Discussion The Random Discussion Thread

[Dard Ball Get]

Yeah same here. I'm gonna sneak into Vic for the night and spend time with a few mates. I'm debating whether or not to try and pull the intimate partner card, but I think I'll just risk it. Somehow I doubt we'll be the only GF party occurring that night.

Name George as your intimate partner. A crime of convenience

 

[Yawkey way]

Yawkey way

I’m reaching out to you to respond to your post to me in the other thread that was shut down.

NOTE TO MODS: THIS IS NOTHING TO DO WITH COVID.

Yes, I am in two minds about it.
I can quite understand your view but I can also appreciate the counter argument. Bit of deep thinking on my part is still required.
One counter argument is the loss of Australian strategic independence. Yet Germany has been strategically independent for quite some years even though it hosts the most US forces outside of the States.
The arguments are almost self contradictory, hence my initial labeling as being complex.
But I suppose that is geopolitics.
Plus participants should have some basic geopolitical understanding.
I would recommend anyone who is at all interested in this to investigate “the first island chain” and the role Japan played in blocking the Soviet Pacific Fleet during the Cold War. Not quite the same scenario here but it is quite a good primer to the geographic barrier facing China.
I have read a lot of commentary from here and overseas wrt to AUKUS.
Also some interesting YouTube stuff (with very very interesting comments below).
The comments from well informed obvious submariners are fascinating.

I’d question if in reality Australia has ever enjoyed strategic independence, personally I see us as now on an inevitable path that makes sense on every level and leads to more independence not less.

We can’t disengage and it’s quite possible to have the sort of relationship Germany has enjoyed while exercising full national independence whilst at the same time being bound by nato. Germany has enjoyed that as a strong independent nation not as a weak one. What in reality have we done that commits us past the ANZUS, five eyes etc. We need to provide for our own defence, the US and UK are the most logical and cost effective partners. Allowing unsurpassed access to the hardware and tech we need, full integration and ground floor development partnerships.

Duterte at present won’t allow it but a US return to Subic Bay would be ideal. I had read that an Australian shipbuilder and an American equity firm had a commercial agreement looking to takeover the operations of Hanjin, who knows maybe it’s a first step. Inevitably it will lead to a greater US presence which takes us back two lines. The CSIS has an interesting report on what they term ” The unlikely, indispensable US - Vietnam partnership.

We have developing relationships with many regional players including Japan and India, it’s hard to imagine this deal causing too much if any heartburn there. Im sure the government largely ignores the noise recognising it for what it truly is.

China shares a border with 14 countries many of whom have or will have problems to negotiate on everything from border disputes to water rights. China has its own problems from demographics predicting inevitable population decline to simply unsustainable growth predictions. I think the growing mistrust in belt and road would be playing on their minds as much as the push back from neighbouring countries in the South China Sea.

China has grown increasingly shrill which is usually a sign someone is doing something right. I think their response has been laughable rather than plausibly threatening. The line we walk, we being like minded countries is to contain them whilst strengthening our own position, the South China Sea and Taiwan being the most obvious potential flash points. That’s a certainly a fine line to walk but the bigger the alliance the better, weakness imo would be a big mistake.

Australia is fighting our own rearguard action making sure that our near neighbours don’t fall into the belt and road trap. I think one proposal with PNG was to build a city a few kilometres from our borders, fishing initiatives etc. ANU have an interesting podcast we’ll worth listening to.

Anyway it is complex and changeable but I’m confident that whilst this appears to be Australia tagging along it’s actually Australia making a decision to stand firm and look after our own national interests.

 

[gringo2011]

Yeah same here. I'm gonna sneak into Vic for the night and spend time with a few mates. I'm debating whether or not to try and pull the intimate partner card, but I think I'll just risk it. Somehow I doubt we'll be the only GF party occurring that night.

I rang the business Covid hotline and found out I was entitled to do deliveries anywhere as long as they were contact free. I had to do one to Halls Gap yesterday. The first lot of lockdowns there were cops around the city and even out of town there seemed to be a strong police presence. It seems to be more of an honour system while the ****wits in the city take all the available police this time.

 

[gringo2011]

I’d question if in reality Australia has ever enjoyed strategic independence, personally I see us as now on an inevitable path that makes sense on every level and leads to more independence not less.

We can’t disengage and it’s quite possible to have the sort of relationship Germany has enjoyed while exercising full national independence whilst at the same time being bound by nato. Germany has enjoyed that as a strong independent nation not as a weak one. What in reality have we done that commits us past the ANZUS, five eyes etc. We need to provide for our own defence, the US and UK are the most logical and cost effective partners. Allowing unsurpassed access to the hardware and tech we need, full integration and ground floor development partnerships.

Duterte at present won’t allow it but a US return to Subic Bay would be ideal. I had read that an Australian shipbuilder and an American equity firm had a commercial agreement looking to takeover the operations of Hanjin, who knows maybe it’s a first step. Inevitably it will lead to a greater US presence which takes us back two lines. The CSIS has an interesting report on what they term ” The unlikely, indispensable US - Vietnam partnership.

We have developing relationships with many regional players including Japan and India, it’s hard to imagine this deal causing to much if any heartburn there. Im sure the government largely ignores the noise recognising it for what it truly is.

China shares a border with 14 countries many of whom have or will have problems to negotiate on everything from border disputes to water rights. China has its own problems from demographics predicting inevitable population decline to simply unsustainable growth predictions. I think the growing mistrust in belt and road would be playing on their minds as much as the push back from neighbouring countries in the South China Sea.

China has grown increasingly shrill which is usually a sign someone is doing something right. I think their response has been laughable rather than plausibly threatening. The line we walk, we being like minded countries is to contain them whilst strengthening our own position, the South China Sea and Taiwan being the most obvious potential flash points. That’s a certainly a fine line to walk but the bigger the alliance the better, weakness imo would be a big mistake.

Australia is fighting our own rearguard action making sure that our near neighbours don’t fall into the belt and road trap. I think one proposal with PNG was to build a city a few kilometres from our borders, fishing initiatives etc. ANU have an interesting podcast we’ll worth listening to.

Anyway it is complex and changeable but I’m confident that whilst this appears to be Australia tagging along it’s actually Australia making a decision to stand firm and look to our own national interests.

China are all about face and respect. If you slight them you'll know about it. Diplomacy is everything with them. I wouldn't poke the bear myself. Look as apolitical as possible.

 

[Joffaboy]

China are all about face and respect. If you slight them you'll know about it. Diplomacy is everything with them. I wouldn't poke the bear myself. Look as apolitical as possible.

Exactly true, they have waited 150 years to avenge the Opium Wars, the century of humiliation they called it.

The other thing is that China has historically only hung around their front yard, which they see as the South China sea. They have never been a civilisation that look to expand across the globe like the European and later the American powers.

In the year 1000 they had ships literally 10 times the size of European ships of the time. They could have conquered the world, but are an insular race and believe the midlle kingdom, the kingdom between heaven and earth is China and no place on earth is better. We need to step very very carefully, they don't like us or the yanks and absolutely hate the Poms.

 

[Yawkey way]

China are all about face and respect. If you slight them you'll know about it. Diplomacy is everything with them. I wouldn't poke the bear myself. Look as apolitical as possible.

Making decisions about our defence and strategic direction means nothing unless you’re a bad faith actor.

China have done everything possible to punish and belittle Australia because we had the temerity to raise questions about the origins of covid. Legitimate questions that need answers, maybe if they don’t want to loose face they should stop stealing IP, hacking, breaching the sovereignty of neighbors etc. All Australia is seeking to do is trade within established rules and respect international rules.

You can’t be bullied gringo that just leads to more of the same or worse. As for diplomacy I think they lost that memo, their behaviour has been disgraceful, threats, threats and more threats.

 

[sunny3193]

I’d question if in reality Australia has ever enjoyed strategic independence, personally I see us as now on an inevitable path that makes sense on every level and leads to more independence not less.

We can’t disengage and it’s quite possible to have the sort of relationship Germany has enjoyed while exercising full national independence whilst at the same time being bound by nato. Germany has enjoyed that as a strong independent nation not as a weak one. What in reality have we done that commits us past the ANZUS, five eyes etc. We need to provide for our own defence, the US and UK are the most logical and cost effective partners. Allowing unsurpassed access to the hardware and tech we need, full integration and ground floor development partnerships.

Duterte at present won’t allow it but a US return to Subic Bay would be ideal. I had read that an Australian shipbuilder and an American equity firm had a commercial agreement looking to takeover the operations of Hanjin, who knows maybe it’s a first step. Inevitably it will lead to a greater US presence which takes us back two lines. The CSIS has an interesting report on what they term ” The unlikely, indispensable US - Vietnam partnership.

We have developing relationships with many regional players including Japan and India, it’s hard to imagine this deal causing too much if any heartburn there. Im sure the government largely ignores the noise recognising it for what it truly is.

China shares a border with 14 countries many of whom have or will have problems to negotiate on everything from border disputes to water rights. China has its own problems from demographics predicting inevitable population decline to simply unsustainable growth predictions. I think the growing mistrust in belt and road would be playing on their minds as much as the push back from neighbouring countries in the South China Sea.

China has grown increasingly shrill which is usually a sign someone is doing something right. I think their response has been laughable rather than plausibly threatening. The line we walk, we being like minded countries is to contain them whilst strengthening our own position, the South China Sea and Taiwan being the most obvious potential flash points. That’s a certainly a fine line to walk but the bigger the alliance the better, weakness imo would be a big mistake.

Australia is fighting our own rearguard action making sure that our near neighbours don’t fall into the belt and road trap. I think one proposal with PNG was to build a city a few kilometres from our borders, fishing initiatives etc. ANU have an interesting podcast we’ll worth listening to.

Anyway it is complex and changeable but I’m confident that whilst this appears to be Australia tagging along it’s actually Australia making a decision to stand firm and look after our own national interests.

Great and informed response.
It would appear that we have at least three (you, me and Baldur ) geopolitical nerds on here.
What a gift we are to the unwashed!

 

[sunny3193]

Making decisions about our defence and strategic direction means nothing unless you’re a bad faith actor.

China have done everything possible to punish and belittle Australia because we had the temerity to raise questions about the origins of covid. Legitimate questions that need answers, maybe if they don’t want to loose face they should stop stealing IP, hacking, breaching the sovereignty of neighbors etc. All Australia is seeking to do is trade within established rules and respect international rules.

You can’t be bullied gringo that just leads to more of the same or worse. As for diplomacy I think they lost that memo, their behaviour has been disgraceful, threats, threats and more threats.

When your default geopolitical position is trade bans and hurling insults, there’s only a finite benefit. Eventually, the impact is self defeating.

 

[gringo2011]

Making decisions about our defence and strategic direction means nothing unless you’re a bad faith actor.

China have done everything possible to punish and belittle Australia because we had the temerity to raise questions about the origins of covid. Legitimate questions that need answers, maybe if they don’t want to loose face they should stop stealing IP, hacking, breaching the sovereignty of neighbors etc. All Australia is seeking to do is trade within established rules and respect international rules.

You can’t be bullied gringo that just leads to more of the same or worse. As for diplomacy I think they lost that memo, their behaviour has been disgraceful, threats, threats and more threats.

I don't think that's the way they work. We did the dirty work for the US who then took our trade deals. If you do stuff for media point scoring you'll put the relationship under strain. It's about diplomacy and letting them retain their dignity. They would rather it be discussed behind closed doors and people are honest and open without riding roughshod over them.

 

[gringo2011]

Great and informed response.
It would appear that we have at least three (you, me and Baldur ) geopolitical nerds on here.
What a gift we are to the unwashed!

And you have me riding along pretending to be informed about it.

 

[George]

Yeah same here. I'm gonna sneak into Vic for the night and spend time with a few mates. I'm debating whether or not to try and pull the intimate partner card, but I think I'll just risk it. Somehow I doubt we'll be the only GF party occurring that night.

Name George as your intimate partner. A crime of convenience

Will we have to kiss to prove our love? (Hope they say yes! Hehe)

 

[Yawkey way]

I don't think that's the way they work. We did the dirty work for the US who then took our trade deals. If you do stuff for media point scoring you'll put the relationship under strain. It's about diplomacy and letting them retain their dignity. They would rather it be discussed behind closed doors and people are honest and open without riding roughshod over them.

We’ve pushed for one investigation through the appropriate channel. The ordinary US farmer and the industry bodies give as much of a fig as ours do, every time we grow our share someone else’s shrinks. Chuck isn’t going to knock back a sale in solidarity. Yeah we could have conducted this behind closed doors but I think we’d have been the only ones there.

 

[Pakenhamsaint]

Work has a Norm Smith/First goal scorer sweep. I got Bailey Smith

3

Bailey Smith

Age

24

Ht

185cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.3

5star

K

8.5

3star

HB

9.8

5star

M

2.3

2star

T

3.8

5star

CL

2.7

4star

D

19.8

5star

K

9.6

4star

HB

10.2

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

3.2

4star

CL

3.2

4star

D

14.8

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

7.2

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

3.4

5star

CL

1.6

4star

.

 

[George]

C'mon guys, no religion, no politics.

The alternative is that I sort you guys out myself, and I know you don't want that.

 

[gringo2011]

C'mon guys, no religion, no politics.

The alternative is that I sort you guys out myself, and I know you don't want that.


View attachment 1244289

Like an over stuffed dolmade.

 

[Yawkey way]

C'mon guys, no religion, no politics.

The alternative is that I sort you guys out myself, and I know you don't want that.


View attachment 1244289

I think he’s a willie Nelson fan, blue vein, nothing but blue vein from now on.

 

[George]

Like an over stuffed dolmade.

Could eat those all day.

I think he’s a willie Nelson fan, blue vein, nothing but blue vein from now on.

 

[Dard Ball Get]

C'mon guys, no religion, no politics.

The alternative is that I sort you guys out myself, and I know you don't want that.


View attachment 1244289

 

[gringo2011]

Could eat those all day.

What ever happened to her, I remember she did a reality TV show, one of most dull witted human beings ever born.

 

[Yawkey way]

Can you ever have too much chin.


Yes I think you can.

 

[George]

View attachment 1244369

 

[George]

What ever happened to her, I remember she did a reality TV show, one of most dull witted human beings ever born.

Wasn't her dad a popular country singer or something. I only knew her because she was married to an NFL quarterback.

 

[George]

Can you ever have too much chin.

View attachment 1244371
Yes I think you can.

That is not a face, that's a chin with eyes.

 

[gringo2011]

View attachment 1244369

Talking of dumb **** macho men, when I go camping with mates I have a party trick where you can grab a burning log and if you're quick you can chuck it back in the fire even if you grab the orange coals. One time I'd got over lubricated and held it too long. I had to pretend it didn't hurt and do the sneaky esky dip and beer in the hand all night. Next morning I'd cooked all the skin off my palm and flies were getting all over it. And being a dumb campaigner I still do it because it looks tough as ****.

 

[gringo2011]

Wasn't her dad a popular country singer or something. I only knew her because she was married to an NFL quarterback.

I don't know she had this show where the only interesting thing going for the whole thing was her extraordinary lack of intelligence.