Sir, I do believe that your sympathies are with the enemy.

LEGO,
Not to him !

Only a militant Shite stirring Islamist would use the term, US running dog.

We have a very long-standing alliance with the US and bought and paid for with an unrepayable US blood debt that protected our rights and freedom.

As for assisting with security in the Strait? It's in our own economic and security interest! End of story.

As for the mad Mullahs? When has this not been so? I mean they want no less than total world domination!

Hardly the aspirations of the legally sane!?
Alan B.

What a joke. This is of course, another secret service catastrophe in the ME.

What this proves is Trump is operating his own inner circle secret service, which is suspicious of the National model.
George Bush discovered the treacherous outcome of two-timing his very own security network in ME diplomacy.

This is a fail for Trump, which he will cover up of course.

Dan

Well Binoy, is it your irrational hate of Trump that is colouring, [discolouring] your response to the US, or as LEGO says, are your sympathies with the enemy of the west.

The more you post, the more you confirm the latter.

Isn't it odd how racism does not attract the feigned indignation brigade when it comes from one of their own ?

Anzac class frigate HMAS BALLARAT

is already assisting US efforts in the Middle East (including Persian Gulf oil protection). So the Australian Government will, in the next few days/weeks, be announcing Australian assistance that is already happening.

HMAS BALLARAT departed Australia in October 2018 for a nine month deployment to Operation MANITOU (Middle East Region). Then BALLARAT'S frigate or destroyer replacement will assist the US.

See the official Australian Defence Department website at http://www.defence.gov.au/Operations/OpManitou/

"Operation MANITOU is the current name for the Australian Government's contribution to support international efforts to promote maritime security, stability and prosperity in the Middle East Region (MER). An enhanced security environment ensures Australia's safe and open access to the region while fostering trade and commerce"

Pete

http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/us-threatens-to-pull-troops-from-germany-if-no-increase-in-nato-defense-spending/ar-AAFAJc6?ocid=spartanntp

That'll snowball ! Either we pull together or we're on our own. Just think of what's driving your car etc.

Academic idealism & runaway emotion has not yet proven effective in fighting stupidity, on the contrary !

Remember that none of the oil in the Gulf goes to the US. Currently
they export a small amount of crude.
Our oil comes from the Gulf and goes to refineries in Singapore and Korea.
Then after refined is loaded onto tankers and delivered to Australia
and New Zealand and also some Islands.
What I do not know is do we buy the crude in the Gulf and ship it to
the refineries and then ship it here, or do we buy refined products
from the refineries.
If the latter we would be in a bidding scramble at the refinery.
It really is a dangerous situation if anything goes wrong.

I wonder what the ratio is of fuel used for amusement vs fuel used for necessity !

AUSTRALIA TO ASSIST US AGAINST IRAN

Looking at the Operation MANITOU deployment schedule http://www.navy.gov.au/operations/manitou HMAS Toowoomba or HMAS Arunta may perhaps be the next frigate the Morrison Government will announce is helping the US against Iran in the Persian Gulf-Strait of Hormuz waters.

The next Australian Frigate (under Operation MANITOU) is yet to be announced to back up the US-multinational effort in Persian Gulf-Strait of Hormuz waters.

HMAS Ballarat has already returned to Australia after backing up US efforts in Middle East waters - including providing a secure enviroment for tankers, from the Persian Gulf to sail safely across the Indian Ocean

SOURCE:

http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/minister/lreynolds/media-releases/hmas-ballarat-returns-home-middle-east

"HMAS Ballarat returns home from Middle East 14 July 2019."

The Ministers for Defence and Defence Industry "welcomed the return of...HMAS Ballarat to Australia, following a highly successful nine-month deployment as part of Operation MANITOU."

Pete

a highly successful nine-month deployment as part of Operation MANITOU."
What is meant by that ? Any info on what they did ?

psst indy

Stick ya lingerie leg out. Ask a big sailor boy.

plantagenet,
Geez Man, i'd start WW3 doing that !

Hi indi - re HMAS Ballarat

Nah! I think WW3 would be a health hazard.
______________________________

Re your question:
"a highly successful nine-month deployment as part of Operation MANITOU." What is meant by that ? Any info on what they did ?"

One need look no further than Media Release July 14, 2019 http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/minister/lreynolds/media-releases/hmas-ballarat-returns-home-middle-east

"[HMAS] Ballarat has spent the last 260 days deployed patrolling the area from the North Arabian Gulf to the Southern Indian Ocean.

[HMAS Ballarat's] service has been exemplary, seizing more than a billion dollars of illegal drugs and nearly half a million rounds of small-arms ammunition.

...Ballarat has integrated with two carrier strike groups and taken part in several high-end warfighting exercises with the navies of the US, UK, France and Gulf Cooperation Council states.

Commanding Officer HMAS Ballarat, Commander Paul Johnson RAN, said the ship’s company worked hard to maintain a high level of operational capability.

“The work on-board Ballarat can be prolonged and arduous and it really is a whole of ship effort to sustain the boarding parties and achieve what we did,” Commander Johnson said.

“Disposing of the illegal narcotics provides tangible evidence that we’re making a difference.

“There’s a tremendous sense of satisfaction that comes with successful seizures and I thank the ship’s company for their flexibility and resilience throughout the deployment.”

Ballarat’s illicit drug seizures included approximately 19.76 tonnes of hashish, 1.41 tonnes of heroin and 50 kilograms of methamphetamine and amphetamine..."

Cheers

Pete

plantagenet,
Cheers for that info, heartening to see some positives for a change. These sort of achievements for our Tax dollars are seemingly not sexy enough for the Leftist Media.
Good work BALLARAT Crew !

Planta's HMAS TOOWOOMBA prediction comes true!

On 13 August 2019 I predicted "HMAS TOOWOOMBA or HMAS Arunta may perhaps be the next frigate the Morrison Government will announce is helping the US against Iran in the Persian Gulf-Strait of Hormuz waters." see http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=20444&page=0#361015

So its come to pass "Australia is sending HMAS TOOWOOMBA..." http://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-21/understanding-the-strait-of-hormuz/11435122

Yee fellow commentistas in OLO Land should never doubt the Planta :)