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August 1st, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda The government has ruled out basing a United States Navy carrier battle group in Western Australia.
A spokeswoman for Defence Minister Stephen Smith said the US, an alliance partner, had access to Australian facilities plus joint facilities such as Pine Gap.
“But a US base to service a carrier battle group or home-porting here is not in contemplation,” she said.
The idea of basing a US aircraft carrier battle group at the Australian navy’s western base, HMAS Stirling, near Perth, was raised in a study of US force posture in the Asia-Pacific delivered to US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta in late June.
The report, prepared by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), considers various options for increasing, decreasing or leaving US military presence in the region at its current level.
The option of using HMAS Stirling for a US carrier battle group was among possibilities for lifting the US military presence.
The group could include a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, up to nine squadrons of aircraft, two guided missile cruisers, two or three guided missile destroyers, one or two nuclear attack submarines plus supply ships.
It would require substantial redevelopment, which CSIS put as high as US$6 billion.
Mr Smith’s spokeswoman said the study was an independent assessment of US defence posture in the US Pacific Command area of responsibility, commissioned as a Congressional requirement, and did not reflect policy.
“Secretary Panetta’s letter accompanying the report makes clear that while the report reflects aspects of US defence policy with regard to the Pacific region, specific proposals should not be interpreted as reflecting current or future US policy,” she said.
Under current Australian and US policy, enhanced defence cooperation will come in three phases, starting with the gradual increase of US Marine Corps training in the Northern Territory.
It has started with 250 troops and will work up to a 2500-strong Marine Air-Ground Task Force.
“Secondly, it is envisaged that there will be increased access by US aircraft to facilities such as RAAF Darwin and RAAF Tindal in the Top End,” the spokeswoman said.
“Finally, further down the track, it is envisaged that the enhanced cooperation will include increased visits by US ships to Australia’s main Indian Ocean naval base, HMAS Stirling.”
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