wombat42

In 1999 we Aussies invaded lndonesia and sent our troops into East Timor and stole East Timor from lndonsesia. Now we get billions of dollars of oil in the Timor sea that once belonged to indonesia. The indonesians army never fire a shot at us Aussie troops because they knew we would easily defeat them if they took us on.

JWW

Very entertaining thread this.

I seem to remember the Aussie defence strategy was only to defend the south-east of the country in case of invasion from the north. Something to do with being able to pick off any enemy as they crossed that big desert thats the rest of the country.

But don't worry, you can always rely on the Kiwi airforce to back you up

Maldepays

I remember chatting to a bloke in the Army a few years ago who said that at current levels they could defend Sydney harbour for two weeks!!

wombat42

New Zealand does'nt have an airforce, even though most third world countries do. However OZ has one of the best airforces in the region also the most advance submarine fleet.
That defence strategy to defend the SE of the country was 60 years ago during WW2 when we only has a small army because we stupidly believe Britain would show some sort of loyalty and come to our aid in an invasion,
regardless a few thousand Aussie troops were able to defeat half the Japanese land force in PApua New Guinea and turn back the Japanese invaders. It was the first time the Japanese had ever been defeated.
A recent white paper defence report shows that the only county that is strong enough to invade OZ is the USA, which is unlikely.

kiwichild

NZ has always (in my recollection) had an airforce. I cannot possibly believe it now doesn't have one !!! I would very much like to know where you got this "information" from?

kiwichild

That was a strategy in WW2 (called the Brisbane Line) that if the Japanese invaded the Australians would only defend from Brisbane in the east and the equivalent in the west(Broome?). Don't think they still subscribe to it nowadays.

kiwichild

Australia did NOT invade Indonesia. It went into East Timor under the sanction of the UN until such time as UN peacekeepers would take over. Also Australian Federal Police were there also. This was to ensure the election process for a new independent government went smoothly. You may recall that there were skirmishes with the Indonesiantroops and their sympathisers around the border near the west of the island. And from the footage available, those indonesian troops didn't look too damn happy handing over to the Ausssies. It was a very tense situation.

As for getting the oil proceeds from East timor, Australia should be farking ashamed of itself! People struggle there just to live in ways you and I don't have probably never experienced or ever will.

And get real, how many Australian troops do we have compared to Indonesia?
If Indonesia ever tried to invade us, we would be screwed without the back up of the Americans

kiwichild

Where was mighty bloody Australia, when East timor was being invaded by the Indonesians in the 70's? And where was Australian when those Australian journalists were murdered by Indonesian troops? Too friggin' scared to get off their asses and do anything about it ! Shame Australia! shame! shame! shame!

wombat42

One Aussie trooper is worth 100 Indonesians, just like one aussie cricket player is worth 100 Pom cricket players.
Anyway its military technology not the number of troops you have that wins wars these days.
If Indonesia tried to invade OZ, we have a superior airforce and with air superiority we could blow their boats out of the water before they could land their troops, without the Yanks help.

kiwichild

Military technology is of course of vital significance but so to is size and training of armed forces and ability to deploy them. It's a lot different fighting in another country when you are a part of a major unilateral military effort.

Indonesia is not iraq and infact indonesian troops are well trained, they have even had training from australia. They also have spent oodles on their military machine over the years, including spending aid from australia on new technology.

To underrate them or any other potentially hostile nation would be foolish. It's this "she'll be right, we're the farking best" attitude that would make any potential enemy grin from ear to ear and rub their hands for glee.

And once again, Where was Australia and Portugal when Indonesia invaded Timor in the first place?

eurotramp

Uhhu...did somebody hit a nerv there

wombat42

If you knew anything about Aussie history the reason we could'nt send troops in then because OZ was going through the dismissal crisis, because your Queen sacked OZ's Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.

gobbyjock

I may be missing something here but what has any of this got to do with the original thread (and I`m just as guilty as the rest of you for going off subject!!)

kiwichild

Actually it was the governor general and you can blame that whole incident on the underhanded and unethical manipulation of malcom Fraser to force a double dissolution just so he could have a crack at getting into power.

Incidentally it has never been and still isnt, acceptable practice to block a governments appropriations bill.

Anyway fraser showed himself the iconic aussie PM when he got caught in that hotel lobby with his pants down

kiwichild

Think so