Howard tips request for US bases

US military forces might soon be permanently based in Australia, with the Howard Government yesterday revealing it was all but expecting a formal request within months.

Prime Minister John Howard said his Government was willing to consider approaches from the US to establish large military bases on Australian soil, but added that no proposal had yet been received.

"I don't think the Americans have made up their minds," Mr Howard said.

"They are going through the process, following the war in Iraq, of assessing their military basings around the world, not only in our region, and it may be that out of that a request were to come, but you can't be certain.

"Our position is of course we would look at it and consider it, but we're not saying in advance of receiving a request that we'd say yes to it.

"We want to hear it, we want to examine it and work out what it means."

Mr Howard's comments came as Defence Minister Robert Hill said Australian industry stood to make millions of dollars if Australia signed up to the controversial Son of Star Wars missile defence program being developed by the US.

http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,6847867%255E953,00.html

It's just like Gitmo - but better

How would the US respond if Australia, Canada, the UK, Djibouti, Poland, etc. were to ask for a permanent military presence in the US?

I hope the Australians "just say no."

so this deal will go through......but undoubtably the Australian people will oppose it. Future aggressive wars in Asia would make Australia vulnerable to retaliation from other countries.