\u201cWe are appalled at the Labor Government\u2019s decision to allow thousands of US troops into\u00a0Australia\u00a0and to increase military exercises with US forces,\u201d Dr Hannah Middleton from the Australian Anti-Bases Coalition said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe claim that\u00a0Australia\u00a0will be more secure as a result of closer military ties with the\u00a0US\u00a0is nonsense.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot really expect security from a country which has gone to war every 14 months since World War 2.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor a government facing massive opposition to its existing military spending of over $80 million a day, spending more on facilities for a foreign military power is criminal.<\/p>\n
\u201cAustralia\u2019s relationship with the\u00a0US\u00a0makes us poorer, not safer,\u201d .Dr Middleton said.<\/p>\n
The Asia-Pacific region is the economic powerhouse of the 21st\u00a0Century. The US Government wants to dominate here militarily,\u201d said Denis Doherty, co-ordinator of the Australian Anti-Bases Campaign.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut around the world US bases and troops have brought social tensions, abuse of women, crime, and massive toxic waste and pollution.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe people of\u00a0Okinawa\u00a0are driving the US Marines out because they have had enough.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany are being sent to\u00a0Guam\u00a0where a huge opposition movement is now developing.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the peace movement does not want them in\u00a0Australia\u00a0either,\u201d Mr Doherty said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe\u00a0US\u00a0has already dragged\u00a0Australia\u00a0into the wars in\u00a0Iraq\u00a0and\u00a0Afghanistan\u00a0at the cost of thousands dead and massive destruction.\u00a0\u00a0This has to stop.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe call on the Gillard Government not to threaten but to work cooperatively with the people of the Asia Pacific region, including\u00a0China. They will be surprised and delighted by the rewards of peace with justice.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe peace movement will continue to resist the presence of US troops, bases and logistics in our country.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to keep the\u00a0US\u00a0military at arms length. We should maintain friendly relations with the\u00a0US\u00a0but not be abject followers of an aggressive, militarist empire,\u201d Denis Doherty concluded.<\/p>\n
For more information:<\/p>\n
Denis Doherty\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a00418 290 663<\/p>\n
Dr Hannah Middleton\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a00418 668 098 \u00a0 \u00a0Email: peace@mira.net<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
US forces bring grief to Australia \u201cWe are appalled at the Labor Government\u2019s decision to allow thousands of US troops into\u00a0Australia\u00a0and to increase military exercises with US forces,\u201d Dr Hannah Middleton from the Australian Anti-Bases Coalition said. \u201cThe claim that\u00a0Australia\u00a0will be more secure as a result of closer military ties with the\u00a0US\u00a0is nonsense. \u201cWe cannot … <\/p>\n