[Newsbot]

Title: Defence plan ruffles the Chinese
Category: Military
Posted By: bootlegga
Date: 2009-05-28 19:08:38

[Canadian_Mind]

How did our younger commonwealth brothers manage to develp such a st of balls?

[maldonsfecht]

higher concentration of hardened cons as original settlers and generations of living on a continent where EVERYTHING can kill you...
Good on them!!!

[Tman1]

How can Australia afford those upgrades but Canada can barely scrap together the gum to put in the holes? I don't get it. True, Australia is on its own and in a more volatile area but still.

[ridenrain]

Who cares what China says or thinks.
China is the only country propping up North Korea so why don't they do something about that instead of playing the poor victim card.

[bootlegga]

My guess is that they still remember being bombed during WW2, and the serious threat of invasion that Australia had to deal with up until 1943. I think that creates a real need in all parties to maintain the Australian army, navy and air force. We haven't had a serious threat in over a hundred years and both parties here use the DND to play political games.

I have to admit I'm very jealous about the subs they are talking about building. If they had (or could be converted to have) some under-ice capability, I'd say buy a dozen for us too.

[maldonsfecht]

bootlegga bootlegga:

My guess is that they still remember being bombed during WW2, and the serious threat of invasion that Australia had to deal with up until 1943. I think that creates a real need in all parties to maintain the Australian army, navy and air force. We haven't had a serious threat in over a hundred years and both parties here use the DND to play political games.

I have to admit I'm very jealous about the subs they are talking about building. If they had (or could be converted to have) some under-ice capability, I'd say buy a dozen for us too.

Regarding the threat of invasion, I highly recommend
the recent Aussie film "Kokoda"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKxuwtlT1us

[llama66]

It would be nice if we could design/build some new subs/ships for our navy.

[DerbyX]

bootlegga bootlegga:

My guess is that they still remember being bombed during WW2, and the serious threat of invasion that Australia had to deal with up until 1943. I think that creates a real need in all parties to maintain the Australian army, navy and air force. We haven't had a serious threat in over a hundred years and both parties here use the DND to play political games.

I have to admit I'm very jealous about the subs they are talking about building. If they had (or could be converted to have) some under-ice capability, I'd say buy a dozen for us too.

I'd say we already know how they are able to purchase and maintain a larger and better equipped military then Canada despite being smaller in terms of economy.

Economy of Canada
Economy of Australia

Canada:
Public Debt $467.3 billion CAD (Federal, 2007)
Revenues $565.8 billion
Expenses $551.2 billion (2007 est.)
Economic aid $3.9 billion (donor) (2007)
Labour Force: 17.9 million (2007 est)
Unemployment: 7.2% (feb 2009)


Australia:
Public Debt federal public net debt = 0 (2007-8)
Revenues A$319.46 billion (2008-2009)
Expenses A$292.47 billion (2008-2009)
Economic aid donor: ODA, $2.5 billion (2005/06 Budget)
Labour Force: 11.42 million (april 2009)
Unemployment: 5.4% (april 2009)


Australia became debt free in 21/04/06

Seems like our path to having the larger military is quite clear. Reduce the debt as quickly as possible to free up that money to buy new subs, jets, tanks, etc.

[Bacardi4206]

If Australia can do it with a lower economy, Canada should be-able to do it too. The only problem is will the government look at Australias example and look as to how they are able to afford it and copy that example. As put above, lowering debt.

With trying to battle over our artic soveirnty and threats of Russian war. I can honestly say that it would be money well spent. Maybe be one tactical missle for PETA's headquarters than take America's example and just point fingers at your neighbours.

[DrCaleb]

maldonsfecht maldonsfecht:

Regarding the threat of invasion, I highly recommend the recent Aussie film "Kokoda"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKxuwtlT1us

That looks like a good film. Nasty, kind of like 'Zulu'.

As for the 'ruffled' Chinese. Develop a plan that royally pisses them off. Then you know you are on the right track.

[saturn_656]

DrCaleb DrCaleb:

As for the 'ruffled' Chinese. Develop a plan that royally pisses them off. Then you know you are on the right track.

Do the Chinese think that they are the only country in the region that is allowed a military build up?

All other countries should let their militaries atrophy and simply pay tribute?

[DerbyX]

I think it has more to do with specifically naming them in the plan. We'd be pissed if Russia instituted a "counter Canada's arctic plan" wouldn't we.

Australia doesn't even need to mention the whos and whys. They simply build whatever military they think is proper.

[Thanos]

I wouldn't be surprised if the Aussies eventually became a nuclear-armed power as well. With what the North Koreans are up to these days I'll bet there's a lot of folks in Australia who regret that they defaulted their Cold War nuclear weapons development program to the British.

[saturn_656]

DerbyX DerbyX:

I think it has more to do with specifically naming them in the plan. We'd be pissed if Russia instituted a "counter Canada's arctic plan" wouldn't we.

If Canada were a dictatorship, had yearly double digit defence budget increases, and an imperialist stance towards its neighbours, I could understand the Russians doing so.

Hell I'd be surprised if they didn't.