THE state-of-the-art warship USS America is slated to join a record contingent of Marines in Darwin this dry season, according to US Navy chiefs. More than 1100 American Marines will arrive in Darwin this month. The US Navy has been developing plans to send ships to Darwin Harbour, effectively allowing the Marine contingent to rapidly deploy anywhere in the Asia-Pacific region. Initial plans for the Marine rotation were to expand to 2500 troops a year by 2016 or 2017. Reports from the US suggest the build-up will reach its peak sooner rather than later.

Plans are also afoot to send amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard, amphibious transport dock Green Bay and dock landing ship Ashland to the Top End this year.

Jonathan Greenert, U.S. Chief of Navy Operations, said the navy base in Australia will hold warships that will become part of an Amphibious Ready Group, acting as support group to a Marine Air Ground Task Force. Reflecting reluctance on both sides to permanently station US troops on Australian soil, a spokesman for Greenert later said the increased US naval presence in the country would be rotational, which he characterized as “placing and not basing.” Amid longstanding plans to rotate up to 2,500 US marines at a base outside of Darwin for six months every year, Washington has already identified warships which would form an Amphibious Ready Group to support a Marine Air Ground Task Force. That group would include a large amphibious assault carrier and two smaller helicopter carriers. The plan would also require the expansion of Darwin’s port. “Now, the question is by when do they need to be ready, will they come in all three, or one or two at a time,” Adm. Greenert said.

and, to everyone's shock and horror, we learn about this significant new development in our subservient relationship with the USA military via USA military leaders in foreign media outlets. #ausFailure

THE US Navy is considering increasing its presence in the Top End, a move that could see US ships based in Darwin. Neither the Territory’s ­Defence Industry minister nor the Australian Navy commented on the US plans. The Australian Navy also did not respond to questions about the US Navy’s plans, ­including whether nuclear-powered ships would enter the harbour, or whether public consultation would take place over an increased US Navy presence in Darwin.

He described the Marines’ presence in Darwin as being key to the US military’s operations in the Pacific. “It’s a big deal and a big part of our alliance in the Asia-Pacific,” he said. “We’re working towards a marine unit to be working out of Darwin by the next decade.”

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has caned Australia for two-timing – becoming overly dependent on China as a trading partner while expecting Washington to defend from a Beijing that is becoming more aggressive in the region – militarily and territorially.

so, without calling the new co-located rotational joint facilities "bases", we hear that: 1. they were her idea 2. they're about war with China 3. there will be more 4. USA not yet satisfied that Australia's position is sufficiently servile.

A three-star has given the strongest assertion yet that more sailors will be heading Down Under. Sailors assigned to amphibious assault ships in 7th Fleet will be spending more time near Darwin, a port city on Australia’s northern shore, said Vice Adm. Scott Swift in a July 22 interview with Navy Times. The sailors will support the growing number of Marines training in the city. Greenside will need ships to transport them around and to practice amphibious landing techniques, Swift said.

what's the bet our far sighted and responsible federal political representatives have this all under control, and just decided to let us find out by way of foreign media ...? or is the unpublished agreement made by Obama and Gillard so wide ranging that something like this can be tacked on with no formal scrutiny?