- Dec 17, 2010
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(I'm starting again - my last AUKUS thread got de-railed.)
Australia just dumbly doubled our spending on this ridiculous program when America cannot meet their OWN demand for subs!
1. NUCLEAR THE WRONG TECHNOLOGY
I do not think Australia needs nuclear subs - as unlike America - we are not trying to defend a GLOBAL empire!
If Australia wants to build a defence force, not an attack force, we should build new tech biodiesel subs. Instead of old diesel subs that must surface every few days to burn fuel and charge the batteries - there is a new design of biodiesel sub that converts the biodiesel into hydrogen and uses that to run fuel cells. End result? It can stay underwater for a month! That’s not as good as a nuclear sub - but it’s vastly cheaper - meaning you can have more - and it’s stealthier in close range! Nuclear subs are GLOBALLY invisible - as they stay underwater for many months. But they are LOCALLY MORE VISIBLE - their nuclear engines run so hot they leave a detectable thermal wake in close quarters tactical situations. Spain’s biodiesel subs do not! Submarine powered by hydrogen | The Australian Naval Institute
2. AMERICA THE WRONG SECURITY PARTNER
Even after Trump - it will be decades before we know whether “Trumpism” has gone. The alt-right seems to be growing online. Their 'white replacement' fears and hatred of immigrants through to fear of science and climate and vaccines are all weaponised in this horrible movement - from MAGA to MAHA. As the saying goes, "To the entitled - equality feels like persecution." MAGA is not going away. The America we used to be able to trust is gone. Abraham Lincoln himself could turn up to run for the White House and it would be a generation before we could trust America again.
Australia could be investing a third of a TRILLION dollars into a national defence force that says “Actually - we used your money scaling up our sub building - but right now we need them more.” If we talk about loyalty, honouring contracts, long term alliances - someone will just yell MAGA at us and that’s that. Oh well.
This Australian National University podcast discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the technology - but then also asks - why are we still buying the myth that Australia cannot consider our security situations from our own unique position? Why are we always siding with America on questionable military ventures from Vietnam to the unfounded second invasion of Iraq? On a smaller note: they ask whether it is good for ANY nation to see their leader ‘bend the knee’ to daddy (Trump in his Oval throne room - acting like the world is his oyster and everyone has come to kiss the ring!)
Democracy Sausage Episode: Bending the knee
Australia just dumbly doubled our spending on this ridiculous program when America cannot meet their OWN demand for subs!
Washington: The incoming chief of US Navy operations has warned the US will not be able to fulfil its AUKUS obligations without doubling its submarine-building capacity, in a fresh sign of the doubts over whether the agreement can be honoured.
Meanwhile, this masthead can confirm Australia’s second $800 million payment to help the US build nuclear-powered submarines was made in June, when the Australian government was already aware of the Pentagon’s review of AUKUS.
AUKUS & nuclear subs?
I am against AUKUS: Nuclear subs are the wrong technology, and America is the wrong security partner!1. NUCLEAR THE WRONG TECHNOLOGY
I do not think Australia needs nuclear subs - as unlike America - we are not trying to defend a GLOBAL empire!
If Australia wants to build a defence force, not an attack force, we should build new tech biodiesel subs. Instead of old diesel subs that must surface every few days to burn fuel and charge the batteries - there is a new design of biodiesel sub that converts the biodiesel into hydrogen and uses that to run fuel cells. End result? It can stay underwater for a month! That’s not as good as a nuclear sub - but it’s vastly cheaper - meaning you can have more - and it’s stealthier in close range! Nuclear subs are GLOBALLY invisible - as they stay underwater for many months. But they are LOCALLY MORE VISIBLE - their nuclear engines run so hot they leave a detectable thermal wake in close quarters tactical situations. Spain’s biodiesel subs do not! Submarine powered by hydrogen | The Australian Naval Institute
2. AMERICA THE WRONG SECURITY PARTNER
Even after Trump - it will be decades before we know whether “Trumpism” has gone. The alt-right seems to be growing online. Their 'white replacement' fears and hatred of immigrants through to fear of science and climate and vaccines are all weaponised in this horrible movement - from MAGA to MAHA. As the saying goes, "To the entitled - equality feels like persecution." MAGA is not going away. The America we used to be able to trust is gone. Abraham Lincoln himself could turn up to run for the White House and it would be a generation before we could trust America again.
Australia could be investing a third of a TRILLION dollars into a national defence force that says “Actually - we used your money scaling up our sub building - but right now we need them more.” If we talk about loyalty, honouring contracts, long term alliances - someone will just yell MAGA at us and that’s that. Oh well.
This Australian National University podcast discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the technology - but then also asks - why are we still buying the myth that Australia cannot consider our security situations from our own unique position? Why are we always siding with America on questionable military ventures from Vietnam to the unfounded second invasion of Iraq? On a smaller note: they ask whether it is good for ANY nation to see their leader ‘bend the knee’ to daddy (Trump in his Oval throne room - acting like the world is his oyster and everyone has come to kiss the ring!)
Democracy Sausage Episode: Bending the knee
