Toothless among Asian tigers

[TarJak]

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/toothless-among-asian-tigers-20120720-22fc8.html

An interesting opinion piece on the recent defence cuts and Australia and America's position in the Pacific. We are nearing the "fiscal cliff" and as one congressional official central to the process puts it "The fiscal cliff? We're going to go right over it."

[troopie]

Yep, it's a worry allright. I imagine the yanks' vast military can absorb some spending cuts, but ours?

My biggest concern is the further delay to the Collins replacement....:nope:...they are effectively newtering the most stategicaly important part of our already thinly spread Navy.

[TarJak]

But even if they came up with a replacement within the next week, we'd still be hard pressed to crew them given we can only keep one of six in operational condition now. The sub force is a sub farce right now and unless they do something it will only get worse.

[Jimbuna]

We in the UK know precisely how you feel :yep:

[TarJak]

Aye Jim I think we're coming to that realisation.

[kraznyi_oktjabr]

Sounds a bit like what we have here in Finland: our good friends in east are rebuilding their armed forces when our government does its best to cut defence spending. In "better days" air force had troubles in retaining their pilots as they hardly got flight hours. I don't dare to ask what situation is now.

[nikimcbee]

http://images.smh.com.au/2012/07/21/3473593/art-353-rocco-300x0.jpg

That looks like a T-34/76 :o! Are you guys buying your weapons from goodwill?

[TarJak]

LOL. You mean to say were not got the latest and greatest? Who'd have thunk?

[TLAM Strike]

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/3439/subcanberraclass.jpg

[troopie]

:haha: TLAM, That's probabaly about what we'll end up with!!!

[TarJak]

:haha: TLAM, That's probabaly about what we'll end up with!!!

What do you mean end up with. That's what we've got now and we are looking for a like for like replacement.:/\\!!