ttbn

"Are you saying that the US's nuclear capability will protect us?"

It has in the past, but with that schmuck in power we might get told to stop causing trouble and do a deal with Donald's good friend Xi, and in any case we've got no cards.

Thank goodness for the two term limit.

A US enquiry has concluded that even America would be challenged beating China because of their lack of defence spending in the past. Under President Trump they are doing something about. As an ally, Australia will be expected to do the same.

In fact, yesterday, US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, urged Australia to boost our defence spending to 3% of GDP now, not some time in the future. 2.23% in 2034 doesn't cut the mustard.

Only the defensive Richard Marles was interviewed. He defended the government's pathetic efforts, of course. That’s all Australian politicians are capable of defending: themselves, their poor performance, and their stupidity.

The warmongering ttbn claims our military spending doesn't "cut the mustard". Some unelected Trumpster has ordered Australia to increase military spending immediately to 3% of GDP. Its only another order 'to pay the Piper', as Australia has been doing since WWII. Pray tell ttbn, where will the money come from, and where should it be spent? COULD WE CUT AGED WELFARE!

Indyvidual

Most taxpayers’ money seems to go on freebies for the brainwashed helpless youngsters and on bribes to get votes for politicians whom only the thickest of people think should be there in the first place.

The freebie phenomenon took off with Howard's Family Tax Benefit. Then free universities that the Left wants reinstated now. As it is, taxpayers cop the bill for the unpaid debts of people who should never have been let into university in the first place.

Middle-class welfare and massive subsidies for unreliable energy carpetbaggers is another very expensive rort.

Economist Judith Sloan notes that the ‘free stuff’ dates back to the second half of the century:

. Taxpayer Contributions to the costs of child sport
. Back to school grants
. Free pre-school
. Energy rebates
. Free public transport

Now, the added cost of subsidies for having kids 'parented' by strangers during the day and other gifts too numerous to mention, usually without any means testing. Kids going to very expensive private schools travel for nothing, too.

All bribes to keep people under the thumb of the tyrannical uniparty.

Hand out subsidies, help people to buy a house, and all the prices go up.

How about the free “pads and tampons” (Victoria) for under-18 year olds! Girls are “reported” as staying home from school because they can't afford to buy them.

Women have been menstruating since Eve, and they have managed. And, let's not hear about ‘cost of living’. The re-election of the Albanese Labor party proved that one to be a lie.

Maximising free stuff has been ingrained into the younger generations. So things will only get worse as us old folk die out, leaving the young ones to deal with it. All this stuff about us oldies leaving the bill to future generations is bullsh.t; they, the young, are the ones expecting, and voting for, free stuff. There will be even less available to defend the country. Of course, it probably won't be worth defending by then. Problem solved.

Albanese is “defying” calls from the US to increase defence spending.That makes him sound (and look?) like a naughty little boy, not the “handsome boy” his bestie China calls him.

Richard Marles responded with this word salad:

“I mean, the Americans have been very clear about wanting to see more from their friends and allies around the world. It's a sentiment that we understand, and as I've repeatedly said, that's a conversation we are totally up for in terms of the way in which we engage with the United States. And as I said, I think on Friday, in our bilateral meeting Secretary Hegseth did raise the question of increased defence expenditure on the Australian side. Of course we have already engaged in the last couple of years in the single biggest peacetime increase in defence expenditure in Australia's history, so we are beginning this journey.”

They don't have a clue.

James Paterson from the Opposition says we are not spending enough, but I don't remember his lot being any better on defence. Now, of course, it doesn't matter what the remnants of the Liberal Party think about anything. The halfwitted voters have spoken, and the country continues its voyage down the gurgler.

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The U.S. Navy’s Virginia-class submarines are among its most advanced, but their numbers are insufficient to meet current and future demands, particularly in potential conflicts with a near-peer adversary such as China.

America’s naval shipyards are overwhelmed, unable to keep pace with production needs, and face significant delays. China, meanwhile, is rapidly expanding and modernising its submarine fleet, potentially outpacing the U.S. in both quantity and technological advancement.

China can mass produce its submarine fleet and replace their lost systems in combat at a significantly higher rate than U.S. shipyards.

Should conflict in the Indo-Pacific break out in the next few years, the Americans will be at a numerical disadvantage in the domain of submarine warfare. The U.S. submarine force is spread throughout the world, whereas China’s is concentrated in the conflict zone.

Given Trump’s “America First” policy, it is highly unlikely the Americans will be able to deliver on their promise, in the early 2030s, of “at least 3 Virginia Class submarines with an option for 2 more if needed”.

It probably won’t be able to deliver in the 2040s either !

Perhaps that is why US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth insists heavily on Australia increasing its defence spending from the current 2% of GDP to 3.5% of GDP, now.

In other words, Australia will just have to look after itself.

It sounds like good advice to me.

It would be foolish for us to count on any hypothetical submarines, whether it be from the Americans or the British, for that matter.

It's a bit of a long shot, but maybe the French could do something for us.

It's probably worth investigating - before it's too late !

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