quote:

Originally posted by Sushipunk Wikileaks put out a cable last week from somewhere, that said "China will accept a combined Korea, under the control of Seoul". (Not a direct quote, I can't be fucked looking for it just now).

ahh k, I wasn't sure where the issue ended: I Know China's been changing their stance pretty significantly over the last year or 2, since NKs been launching those weapons and generally being retarded...

I wouldn't expect China to risk their position in the world over NK, but you never really know how these types of things will play out...

China also could well win a world war, so could get interesting if they used this as an opportunity to take down the US or something...

You've gotta wonder what China's longterm political plans are anyway... They'll definitely supersede the US in 50 years or something once the US finally falls apart cause of debt etc, but hopefully it just happens peacefully...

EDIT: read the article: Thank ye godz,

p.s: NK is FUCKED. lololol

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-Everything I Say is a Lie-

Drill is over. Lets see if nK is all talk.

quote:

Originally posted by EgosXII China also could well win a world war, so could get interesting if they used this as an opportunity to take down the US or something...

Hmmmm, I dunno about that.

I love to rip on the US for their exorbitant military budget, but I don't think too many countries would want to go 'toe-to-toe' with them in a war. Even China, despite their rather developed military.

It would be disturbing if it happened though. NATO would almost certainly back the US/etc.

But nearly everything in the world, these days, is made in China. Imagine the impact! If international trading sanctions were put on China, 70+ percent of consumer items ALL OVER THE WORLD suddenly just go out of stock, with no idea on when/if new stock will arrive.

Now that's power.

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quote:

Originally posted by Sushipunk Hmmmm, I dunno about that. I love to rip on the US for their exorbitant military budget, but I don't think too many countries would want to go 'toe-to-toe' with them in a war. Even China, despite their rather developed military. It would be disturbing if it happened though. NATO would almost certainly back the US/etc. But nearly everything in the world, these days, is made in China. Imagine the impact! If international trading sanctions were put on China, 70+ percent of consumer items ALL OVER THE WORLD suddenly just go out of stock, with no idea on when/if new stock will arrive. Now that's power.

If we didn't spend so much on our military there would be a lot more countries spending a larger percentage of their GDP on their own, including Australia.

i may want to ship my music back state side.

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quote:

Originally posted by Joss Weatherby If we didn't spend so much on our military there would be a lot more countries spending a larger percentage of their GDP on their own, including Australia.

Nor quite the same though, is it? 22 million people, or 300+ million people. Huge difference in revenue, plus 'already established' military assets

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Originally posted by Sushipunk Nor quite the same though, is it? 22 million people, or 300+ million people. Huge difference in revenue, plus 'already established' military assets

We only buy them off the US, mostly at exorbitant rates, late delivery (like our long range fighter bombers they're still faffing about making), rubbish products like the two rust bucket landing craft (that where so bad they couldn't be deployed) and 100 really crappy M1 tanks they sold us which we can't really deploy anywhere because... same said landing craft had to be hulked.

Not to mention the ANZUS treaty which has seen Aust and NZ forces deployed on ALL foreign actions since 1951 the US has been a part of and we have to police the ENTIRE south pacific area, including (230million muslim Indonesians that hate us) because NZ has a couple of patrol boats and a few dozen helicopters.

And our closest major military ally is 'where'... oh wait, we don't actually have any.
What Australia has, it has deployed very well, but is thinly spread.

quote:

Originally posted by Sushipunk Hmmmm, I dunno about that. I love to rip on the US for their exorbitant military budget, but I don't think too many countries would want to go 'toe-to-toe' with them in a war. Even China, despite their rather developed military. It would be disturbing if it happened though. NATO would almost certainly back the US/etc. But nearly everything in the world, these days, is made in China. Imagine the impact! If international trading sanctions were put on China, 70+ percent of consumer items ALL OVER THE WORLD suddenly just go out of stock, with no idea on when/if new stock will arrive. Now that's power.

yeah, you're silly to take on the US right now... but you're also silly if you think they can maintain their superpowerdom when they havn't produced anything near what they need to be producing to maintain that power for like 20 years... they're slowly dying, and i'm wondering if their deathblow will come through war (fairly bad choice right now of course), or if they'll just collapse (almost happened with the 'financial crisis')


the US got most of their power and money by manipulating and playing politics in war: They came to be sole superpower by their position (or lack of ) during WW2, and by dodgy activities during the cold war.

if the US was in China's position i could see them using the conflict for their benefit..

hope to god china isn't like the US though, and actually considers what they're doing before acting

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-Everything I Say is a Lie-

quote:

Originally posted by Lilith We only buy them off the US, mostly at exorbitant rates, late delivery (like our long range fighter bombers they're still faffing about making), rubbish products like the two rust bucket landing craft (that where so bad they couldn't be deployed) and 100 really crappy M1 tanks they sold us which we can't really deploy anywhere because... same said landing craft had to be hulked. Not to mention the ANZUS treaty which has seen Aust and NZ forces deployed on ALL foreign actions since 1951 the US has been a part of and we have to police the ENTIRE south pacific area, including (230million muslim Indonesians that hate us) because NZ has a couple of patrol boats and a few dozen helicopters. And our closest major military ally is 'where'... oh wait, we don't actually have any. What Australia has, it has deployed very well, but is thinly spread.

Hey those F-111s we gave (sold) you were freaking sweet...


Either way you slice it though a lot of countries around the world can rely on the US having their back when shit gets really serious and that allows them to spend far less than the US has to on military. The only nations that spend close to us and are our allies are NATO members because they are bound by treaty to spend at least a certain percentage of their GDP on their forces. Australia also gets the benefit of being within the commonwealth, and the UK to a small (and smaller) degree plays the same role as the US.

Yes you kinda got a raw deal where you are situated, but until recently there were not a lot of threats to the Oceanic region besides limited Soviet/Russian naval activity. Now you are faced only with the prospect of low-intensity conflict in regions like Indonesia, and as far as I can tell you are able to deploy light infantry well enough to handle LIC and Peacekeeping operations. If shit gets real tough and the US feels obligated to help, the have an entire Marine Pre-positioning squadron at Diego Garcia that can be anywhere in the Indian ocean within a week and support combat operations for 30 days... Good to have people in your neighborhood like that.

quote:

Originally posted by EgosXII hope to god china isn't like the US though, and actually considers what they're doing before acting

Well you know one thing, they wont worry about troublesome things like civilian casualties.

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Originally posted by Joss Weatherby Australia also gets the benefit of being within the commonwealth, and the UK to a small (and smaller) degree plays the same role as the US.

No it doesn't, least when I last owned defence industry shares in Thales and a few others, we buy it all ourselves with no mates rates and not a lot else.

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Now you are faced only with the prospect of low-intensity conflict in regions like Indonesia

Low-intensity? Spoken by a dumb arse that's never been shot at a couple of times in 'low intensity' war, lost their house, vehicles and land. Had their neighbours hacked and shot to death, burnt alive in car tyres and petrol.
Oh, thanks by the way for the US government selling them 1960's surplus $47 rifles and $10 for a 500 round brick of ammo. Good job, we really appreciated that low intensity stuff

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and as far as I can tell you are able to deploy light infantry well enough to handle LIC and Peacekeeping operations.

What, like the SAS being in Iraq 2 weeks before the US forces went in and the RAN Frigates that softened up the beach landings... when basically everyone else said no the invasion of Iraq is technically an illegal act and didn't go?
The Australians where one of the very few that went.

quote:

Originally posted by Lilith Well you know one thing, they wont worry about troublesome things like civilian casualties. No it doesn't, least when I last owned defence industry shares in Thales and a few others, we buy it all ourselves with no mates rates and not a lot else. Low-intensity? Spoken by a dumb arse that's never been shot at a couple of times in 'low intensity' war, lost their house, vehicles and land. Had their neighbours hacked and shot to death, burnt alive in car tyres and petrol. Oh, thanks by the way for the US government selling them 1960's surplus $47 rifles and $10 for a 500 round brick of ammo. Good job, we really appreciated that low intensity stuff What, like the SAS being in Iraq 2 weeks before the US forces went in and the RAN Frigates that softened up the beach landings... when basically everyone else said no the invasion of Iraq is technically an illegal act and didn't go? The Australians where one of the very few that went.

are you really trying to use real facts, and reason to argue with nou?

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-Everything I Say is a Lie-

quote:

Originally posted by Lilith Well you know one thing, they wont worry about troublesome things like civilian casualties.

Soooooo, exactly like the US then

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