USA -Uncle Sam and Whats yours is Mine.
As we should all; be aware by now, every President of the USA, including the present one - President Joe Biden, the call theme is always the same. 'America First'; 'God Bless America' and oddly, if you ring any American Embassy around the World, the first item is 'Are you reporting the death of an American?.a little odd, but understandable. given the content of 'The. 9/11 Commission Report and and the Book by David Vine 'The United States of War' plus of course the US preoccupation with fire arms.
Whew!, that said ,my little story, based on facts as I remember them, starts in the early sixties, in the Officers mess, at dinner in Rawalpindi Pakistan. A young Malcolm Mason, full of confidence, as we were, with me sitting opposite another young man destined to be come President .The rest were Senior Officers, all well decorated.
We were discussing, among other things and trivial matters, Armoured Personnel Carrier's,up to gun pintles. All seemed good to this young man from U K's British Motor Corporation. I was confident that with later assistance of the Military Attache, we would be in business. That was not to be.
Only hours later I received a telex from Head Office, to go to Singapore office, with immediate effect. Uncle Sam had intervened and took over. I seem to remember the name McNammara, active at the time. UK out, USA in.
Australia 1980's- There was discussion in Canberra, on the subject of Protected Limousine's, I of course, was familiar with one of the best converters, one of the big five. Advice was given on the parameters, of protection and offered to tender for any tender. Enter Uncle Sam- that's mine! . Was there a real tender, I do not know and of course what is happening now. Observation indicates, some lessons have been learned. UK out USA in.
Australia 1980's- Airport Fire tenders, were awarded, to the top UK builder and vehicles were arriving in Australia. I did not know of this. Anyway I received a call from London and a past Post Graduate colleage, then the General Manager (Now Deceased) saying that, a vehicle sprint tested in Darwin NorthernTerritory (Tropical) was little slower than spec,but not operationally problematical. Could I check, what was up. Someone was active to cause the cancelation of the products Full Stop.\
Some time later US Oshkosh vehicles arrived, no tender or real field trials,as far as I could asscertain. The UK vehicles were quickly sold elsewere.
Uncle Sam had struck again. UK out US in.
As for fighter aircraft, orders were given to US suppliers and some delivered without Night Fighting capability, just extra invoicing, and considerable at that.
The funniest -to me-was the new programing (simulation ) for the aging F111. Goodness me, I was on a flight across the Pacific, with the news that the UK firm was not interested. My fello passenger next to me was reading a file, an American, a glance I saw the word F111, I must have said something like whoops.
The response was similar to that of an American Immigration Officer- stern to aggressive. He thawed of course.and we ended up .OK. He would tender in spite of a F111 test pilot saying he would never attempt, such manouvers. Thank good it was only a simulator program. Uncle Sam strategy was ,'That's Mine. The outcome I know not, but it was hillarious to me,but not to my fello passenger.
Thinking Fighter aircraft- Australia has been known to purchase and have delivered aircraft, without night fighting computor programs. Massive extra cost of course , without tender.
Submarines 2021and previous-- Years agoe, I protested (questioned) the purchase of Swedish Sub's, saying why are we purchasing White Water Submarines for Blue Water work. Some how, design was done and Australian build was achieved and the vessels, performed reasonably.I wrote somewhere, about the French industry, making good vessel's, including Nuclear powered and armed.
Years passed of course, before the subject came up for Collin's class to be replaced.I wrote on Frances ability to produce top class vessels. A little digression is in order, as to my attitude to France, a somewhat personal view. Why not.?.
My father was an active paticipant and activist with the free French Resistance,in the form of activities in France,from time to time with his railway friend Louis, down Le Ponti way. Not a Special Operations Executive (SOE) operation, but pure French resistance, and he was always proud his of Cross of Lorraine but not of being dropped from an aircraft.. Dealing with German Trains, apparantly was his mission with his French partner, from exchange railway men day's before the War.
I visited France a number of times, with family. Journies on the Mistrale and Blue Train etc.Luis became Station Master Marseilles.
In the eighties we purchased a ruined Pond Mill in the Dordogne South West France, happy we.
I wrote on the quality of French manufacture, including nuclear powered.
Time moved on to a new generation of sub. It boiled down-or so we thought- to French and Japanese contenders. In time the French bid was the order of the day and discussions , followed on manufacture of what and where. maybe a bit like French and UK on Concord, where another of my University colleages was involved - Like me still alive, but not as noisy.
Then came that sudden annoucment of the Contract Cancellation- Yes, it would appear that Uncle Sam, had been attracted to $90 billion, opportunity, probably for some time.and it was time to turn up the heat on people, vunnerable to US pressure who were no match, for the US negotciators. I will never forget the scene, where the Secretary of State assisted the Australian Defence Minister off the podium after the announcement, tapping him on the shoulder, with a look which said 'That was not so bad,was it. naughty me tweeted ,Like me saying to our Great Dame 'Duke', after he had had he temperature taken!!!'
Then came the French reaction,swift and direct,first by recalling its Ambassador then angry comments from the French Foreign Minister, plus the refusal of their President to receive telephone calls from the Australian Prime Minister. The European Union, was also displeased.
The USA had done its homework and struck. The Prime Minster; Defence Minister and Foreign Minster, were clearly no match for the American Industrial/Political machine. It will cost Australia dearly and probably any hope of building Subs in Australia. Certianly the nuclear propulsion units will be off the technology agenda (Made in the USA only)
So,what next. The Mason strategy, would be to cancel everything and consider, Drone type vessels, controlled by over the horison land based centres and /or Sea vessels, like fast Cruisers. ie get close, guide to target and get out---fast. Australia has the ability to design and build---Political will. well that's a different matter with the intellect of the people currently in office. Australian needs some good technocrats in the Cabinate. The aging Collins class subs could be used for patrolling Australias borders.
For the moment its France out USA in .
There we have my general analysis of American strategy of 'Whats yours is Mine'. as I remember events. and a president no different in thinking as his predissesors. America first and God bless America.
Four papers have been written and sent to Leaders and people in high office at the time and here they are.
1.Think- An Essay On Governance 204. As a blog October 2013 (Colour,Blue). My longest and most comprehensive and saying what I am a still thinking in 2021-Amazing/
2.Think- A Proposal for a major change within the world financial system and mat+ters relating 2008. (Colour Green As blog Sept 2013. Mainly trying get the World off the US Dollar to the Euro, for all trade commodities etc.
3.Think-Earth - The Finite Planet and matters Relating 2011 (Colour Orange) As a blog Sept 2012 The finite of us all.
My major work for 2021, has been "Advocacy fora Virus Free World" (Yellow) July 2021- All about Covid19. Sent to G7 heads including Russia. Courtesy copies : Prince Charles-Prime Minsters of Australia and New Zealand plus India.
Its main aim is requesting the World to bring Chinese Government to account, to the tune of 75 trillian Euro's.. This would most effectively be via Trade Embargoes, to and from China. China the source of Corvid 19. From a laboratory or so called wetmarkets, no matter. China was the source and were not, forthcoming at the beginning and donnot cooperate honestly even now.
I have called it 'The International Coalition for a Virus Free World.- Regretfully not published as a blog.
Colin Powell and Donald Rumsfeld are now deceased, the two fellos who followed my guidance to the capture of Saddam Hussein. The reward went to other people, probably Israel . Hopefully, one day America's romance with Israel will wane. UK created Israel, USA butted in. Another case of What's yours is mine.
The future: Afghanistan - The pipelines seem secure for the moment. Who will enter the fray next -China? and the best of luck, Afghanistan : India and countries east of the Pakistan border. I must begin to put together the Mason essay on the almost instant take over of Afghanistan,I call it the Beehive, anthology.
Cogito, ergo sum (I think, therefore I exsist)
Fin --- again!..
