US forces get the nod

Vanguard December 2012 p. 7
by Ned K.

On Thursday November 15, 2012 Hillary Clinton visited Tech Port in Adelaide’s north western suburbs. Tech Port is a naval military production complex linked to both European and US defence industry multinational corporations.

Pictures in the daily papers of Clinton with the ‘left’ faction leaders of the ALP in SA, federal Finance Minister Penny Wong and Premier Jay Weatherill followed. There was talk of Tech Port being used to service US naval vessels and perhaps even nuclear powered submarines.

The Premier spoke proudly of Tech Port’s capacity as a naval defence industry precinct and about the possibility of servicing US conventional submarines there. Interviewed on ABC radio the following morning, he skirted around the issue when asked if he would support the servicing of nuclear powered submarines at Tech Port.

Clinton’s visit and glowing praise for Tech Port, coupled with the ALP dignitaries’ enthusiasm for Tech Port’s closer links with the US, reinforce Midnight Oil’s old song “US Forces Get the Nod”.

Threat to peace in Asia Pacific

This latest development is a threat to peace in the Asia Pacific region. The two main political parties in Australia are leading the Australian people down a dangerous path of subservience to US imperialist war preparations against China. Even former Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating in the 2012 Keith Murdoch Oration came out against the current ALP leadership’s subservience to the US.

People in South Australia have a great sentiment for peace, not war. There will be growing concern among them about the direction of the SA economy and its growing alliance with the US war machine.

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Further reading:  See SA government Tech Port website: http://www.techportaustralia.com/