The NSA has a large SIGINT base there.

The CIA and DoD also use Australia for testing new weapons -- and Gawd only knows what else.

[Tombstone RJ]

BO is a friggen idiot. If he wants to weaken the Chinese then grow the American economy and stop building the Chinese military through growing the Chinese economy.

BO is a joke.

[alkemical]

This is how Empires respond when they are failing.

[Odysseus]

Empires tend to collapse instead of quietly fading away.

[orinjkrush]

sounds like an interesting redeployment. a little shifting of our global forces is more than overdue, dont you think? and props to OB for doing it. now if we would just dredge out that REAL birth certificate, things would be just greaat.

[Tombstone RJ]

the lefties are a joke too. If GOP president was doing this crap then the lefty librals would be screaming about a hawkish president who is war mongering.

but BO is doing it so it's all good.

Again, the only way to force China to abide by international laws is to strengthen the USA's ability to produce and sell goods on the open market. Hit China in the wallet and watch them come to the negotiating table with their hands out.

It's the economy stupid. And BO is stupid.

[Rohirrim]

BO is a friggen idiot. If he wants to weaken the Chinese then grow the American economy and stop building the Chinese military through growing the Chinese economy.

BO is a joke.

That started long before Obama.

[Tombstone RJ]

That started long before Obama.

I understand. Point is BO is doing it wrong. Again.

[alkemical]

Empires tend to collapse instead of quietly fading away.

Isn't that happening now? Or am I rushing to judgement?

[Bronx33]

Sure sounds like posturing for votes barry you sure weren't tough 3 years ago in fact you were running around bowing and apologizing for everything american.

[Spider]

Sure sounds like posturing for votes barry you sure weren't tough 3 years ago in fact you were running around bowing and apologizing for everything american.
tin foil hat time

[Arkie]

sounds like an interesting redeployment. a little shifting of our global forces is more than overdue, dont you think? and props to OB for doing it. now if we would just dredge out that REAL birth certificate, things would be just greaat.

Bringing them home is long overdue. Obama promised if he was elected, the first thing he would do is put an end to these wars and bring our troops home.

[cutthemdown]

It's not a big deal for 2500 or so Marines to stay in Australian facilities. If something ever does happen it helps with command and control working together with our Aussi allies. You all still do want to have allies right?

I love Paul but his theory of being the same sort of friend with every Nation is a deal breaker for me. Some countries are friends, some are not. You have to work with your friends to screw your enemies.

[Arkie]

You build a stronger national defense by not spreading so thin (and stirring up the hornet's nest with preemptive wars)

[Odysseus]

http://foreignpolicyblogs.com/2011/11/18/gailforce-pacific-rising/

[Odysseus]

You build a stronger national defense by not spreading so thin (and stirring up the hornet's nest with preemptive wars)

How do you shrink it, strengthen it, spread it around, and not utilize it because we are afraid of hornet's? This isn't aimed at you but this how congress views the situation and how the reacts.

[Odysseus]

I understand. Point is BO is doing it wrong. Again.

He killed more high level bad guys then the last two presidents combined. He instigated and won more military confrontations than the last two presidents combined. He took on one of the worst economies on record and managed to avoid a complete meltdown. Real Unemployment should be at 25%.

The problem with President bashers is they whine a lot and refuse to be specific. Where I fault Bush was multiple epic fails on economy, environment, and spending. He did some brilliant stuff regarding addressing China that would have got him historic recognition if it wasn't his heavy handed manipulation of facts, data, and resources.

Clinton was dealt a pat hand so now he's a rock star. He did not have to go along with some of the obvious stupid stuff. Bush was dealt a bad hand and could have gained rock star credentials if he had not drank for Karl's kool-aide. I am going to ask you a specific question. Ready?

Where is Obama wrong in decision to move military into the Pacific?

[Arkie]

How do you shrink it, strengthen it, spread it around, and not utilize it because we are afraid of hornet's? This isn't aimed at you but this how congress views the situation and how the reacts.

We can utilize it anytime we want to wipe any country off the map within hours. No country is stupid enough to attack us, and we can't afford to police the world. Spreading our military resources around the globe is expensive and will weaken our defense long term, not just through foreign relations but runaway deficits every year.

[Odysseus]

It's not a big deal for 2500 or so Marines to stay in Australian facilities. If something ever does happen it helps with command and control working together with our Aussi allies. You all still do want to have allies right?

I love Paul but his theory of being the same sort of friend with every Nation is a deal breaker for me. Some countries are friends, some are not. You have to work with your friends to screw your enemies.

The theory that if we are not there they will leave us alone is fantasy. Our allies are the people that NEED us not the ones that like us. Everybody likes us but if push comes to shove like is not enough. This is why World bank, IMF and all the other International greedy bastards are dancing to our tune but this will not always be. What Obama is doing correctly is playing nice with assholes who we will have to be nice to because it's smart. Bush **** on some many countries politics but nobody seems to remember that.

The Australians, in about five years, are going to start brokering their own deals as they are amassing their own resources, alliances and technologies. They are not like Britain. They are exactly like us. They descend from criminals.

[TailgateNut]

China trying to claim basically the whole ocean in that area. It will be up to Japan, Australia and the USA to stand up to them. Countries like Vietnam better hope we do or they won't be able to even fish in their own territorial waters.

For decades China has been leave us alone, we leave you alone. But they seem to be changing, getting more aggressive around the world, we have to fight them.


We? Your cowardly ass just talks **** while cowering in your basement. Typical right wing warmonger.

[Odysseus]

We can utilize it anytime we want to wipe any country off the map within hours. No country is stupid enough to attack us, and we can't afford to police the world. Spreading our military resources around the globe is expensive and will weaken our defense long term, not just through foreign relations but runaway deficits every year.

Our economy is intricately tied into the military industrial complex. I agree with your rudimentary premise that we cannot afford to be world police but I disagree with the premise we can trust any of the other world leaders to include our national interests.

No country? You are correct. Globalism has changed that paradigm. Terrorism is not about nation states. If that were why haven't we attacked Pakistan and Iran?

[alkemical]

the increase in drone and special ops/intelligence is the response to 4gw. the technology allows it to go granular.

[Bronx33]

Where are all the war protestors that used to be down by the capitol ( everyday ) here in denver after obama came in they disappeared that is the ultimate hypocrisy .

[hazefrog]

It's not a big deal for 2500 or so Marines to stay in Australian facilities. If something ever does happen it helps with command and control working together with our Aussi allies. You all still do want to have allies right?

I love Paul but his theory of being the same sort of friend with every Nation is a deal breaker for me. Some countries are friends, some are not. You have to work with your friends to screw your enemies.

many of our enemies were once friends we turned to enemies by screwing them over.

Conflict can always be profited from, ya know?

[hazefrog]

Where are all the war protestors that used to be down by the capitol ( everyday ) here in denver after obama came in they disappeared that is the ultimate hypocrisy .

It is. Somehow it trumps the right's troglodyte banter on the scale of infuriation.

[ghwk]

Where are all the war protestors that used to be down by the capitol ( everyday ) here in denver after obama came in they disappeared that is the ultimate hypocrisy .

You are just butt hurt that there is a Dem president disproving the rights BS that Dems are just a bunch of liberal doves with no backbone. One more talking point lost to the Right (wrong).

[Bronx33]

You are just butt hurt that there is a Dem president disproving the rights BS that Dems are just a bunch of liberal doves with no backbone. One more talking point lost to the Right (wrong).

that was a reach i guess you missed my point that had actual visual evidence.