US, Australia expand ties with an eye on China (AP)

US, Australia consider joint military bases; look for ways to curb assertive China
Melbourne, Australia — The United States plans to expand its Military presence in Australia as the two nations maneuver to rein in an increasingly assertive China. U.S. and Australia are considering a joint or shared base arrangement in which U.S. Troops and assets such as planes or ships would piggyback on existing Australian Military facilities, a senior U.S. Defense official said Saturday. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said wider Military cooperation between the U.S. and longti...

Hillary Clinton praises Australia's peacekeepers
Click to play video Return to video Video feedback Use this form to: Ask for technichal assistance in playing the multimedia available on this site, or Provide feedback to the multimedia producers. Return to video Video feedback Thank you. Your feedback was successfully sent. Video will begin in 5 seconds. Don't play Play now More video Recommended Click to play video Clinton touches down in Melbourne Click to play video Design flaw in A380 engines? Click to play video Qantas passenger...

US, Australia consider joint military bases; look for ways to curb assertive China
Melbourne, Australia — The United States plans to expand its Military presence in Australia as the two nations maneuver to rein in an increasingly assertive China. U.S. and Australia are considering a joint or shared base arrangement in which U.S. Troops and assets such as planes or ships would piggyback on existing Australian Military facilities, a senior U.S. Defense official said Saturday. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said wider Military cooperation between the U.S. and longti...

US, Australia consider joint military bases; look for ways to curb assertive China
Melbourne, Australia — The United States plans to expand its Military presence in Australia as the two nations maneuver to rein in an increasingly assertive China. U.S. and Australia are considering a joint or shared base arrangement in which U.S. Troops and assets such as planes or ships would piggyback on existing Australian Military facilities, a senior U.S. Defense official said Saturday. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said wider Military cooperation between the U.S. and longti...

Hillary Clinton Pictures - Hillary Clinton Visits Australia - Day Two - Zimbio
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (L) and Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard (R) walk along the Yarra River on their way to lunch at Melbourne's Federation Square on November 7, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia. Secretary Clinton travelled to Melbourne with U.S. Secretary of Defence Robert Gates to participate in the annual Australia-U.S. ministerial meetings. The meetings were originally scheduled for January 2010 but were postponed so Secretary Clinton could help organise U.S. re...

Gates urges 'Don't ask, don't tell' repeal in lame-duck
Defense Secretary Robert Gates urged Congress to Repeal “Don’t ask, don’t tell” in the Lame-duck session, but was not optimistic of its chances. “I would like to see the Repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' but I'm not sure what the prospects for that are,” Gates told a news Conference in Australia, according to the Associated Press. “Don’t ask, don’t tell,” the ban on Openly Gay members serving in the Military, has been challenged by Federal Judges

Security tight for Clinton's Aussie visit
Published: Nov. 5, 2010 at 12:29 PM Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, pictured at an event in Washington Oct. 6, 2010. UPI/Roger L. Wollenberg Melbourne, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Security in Melbourne will be tightened for visits by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, officials said. Clinton and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard will meet Saturday during an environment and energy event before conducting trade discussions and attending the Australian-U.S. mi...

Backdoor power play weakens Australia
Australia'S campaign to isolate Fiji's Military regime has backfired, with the US and other powers sidestepping Canberra to build influence with the Fijians. The tough Policy of the Foreign Minister, Kevin Rudd - inherited from the Howard government - towards Frank Bainimarama, the Prime Minister installed in a coup, is failing and could damage his campaign to win a United Nations Security Council seat for Australia. A switch in approach towards Commodore Bainimarama, to hold him to his promis...

Marines' new chief opposes lifting ban on gays
The new commandant of the US Marine Corps spoke out in an interview published Sunday against lifting a ban on gays serving openly in the Military at a time when US Troops are in combat. "There's risk involved," General James Amos told The Los Angeles Times. "I'm trying to determine how to measure that risk. This is not a social thing. This is combat effectiveness." Amos, who assumed command of the elite force two week ago from General James Conway, said he was worried about the impact on unit ...

Marines' new chief opposes lifting ban on gays
The new commandant of the US Marine Corps spoke out in an interview published Sunday against lifting a ban on gays serving openly in the Military at a time when US Troops are in combat. "There's risk involved," General James Amos told The Los Angeles Times. "I'm trying to determine how to measure that risk. This is not a social thing. This is combat effectiveness." Amos, who assumed command of the elite force two week ago from General James Conway, said he was worried about the impact on unit ...

The Associated Press: Gates urges Congress to repeal gay ban now
Melbourne, Australia (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Congress should act quickly, before new members take their seats, to Repeal the Military's ban on gays serving openly in the Military. He, however, did not sound optimistic that the current Congress would use a brief postelection session to get rid of the law known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." "I would like to see the Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" but I'm not sure what the prospects for that are," Gates said Saturday, as ...

Fresh Slate at the Pentagon Lies Ahead for Obama
WASHINGTON – With critical decisions ahead on the War in Afghanistan, President Obama is about to receive an unusual opportunity to reshape the Pentagon’s Leadership, naming a new Defense Secretary as well as several top generals and admirals in the next several months. Notes from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and other areas of conflict in the post-9/11 era. Go to the Blog » It is a rare confluence of tenure calendars and personal calculations, coming midway through Mr. Obama&rsq...;

Memo to Senate: Pay Heed to Defense Secretary
If Democrats accomplish one thing in the Lame-duck session of Congress, it should be a Repeal of Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell (DADT).   Indeed, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, initially appointed to the post by then-President George W. Bush in 2006, said as much: U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Congress should act quickly, before new members take their seats, to Repeal the Military’s ban on Gays serving openly in the Military. He, however, did not sound optimistic that th

U.S. military moves in Asia not aimed at China: Gates
By Phil Stewart Melbourne | Sun Nov 7, 2010 1:32am EDT Melbourne (Reuters) - U.S. Military efforts to strengthen its presence in Asia are not aimed at countering China, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Sunday, ahead of talks on deepening Defense ties with regional ally Australia. An Australian newspaper published a report saying Australia would grant the U.S. Military expanded use of its bases, but a U.S. Defense official cautioned that any decision on such a possibility was months away at...

Hillary Clinton coming to Melbourne for fun
What are these? PM Julia Gillard meets with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the 17th ASEAN Summit. Picture: Kym Smith Hillary Clinton and Julia Gillard will spend next Sunday together in Melbourne to discuss Afghanistan, regional security and, in their own words, have some fun. An enthusiastic US Secretary of State told the Herald Sun she was looking forward to her visit to Melbourne. "I cannot wait to get there. I was just telling the Prime Minister how excited I am," Ms C...

Obama arrives in India at start of Asia trip
MUMBAI, India (AP) - President Barack Obama has arrived in Mumbai, India, to begin a 10-day trip that will also take him to Indonesia, South Korea and Japan. The president and his wife, Michelle, arrived at midday local time Saturday after traveling more than 15 hours on Air Force One. The president's first stop in Mumbai will be at a memorial for Victims of the 2008 terror Attacks that killed 166 people in this booming financial center. He then visits a museum in a home where Gandhi once live...

Iraq rivals 'agree to share power'
The deal will see Nouri al-Maliki stay on as Prime Minister. (AFP: Ali Al-Saadi) Iraqi politicians have reached agreement on a power-sharing deal, exactly eight months after the country went to the polls. The deal will see Nouri al-Maliki stay on as Prime Minister, but will allow MPs from Iyad Allawi's Iraqiya party choose the speaker. A government spokesman, Ali al-Dabbagh, says some details still need to be ironed out but that parliament will meet to choose a speaker on Thursday. He says Mr...

Gates, Obama urge repeal of military's gay ban
WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates is encouraging Congress to act before year's end to Repeal the ban on Gays serving openly in the Military. It's a position shared by his boss, the president. But his new Marine commandant thinks otherwise and the Senate has not yet taken action, setting up yet another hurdle for Gay Activists who see their window quickly closing. After Tuesday's Elections that saw Republicans chip away at Democrats' Majority in the Senate and wrest the House fr...

Gates Urges Repeal Of Military's Ban On Gays
Defense Secretary Robert Gates is encouraging Congress to act before year's end to Repeal the ban on Gays serving openly in the Military. It's a position shared by his boss, the president. But his new Marine commandant thinks otherwise and the Senate has not yet taken action, setting up yet another hurdle for Gay Activists who see their window quickly closing. After Tuesday's Elections that saw Republicans chip away at Democrats' Majority in the Senate and wrest the House from their control, the...

Gates, Obama urge repeal of military's gay ban
(AP) — Defense Secretary Robert Gates is encouraging Congress to act before year's end to Repeal the ban on gays serving openly in the Military. It's a position shared by his boss, the president. But his new Marine commandant thinks otherwise and the Senate has not yet taken action, setting up yet another hurdle for gay Activists who see their window quickly closing. After Tuesday's Elections... newsday.com is now available at no charge to Newsday and Optimum Online® subscribers. To co...

Gates urges Congress to repeal gay ban now
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Congress should act quickly, before new members take their seats, to Repeal the Military's ban on gays serving openly in the Military. He, however, did not sound optimistic that the current Congress would use a brief postelection session to get rid of the law known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." "I would like to see the Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" but I'm not sure what the prospects for that are," Gates said Saturday, as h...

Gates Urges Congress to Repeal Gay Ban Now
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Congress should act quickly, before new members take their seats, to Repeal the Military's ban on gays serving openly in the Military. He, however, did not sound optimistic that the current Congress would use a brief postelection session to get rid of the law known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." "I would like to see the Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" but I'm not sure what the prospects for that are," Gates said Saturday, as he traveled to Defense and d...

Robert Gates: Repeal 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Now, Before GOP Takes Control Of Congress
Melbourne, Australia — U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Congress should act quickly, before new members take their seats, to Repeal the Military's ban on gays serving openly in the Military. He, however, did not sound optimistic that the current Congress would use a brief postelection session to get rid of the law known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." "I would like to see the Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" but I'm not sure what the prospects for that are," Gates said Saturday, as ...

Obama arrives in India eyeing jobs for U.S.
MUMBAI, India — President Barack Obama arrived in Mumbai, India, on Saturday, beginning a 10-day, four-country Asia trip that will take him through some of the region's most vibrant democracies in a search for U.S. economic and Security benefits. Air Force One touched down in this booming financial center around midday after traveling more than 15 hours from Washington with the president and his wife, Michelle, aboard. The president was to pay respects at a memorial to Victims of th...

US, Australia expand ties with an eye on China
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - The United States plans to expand its Military presence in Australia as the two nations maneuver to rein in an increasingly assertive China. U.S. and Australia are considering a joint or shared base arrangement in which U.S. Troops and assets such as planes or ships would piggyback on existing Australian Military facilities, a senior U.S. Defense official said Saturday. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said wider Military cooperation between the U.S. and longtime...