one day, when Australia becomes a republic and develops a more mature relationship with its own citizenry, it might have the maturity and ticker to deal with other more powerful nations on an equal footing, speaking truth to power and being listened to because it has something valuable to say. but maybe not in our lifetime.

THIS ARTICLE COULD DIG DEEPER AND ASK MORE QUESTIONS

It is incorrect in para 7 to say that it is only the southern islands of the Indonesian Archipelago that might present a threat. Australia's history in the near north and SW Pacific indicates the wider range of strategically important landforms. Australia's defense of the Kokoda Track (PNG), US defence of Guadalcanal, Battle of the Coral Sea, US occupation of New Caledonia, Fiji, NZ and Vanuatu in WWII all reflect places that an aggressor might utilise.

All of these islands are potential stepping stones or basing prospects for any blockade or invasion scenario.

Furthermore an aggressor might organise a threat from its home bases - sea (submarines, carriers) or long range air (air refueled from Southeast Asia) eg from China's bases on Hainan Island. The prospect of a Chinese economic pressure backed up by Chinese cruise missile submarines in our waters will not even be countered by an Australian nuclear capability if it is a limited capability.

An indigenous nuclear capability (or alliance with a nuclear protector) are the only ways to deter or provide defence against large nuclear aggressors.

Granted Australia is a junior partner in ANZUS and unofficial NATO partner - should we spend several times our current defence budget to become a more equal partner?

Why duplicate the massive conventional and nuclear capabilities of the US? Do you see us spending around 20% of our government budget (like Israel) on defence to build a substantial nuclear deterrent and upgraded technical intelligence network?

Can you see that the US alliance is a type of flexible response? That the alliance mainly provides ambiguity to deter large potential aggressors (eg. China, India, Russia and previously Japan).

If Australia begins to feel that the US may in the medium-long term make an agreement with China that Australia could be rezoned into a Chinese co-prosperity sphere - then that might be the most practical time to build up large Australian conventional and nuclear deterrent forces. However lead-times, resolve and efficient planning are crucial elements.

Peter Coates
http://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2010/05/nuclear-weapons-for-australia-ongoing.html

Plantagenet,

As our Bielky used to say; Don't you worry about that now.

Three millennia ago, the Roman empire conquered Greece and lost.

The Roman sodiers liked the greek ways.

As the historians put it; Grecia capta ferum victorem coepit.(The conquered Greece conquered the conquerors).

If Australians had a democracy it would conquer the soul of the entire world.

Hmmm

Got a say, about our democracy, through sheer Aussie goodness, conquering capitalist-confucian-communist China, I'm somewhat of a skeptic, skeptic.

Please note http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucianism - the pre-Maoist authoritarian system of China.

Pete

The author of this scatological pie-in-the-sky piece of offal, should be congratulated for his foresight, analytic perception and academic aptitude.

Without going into Australia's multiple THINK TANKS e.g Lowry Institute, Dibbs & Mortimer reviews, ADA, etc this topic has been regurgitated umpteen times by more Academic Phd's, then paid analyst from Oz's Office of National Assessment in the ACT. !

Our obsequious much vaunted ADF are subservient to the USA for our future survival, no matter what our Defence Minister & spokesmen attest otherwise. For a Nation which spends less on Research & Development then it does on bipolar disorders, and mental health, what can one really expect ? It's a Life time trait, to piggy-back on other people's successes.

Swan's Election pork barreling has purloined $ 1.1 B from US Defence contracts e.g Joint Strike Fighters, P3 Orions a/c,Leopard Tanks, Hornet upgrades etc into Welfare payments. Another $ 1.3 B cuts to equipment shortages, and putting 1000 civilians on the scrap heap. $ 1.9 B on 3 unwinnable War's, and Peace keeping operations ?

Now, how naive, can we possible get ?