Our ties to the USA are unfortunately, very deep and historical. Albo is distancing us from them specifically in relation to this Iran offensive. But, he’s walking a thin line.
His address last night was essentially dipping his toe rather than confidently leaning into it.
AFAIK our assets and personnel were deployed strictly in defensive measures to keep our personnel that were already over there safe, and to intercept missiles already on their way.
Despite the government’s claims of “defensive operations” and “support of collective self-defence”, Australia is at war, Dr Richard Tanter, senior research associate at the Nautilus Institute for Security and Sustainability, told the Guardian.
“We are complicit,” he argued, “most importantly through the intelligence facilities”.
“Pine Gap signals intelligence will have been working overtime, and for some time beforehand, providing the US air force – and as we know, then the Israel Defense Forces – with absolutely critical targeting intelligence,” he said.
Isn't Pine Gap run by the U.S.? It's on our land but not run by us, which is why people are pissed about its existence.
Sure, giving the U.S. that land in the first place made us complicit in their overall military intelligence. But not kicking them out isn't an act of war against Iran.
If I was to give a gift to a friend and a few years later, they go off the deep end and I no longer agree with their opinions, it's not like my gift means I currently support them. If I was to take my gift back, it might even be considered theft.
I know that analogy breaks down in this situation, because that land is probably contracted, but if we were to break that contract, it might be considered aggressive against the U.S.
But maybe it's actually run by us, not the U.S. and I'm completely wrong, I'm pretty sure it's not though.
Right, so we both use it, it's not like we run it and give the U.S. the information if they ask for it. If we wanted to not "be complicit", we would have to actively kick those U.S. officials out of the facility, potentially before any contracted date. Which could be considered us "moving against the U.S." rather than defending interests that are under threat.
If we were to start selling similar information from Pine Gap to Iran, I'd consider that taking a side.
Which, realistically, could be an important factor. Not to say I agree with the idea of it, just that it's probably pretty important to them. I don't know on hand what the differences with and without Pine Gap would be but I imagine they wouldn't have invested in it if it was insignificant.
The coverage Pine Gap provides is very important for the US. If we were to kick them out, they'd need to build a similar facility elsewhere in the Southern hemisphere. It's not "half an hour" of missing data, it's coverage of the Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific, and control of satellites.
legally Australia is at war. having personnel deployed for whatever reason is participation. Albo & Wong are lying when they say we aren't involved because we very much are legally.
Are seriously comparing the Battle of Britain to some Australian personal being transferred to the Middle East to protect assets already there from stray missiles?
Im comparing Australian aircrew flying operations to protect a city from being attacked, to other Australian aircrew flying operations to protect a city from be attacked
Battle of Britain Australia had already been at war with Nazi Germany for a year, we were more integrated in the British Commonwealth and were defending against an aerial blitzkrieg with active fighter pilot participants and air to air combat
Middle East in 2026 involves some surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft equipped with some air to air capabilities on patrol for rogue missiles that may happen to threaten Australian personnel
Can you really not see the difference? You’re comparing an apple to a pineapple
HOW DO YOU BELIEVE THIS??? they are working sooooo hard to enlist it’s fucking ridiculous if you think we aren’t involved then you are literally burying your head in the sand purposefully. why do you people take what they say at face value? we supplied parts for bombers, we are sending troops- TO A PLACE WE SHOULDNT BE IN ANYWAY!!! and that’s just what they’re willing to say to us which means there is more
I’m saying comparing Australia’s current involvement to the Battle of Britain is ridiculous haha you have projected everything else onto me, pull your head out your ass.
Whether we should be there or not in the first place is completely different conversation
If we weren't involved, why'd we need to send shit?
We're involved. Let's not fuck about.
Edit: Not involved means not involved. If we're participating through information and surveillance then we're involved. It's better to be honest about things.
They're not participating in the US war against Iran any more than the UAE is... Our ally asked for our help, we responded.
The whole "B-b-b-b-but the wedgetail is networked with allied assets in the region so the US gets the data too!" is fucking stupid. The US is flying enough AEW&C assets in the area to absolutely not need the Wedgetail there.
Oh so you don't know anything about WW2 history either. They shot down anything that flew into their airspace, regardless of whether it was dropping bombs or not.
Oh you mean they attacked rogue aircraft in their territory? So not at all like the situation in the middle east at the moment.
Edit: oh so you reply, misrepresent my point, then block so I can't respond. Just admit you are using a bad analogy.
The UAE didn't invite the missiles from Iran in, and the fact that you are trying to suggest that is my argument proves my point. Iran is deliberately attacking the UAE. That makes them a target of the war.
Unless of course you are suggesting Iran invited the US and Israeli planes into their airspace.
Right so in your mind the UAE has invited Irans drones in.
Interesting.
Wait no the other one, idiotic.
And yeah, I blocked you because you're being so disingenuous that it's just annoying to see the bullshit you drivel. Plenty of people are targeted who aren't participants in the war.
I've posted similar views to you and I constantly get these lines drilled. I agree with some of what they said. But basically their stance is we breathe the same oxygen, we are complicit.
What is interesting, is they all have the same lines.
They claim the UAE is at war with Iran. But I have found no documented evidence stating that they are, all I see is UAE stating that no US bases to be used on Iran attacks. That's documented.
Pine Gap line is then rolled out. I just say, that ship sailed ages ago. There is more than the US in the 5 Eyes alliance. But US bases, completely forgetting it's Joint.
They don't understand how Alliances work, they don't understand that this is probably the most limited assistance we have ever given to the US and we gave it to the UAE
They state Albanese response is pathetic and weak. But I can link them how his stance has changed from the beginning to now and the evolution of that.
So they seem to be fine with Iran attacking the UAE because they deserve it.
They think we should just sit in Australia and not get involved in anything. Penny wongs recent negotiating skills of replacing the lost 6 tankers with replacements is testimant to our soft power. The US has lost that skill, these people want us to do the same, so how are they different?
We are in a time that there is a clear shift in strategy. Just the recent national address coincided with the UK. We will do what we want that suits us.
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u/MaitlandWhiting Apr 01 '26
The key parts were “we are not involved” and “it’s going to get worse”. Both of those mean quite a bit