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Australia to send its Military to Persian Gulf in Support of Aggressive and Provocative US Policies
by staff report via liam - ABC (Oz) Tuesday, Aug 20 2019, 9:41pm
international / prose / post

It is known among world leaders that whenever Washington says 'jump' to Australia, the sitting government regardless of political stripe, says 'how high!' Indeed, it is also known that whenever an Australian foreign minister visits Washington, they are issued with knee pads, notwithstanding they usually return to home shores with custard on their lackey faces.

But in the current times of inexpensive devastating weaponry and asymmetric warfare, can Australians afford to become a soft target? That indeed is the question all Aussies should ask of their clearly lackey PM, 'Pentecostal' Morrison, who has clearly forgotten that Australia is a sovereign, INDEPENDENT nation with a fiercely independent non-servile population/culture.

Morrison, yez boss!

The UK, now led by buffoon puppet Boris J, is expected to do whatever the US dictates, however, Oz is an entirely different story and should maintain its focus and military assistance in our region, which is half a world away from the Persian Gulf, notwithstanding that America is straining at the bit to PROVOKE an unnecessary war with Iran. It's one thing for Morrison to babble in incoherent tongues, his religious prerogative, but distinctly another to impose his lame, stupid, obsequious behaviour on ALL Australians at GRAVE, unnecessary RISK to the nation.

Australia will send a warship, surveillance aircraft and Defence Force personnel to the Persian Gulf in the coming months.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the move this morning, saying it was in support of US-led efforts to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for shipping.

Mr Morrison said recent disruption to shipping in the region was a threat to Australia's national interests.

Tension in the region increased when Iran seized a British oil tanker in the Persian Gulf, prompting the UK to retaliate by seizing an Iranian tanker off Gibraltar.

Australia has been considering joining the US-led military effort, supported by Britain, for weeks.

"Fifteen to 16 per cent of crude oil and 25 to 30 per cent of refined oil destined for Australia transits through the Strait of Hormuz," he said.

"So it is a potential threat to our economy."

Mr Morrison made the announcement at Parliament House alongside Defence Minister Linda Reynolds and Defence Chief Angus Campbell.

The Prime Minister and Senator Reynolds said Australia's role would be limited to just protecting shipping lanes.

"Australia's core interest in this mission is de-escalation. It is all about de-escalating rising tensions in the Gulf," Senator Reynolds said.

Mr Morrison denied Australia was being tied to another US-led military effort in the Middle East.

"The United States is pulling this together, but it's also the UK's view that this provides the opportunity for others to be involved in a multi-national engagement," he said.

Mr Morrison spoke with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo early on Wednesday to inform them of Australia's involvement.

There will be about 200 Australians involved in the deployment, with 177 Defence personnel on the warship and 10 on the surveillance aircraft.

Acting Opposition Leader and Shadow Defence Minister Richard Marles said it was an appropriate response.

"Australia has a particular interest in freedom of navigation — we're an island trading nation," he told reporters in Sydney, noting the Government had offered Labor a briefing on the matter.

"A large part of our economy is based on trade, and the vast bulk of that trade goes by sea.

"This is a piece of international architecture which is as essential to our national interests as any."

Mr Morrison said it was yet to be determined how many Australians would be sent to the Middle East headquarters of the military effort.

He heads to Vietnam tomorrow before travelling to France to attend a G7 meeting, where he said he would discuss Australia's involvement with world leaders.

"The international environment is very difficult. The global economy is facing rising headwinds, as I've noted before — rising geopolitical tensions and protectionism is weighing heavily on global confidence and growth," Mr Morrison said.

"We will work with our partners. We will play our part in shaping a better future for Australia, and Australians, as well as in the region and across the world."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-21/scott-morrison-australia-to-join-us-uk-strait-of-hormuz/11434140