[UnklFungus]

First off, I am not trying to be political. I am merely wondering your own personal stance on U.S. Marines possibly getting stationed in Kiwiland.

Please refrain from this party or that my fellow Americans. NZ Folks, how do you feel about this? I personally think it's weird, and my own personal opinion is that it is a reaction to the whole Japan China thing.

Please be civil and factual, not emotional, I am very interested in opinions, but the only hope this thread has of any life is to just stick to the topic.

I guess we can include the folks from Australia too, as I read a very little blurb about USMC going there too.

 

[Speedgelb986S]

Seems to me it would make a nice "vacation" deployment for any Marines coming off a tour of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan. Kinda like Germany was for the Army & Air Force in the '80's. I'm all for it if the Kiwis don't mind.

 

[mistermellow001]

I think it is strategic, perhaps heavily influenced by politics. The US and its alies in the Pacifica region have a common interest in making a show of unity and strength. I don't know enough about Asia's ambitions in the region – whether it's purely economic or what. I'm also not sure how much different geo-political matters are in this new era of larger-scale global trade. I don't think it boils down to a simple struggle for control over resources as much, although that has by no means fallen into the shadows.

Off-topic, I listened to a late-night New Zealand radio program that very intelligently analyzed the influence of American jazz on the New Zealand music scene during WWII, while US troops were stationed there. The entire program spoke fondly and nostalgically of that time.

 

[Wombat]

The Marines that are currently being sent to Australia are from our base here in Hawaii and by the comments that I have heard, they are happy about it.

Most of what it is about is training for and by both groups in areas of expertise that either group has.

We have just had RIMPAC here in Hawaii, with personnel from a number of countries (including Australia and NZ) training together.

 

[ShaneDuc]

Austrailian head of state asked for them to be there and it's only 10 Marines to start with. It's not a matter if they mind or not. They're there by request. Lord knows, we got enough Aussies training here in the States.

 

[HAP]

First off, I am not trying to be political. I am merely wondering your own personal stance on U.S. Marines possibly getting stationed in Kiwiland.

Please refrain from this party or that my fellow Americans. NZ Folks, how do you feel about this? I personally think it's weird, and my own personal opinion is that it is a reaction to the whole Japan China thing.

Please be civil and factual, not emotional, I am very interested in opinions, but the only hope this thread has of any life is to just stick to the topic.

I guess we can include the folks from Australia too, as I read a very little blurb about USMC going there too.

Unc. Not to be political but the question was, odd. They were asked to come there. From what I have read this was planned way in advance of the recent China/Japan island flap. Why do you feel weird about it?

 

[Mark Savage]

The plan for Darwin is 2000 Marines ( as reported in the Media here ) the only objection Im aware of is from China . I would imagine the same will hold true for NZ . Im all for it there is far too much influence in the region from Asian countries ( especially Indonesia )
read millions of Muslims

 

[Boldor]

Im all for it there is far too much influence in the region from Asian countries ( especially Indonesia )
read millions of Muslims

I'm not! I am not anti-American. I am anti-I-hope-America-will-be-our-best-buddies-if-we-let-them-have-bases-here. I am surprised by NZ's stance on Marine presence because they told the USN to take their nuclear boats and p!ss off not so long ago.

The Mussies are here partly due to our activities with America but mostly because we are a bunch of soft cocks who roll out the red carpet and provide handouts for anyone who is willing to populate our country; yet treat our returned soldier and retirees like faecal matter.

If we wanted to put a cap on Islamic rioting and other malarkey Mark, we could do it a lot more effectively by amending our migration policies. Here is a question. How did Taji Mustafa acquire a visa to come here and preach his violence, while Geert Wilders has been waiting for a visa since early August?

 

[eigenvector]

Don't be so wishy washy B, tell us what you REALLY think.

As for me, New Zealand? Seems an odd place to deploy Marines seeing how if NZ was asking for help they should have been asking GB for that help - not America. Isn't NZ and Australia part of the British Empire or something (or used to be I guess)?

 

[Boldor]

We are part of the Commonwealth, as are your neighbours the Canucks.

I don't think you fully understand just how big and influential your fine country is - Eigen. It probably wasn't a case of NZ asking USA, more a case of USA telling NZ. Whatever the case b/n NZ and USA, that's pretty much the nature of the relationship b/n us and the US.

 

[duncan67]

Im an x marine and jeolous as hell! I would have loved to have been stationed in NZ. To you kiwis,youll like the Marines,we get paid well and aint too smart with our money Just keep your sisters behind locked doors,were not too smart with our other head either

 

[Billbikes]

First off I was never a Marine, just a soldier in the Army in a Special forces unit.
Our unit were the cold weather specialists, so we NEVER went anywhere warm! Usually it was Utah or Vermont in the winter(both are beautiful, BTW) or Sunny(LOL) England in the spring(march-april). RAF Sculthorpe. Had a lot of fun there, but it was windy, cold and damp. I know NZ can get pretty cold, too, but for some reason I get the feeling it's pretty nice most of the time in the populated areas?

I know I didn't answer the OP, but when has that mattered on this forum, anyway? Squirrel!

 

[eigenvector]

We are part of the Commonwealth, as are your neighbours the Canucks.

I don't think you fully understand just how big and influential your fine country is - Eigen. It probably wasn't a case of NZ asking USA, more a case of USA telling NZ. Whatever the case b/n NZ and USA, that's pretty much the nature of the relationship b/n us and the US.

There was no indication that we persuaded them to allow us there. By all indications they are on station to commemorate the 70th anniversary of WWII actions, plus they are cross-training with an equal (more or less) number of NZ troops in the US. This also appears to be an attempt to re-establish military relations after NZ banned all nuclear weapons and even power I think.

I'm not embarrassed or ashamed about how influential we are around the world - better us than China in my opinion, I was just suprised they included us at all - again since you're so buddy buddy with the Brits - why not involve them?
(My verbage might imply I'm incensed or annoyed - not the case, simply too lazy to articulate).

 

[Silverado57]

First off I was never a Marine, just a soldier in the Army in a Special forces unit.

No one is "just" a soldier in Special Forces.
You don't get to wear the green beret for nothing.
Thank you for your service!

 

[Randommech]

Actually if I remember correctly from my time in the Navy. The beret is a standard wardrobe item now. We squids thought it odd that the army was letting non special forces wear what was IMO a symbol of respect that was earned. As far as military relations go. I've met soldiers from the U.K., Australia, Sicily and Denmark. They were all good folk and as far as I know and have supported The U.s. military in all of it's recent conflicts. Wether it's because of our influence or not, I respect them as professionals and thank them for their service.

Sent from my LGL55C using Motorcycle.com Free App

 

[ArmyVet]

Gents.,

My take on it would be the announced strategic realignment towards the Pacific. Read that "attempt to prevent the Chinese from establishing regional hegemony". Since the dry docking of the Soviet Fleet in the early nineties, Uncle Sam is not interested in someone else helping to maintain open sea lanes. There are many benefits to being the only truly global blue sea Navy.

The only other reason would be for anti-terrorism operations, but we don't usually hear too much about those deployments of SpecOps types.

 

[ArmyVet]

Actually if I remember correctly from my time in the Navy. The beret is a standard wardrobe item now. We squids thought it odd that the army was letting non special forces wear what was IMO a symbol of respect that was earned. As far as military relations go. I've met soldiers from the U.K., Australia, Sicily and Denmark. They were all good folk and as far as I know and have supported The U.s. military in all of it's recent conflicts. Wether it's because of our influence or not, I respect them as professionals and thank them for their service.

Sent from my LGL55C using Motorcycle.com Free App

Random, I am with you. I have met military folks from many nations, even those not allied with the U.S., and found them to be hail fellows well met!

The Army went to a black beret as standard gear.

Maroon is still paratrooper. Green is still Special Forces. Not sure what Rangers wear now, I believe they used to be black.

 

[Boldor]

I'm not embarrassed or ashamed about how influential we are around the world - better us than China in my opinion,

Why should ANY nation, left/right, good/evil, commie/capitalist, exert their power on other nations? You make your statement like we NEED a Boss of the World. Nor would I be too sure that you have more might than China any longer. Your national financial might has suffered sorely by waging war in the Middle East, unlike the financial might of those who led you to war, which I would expect to be rather well developed by now.

I was just suprised they included us at all - again since you're so buddy buddy with the Brits - why not involve them?

Uhm - don't fall into the trap of confusing us and the Kiwi's. I am not sure that either we or the Kiwis are Buddy-Buddy with the Poms. We just remain part of the Commonwealth. We are no more answerable in law (in practice) to England than the Candians are. We are actually a great deal more entangled in American activities - and by a long margin too.

I am not supposing you het up in any sense. Nor am I, just in case you can't read my mood.

 

[HAP]

Why should ANY nation, left/right, good/evil, commie/capitalist, exert their power on other nations? You make your statement like we NEED a Boss of the World. Nor would I be too sure that you have more might than China any longer. Your national financial might has suffered sorely by waging war in the Middle East, unlike the financial might of those who led you to war, which I would expect to be rather well developed by now
I am not supposing you het up in any sense. Nor am I, just in case you can't read my mood.

Bo. Now that you have told every one in the entire world just what you think of Americans, may I suggest you take two aspirin and call back in the morning.

If not you may well find out what the rest of the world thinks of you. Those who live in glass houses should never cast the first stone. Respectfully Hap

 

[TucsonBill]

If you want to know about American vs English influence, you just need to see how Homer Simpson is much more familiar to Aussies and Kiwis than Rowen Atkinson!