Thank you for bringing us up to date about AUKUS, Five Eyes, the Quad and the African American Union. These are topics not often covered in such depth. Biden’s experience and expertise in foreign affairs is definitely showing in how he’s maneuvering to make sure that the US is seen as an ally and global force for good.
Thank you for bringing us up to date about AUKUS, Five Eyes, the Quad and the African American Union. These are topics not often covered in such depth. Biden’s experience and expertise in foreign affairs is definitely showing in how he’s maneuvering to make sure that the US is seen as an ally and global force for good.
Sorry, but the submarine contract hits me on a raw nerve, Francophile Australian citizen that I am. It happened on the watch of the Trumpian prime minister we've voted out, monumentally, this year. Everything was running normally, the preparations had been taking longer than expected because the Australian side kept changing their mind about nuclear or not, there was no budget blowout, Australian staff and their families had moved to France, French staff and families had moved to Adelaide, and a communiqué had gone to the French manufacturer confirming that the next stage could now proceed. Then Boris Johnson went into a huddle with Morrison and Biden, on the chilly beach in Cornwall, and talked them into "AUKUS", which was part of his personal rescue plan to show the British people how clever he was at patching the Brexit holes. Never mind that the UK has no vested interests in the Pacific - what's it got to do with Britain? I won't go into the embarrassing details of his visit to Washington, but in typical BoJo style he did his cultured English statesman act, and then slid out of sight. Macron was livid. When asked by a reporter if he thought Morrison had lied, he replied, "I don't think. I know." Morrison was not only obliterated in the election, he's now being investigated over an odd little manoeuvre a few months ago when he appointed himself to several ministries, without mentioning it to anyone. Well, Johnson has gone, Morrison has gone, we've got a good team in government at last, but no wonder the diplomatic honey is being spread around liberally. Sorry to hijack the topic, but I haven't really - and my blood boiled to see that Heather was quoting the wrong story.
Thank you so much for sharing your perspective and on the ground facts. It just shows that in spite of the immediacy and global reach of the internet there is a lot that is filtered by the choices of local media coverage.
Thank you for that perspective. I'm happy to see that, despite this 'slight', Macron is making friendship and an open mind with the U.S. as a priority. That's mature, classy, and oh so healthy for the world.
Thank you for this. I too was angry that my country (U.S.) moved in on France, but after reading this morning's newsletter and understanding that France's limits on nuclear power, it makes sense. Need to do research on the huddle at Cornwall.
All of this should remind US how fortunate we are to have a president with his eyes set on climate change and a world livable for all. The complexities would overwhelm a lesser person. His history and ability to surround himself with good and experienced people is a gift to all of US and us.
Amen!! I sick and tired of all the negative press he gets about his age. He has more experience and knowledge and capable people than many past presidents. We need to support him!
Thank goodness, at home, he had a smart wife who loves and supports him.
The Hill still reporting that most Dems do not want him to run again. My guess is they're behind on that. Many people have come around and are supporting him.
I actually believe his age is an advantage right now.
It wasn't the US, it was Johnson. And he's got away with it. I can see them now (video), Jill Biden, and Carrie, newly minted wife of Johnson, playing with the toddler Wilfred on the beach, while the three men talked together, far from any microphones - out of sight of the other delegates.
Thank you. Grateful for this picture you draw. But we do owe so much to France and I am grateful for that picture also. I keep thinking about the French Revolution and the Dreyfus Affair....can't help it.
Thanks, Kathy. Macron's rival, mentioned by Heather, never got over failing to win the presidential election - twice - and throughout the whole of Macron's mandate he's done everything he can to stir up trouble (weaponizing the "yellow vests" for example), in strenuous efforts to dislodge him. He sells himself as a hearty man of the people, all bushy grey hair and eyebrows, never mind all this elegance and good manners. I'll leave it at that, but Macron is young, strong, smart, and brave - and he actually cares about what he does and its effect.
Kathy Without the French, we would have lost the American Revolution. More recently the French have been somewhat prickly allies, especially during the de Gaulle years.
The American eagle doesn’t have smooth flying with French frogs or British lions. I do remember, after the U-2 incident prompted Khrushchev to explode at Ike when walking out of the Paris conference, de Gaulle walked over to Ike to tell him that Ike could count on him 100%.
Ditto with the Cuban missile crisis. I believe that it was Dean Acheson who personally took U-2 photos to de Gaulle. De Gaulle said ‘I don’t need to see these. Tell President Kennedy that I support him 100%.
Quite different than during WW II when Churchill referred to a cantankerous de Gaulle as his ‘cross of Lorraine.’ Ike also had galling experiences with de Gaulle, but nothing like Macron faced with Trump.
Thank you for this clarifying post. I am not up at all on the ins and outs of this sort of maneuvering. That Boris Johnson was the main actor does not surprise me at all. I am glad to see him and your former PM gone.
Ask that master strategist Boris Johnson. He ignored New Zealand, too. And Scott Morrison who doesn't have two brains to rub together was only concerned with self-aggrandizement.
It is my understanding that the petroleum giant BP is head quartered in London. As the Pacific is the gateway to the Arctic oil fields it would seem there is a vested interest in the pacific theater albeit in northern latitudes. China, Russia, the U.S., and the Uk have a keen interest in where global warming may take maritime shipping routes, especially as pertains to a possible northern route. Submarine fleets are no doubt an important consideration in maintaining control. Having lived and worked in Prudhoe Bay this isn’t science fiction rather jockeying by nations anteing up and holding hands at the table. The British company, British Petroleum, controls the Prudhoe Bay venture. Japan, Korea, and Australia are all players as well. As are Canada, Iceland and Greenland.
When I was stationed at NSA in 1966, there were classified documents that said CANUKUS EYES ONLY. At that time Hong Kong was still British and of course our Atlantic Alliance from WWII.
I also found it amusing that papers from GCHQ had those red sealing wax stamps from centuries past with their emblem pressed into it. It was a different era.
Anne-Louise, there are many Brexit holes that cannot be plugged certainly not by any Tory government past or present but, shifting to the technical side of nuclear sub systems that are vulnerable in 2022 into the next decades to space, surface & subsurface defenses are you aware of any public sources accurately evaluating Russian, US, French or other countries systems? Per defensenews.com, the 1st of 4 third generation FRENCH nuclear powered subs will not be delivered until 2035. The national costs are in the billions.
"French officials have not disputed that there were difficulties, as there might be with any big contract, but said Canberra never suggested it wanted nuclear propulsion, even when Paris brought up the subject. Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian last week called the cancellation "a stab in the back."
"On the same day as the #AUKUS announcement, the Australians wrote to France to say that they were satisfied with the submarine's achievable performance and with the progress of the program. In short: forward to launching the next phase of the contract," France's Armed Forces Ministry spokesman Herve Grandjean said on Twitter on Tuesday.
An official from the French Embassy in Canberra told Reuters on Tuesday that an intergovernmental agreement should have allowed for confidential discussions between ministers about changes to political or strategic circumstances.
"No warning, no proposals for discussion were offered," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
Thank you! "Political, strategic & propulsion matters noted. Thank you for the Learning Link as well.
On 'Music Historian Subject re World Musical History & Insruments: The "MIM" museum on the north side of Phoenix, AZ covers all continents & all musical eras. Also, Fascinating historical details on AZ musicians from the recording studio of Duane Eddy to Linda Ronstadt's Father's early musical history in Tuscon. African drums, US Jazz, a gigantic Wulitzer for kids & a magnificent Steinway are all there to enjoy.
Upon admission you are issued earphones. All you have to do is to walk up to an exhibit and tasty riffs play in your ears automaticaly. :)
Can't find the toddler-on-beach picture, but here's an extract from Australian ABC news. Mentioned elsewhere but not here: unusually, no video cameras were allowed inside the meeting.
Boris Johnson joins Scott Morrison's first meeting with US President Joe Biden at G7 summit
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It was widely thought Scott Morrison's first meeting with US President Joe Biden would be a bilateral encounter, as is usual on the sidelines of a leaders' summit.
But instead, unexpectedly and unusually, the Prime Minister’s anticipated one on one with the US leader became a three-man affair.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson turned up too.
Mr Morrison said it was a "unique opportunity" and a "mutual" decision.
Nevertheless, it marked Mr Morrison’s first encounter with the new US President and an opportunity to reset the alliance and relationship in a post-Trump world.
"Australia has no greater friends than the United States and the United Kingdom, and we've been working together on our respective security issues for a very long time,” Mr Morrison said after the encounter that lasted for 40 minutes.
Mr Morrison was invited as a guest to the G7 summit in Cornwall.(Supplied: Australian Government)
But while united with Australia on countering China, Mr Biden does not agree with Canberra's approach to climate change and is demanding a firm commitment to the 2050 target for zero net emissions. Mr Johnson has pressured the Australian leader on that front too; However, Mr Morrison said the topic was not raised during the three-way talks.
And this is from the Financial Review, months later:
When British Prime Minister Boris Johnson “gatecrashed” a planned one-on-one meeting between Scott Morrison and US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Cornwall in June, there was a pile-on from Labor and Morrison’s many other detractors.
The optics of Johnson being added at the last minute to what was expected to be the first bilateral meeting between Morrison and Biden was widely interpreted as a Biden snub because Morrison had been too close to Donald Trump and because Australia was a laggard on climate change.
After announcing on Thursday one of the biggest decisions by an Australian government in decades – a new trilateral regional security alliance, AUKUS, underpinned by a decision to develop eight nuclear-powered submarines as the first instalment of a regional arms race – Morrison said the Cornwall meeting was “probably the most important trilateral meeting Australia has had for the past 70 years”.
It was where the leaders agreed in principle to AUKUS.
Wow. Thanks, Anne-Louise. And... what about Canada being included as one of Australia's greatest allies?? Welcome to a post-cheeto - post-Morrison - post-BoJo world!! (BoJo!! Love it!! Hahahaha)
Anne-Louise I have posted more on the sub situation. Frankly whether the Aussies would get a French diesel sub by around 2030 or get a nuclear sub from the US/UK about 2040 while they have 6 creaky Collins subs in the meantime smacks of military irreverence.
Exactly - and diesel wasn't what the French were proposing in the first place. The French knew what they were doing, the Australians didn't. In the end the customer is always right, even if they're wrong.
Bryan Diesel subs should be in a naval museum. I was on a French sub at the Philly naval yRD DUEING WW II. Stank, extremely uncomfortable, and dangerous. Watch movie DAS BOAT. Why any major power would want diesel subs today, much less through 2030, leaves me gobsmacked.
Danke. Watched Das Boot many times & retain a CD copy. Satellites are capable of monitoring water displacement of Subs with powerful thrust from the screws.
We just get an overview from these brief daily letters, but it is rare (and refreshing) to see these topics covered at all. I don't think I have previously encountered the alliances you mentioned above.
And I second the depth of this writing today. In particular, all the different parts of Macron's visit define the alliance between our countries in the delicate balance Biden supports with his expertise in global affairs. Listening to "La Marseillaise" amid the pageantry of the formal speeches was almost the same as listening to the words Heather uses : ".....the idea that people have the right to consent to the government under which they live". Ahhhh......history, history, history.
When I was working in COMINT (Communications Intelligence) in the early 1960s, I was aware of the Five Eyes arrangement. What was ‘fuzzy’ was how this related to American COMINT intercepts involving British Commonwealth countries. My lips remain sealed under a secrecy agreement. Relationships between ‘friendly’ intelligence agencies have not always been straight forward.
I was always tempted to pick up the red telephone in my helicopter and pass myself off as Ho. Looking back I wish I had. “ Uh, mistah plesident my name Ho Che Minh. How you been? Not well I hope.” Just for amusement, Keith. Do you think Nixon would have found that funny.
Pat I doubt that Tricky Dick would have responded Ho Ho Ho.
You remind me of one of my COMINT experiences. I had been reading the intercepts of a ‘baddie’ who was in Stanleyville as a diplomatic rep to the Congolese rebel government. Later he was transferred to Leopoldville, where he became my tennis doubles partner. I was sorely tempted to ask him a few delicate questions, but secrecy prevailed.
You guys are cracking me up. I realize now how lucky I am to have been drafted in his place. I should send him a campaign contribution as I hear he is running for conductor of the Rock Island line up.
AUKUS ( minus the Brits), Five Eyes, and perhaps the Quad — all an attempt to rebuild what would have already been in place (including Canada) had Obama’s TPP not been torpedoed.
Until 1960, I think, I could identify every independent nation on Earth, and knew their capitals, and in almost all cases could identify their flags. The. France declared more than a dozen of its colonies in Africa independent, and I haven’t caught up since. So now with AUKUS (awkward), it’s clear that I’ve lost the battle of the acronyms, too.
Jon I believe that there are over 50 African countries today. When I first went to Anglo-Egyptian Sudan in 1954, there was only 1 (Ethiopia). It’s even more confusing, as some African countries have changed their names or splintered.
Now I wonder if any American states may change their names.
I didn't know a lot of this. Contrasting to former guy's and supporters "America first." So how do we get across to average Americans why this is so important?
Thank you for bringing us up to date about AUKUS, Five Eyes, the Quad and the African American Union. These are topics not often covered in such depth. Biden’s experience and expertise in foreign affairs is definitely showing in how he’s maneuvering to make sure that the US is seen as an ally and global force for good.
Sorry, but the submarine contract hits me on a raw nerve, Francophile Australian citizen that I am. It happened on the watch of the Trumpian prime minister we've voted out, monumentally, this year. Everything was running normally, the preparations had been taking longer than expected because the Australian side kept changing their mind about nuclear or not, there was no budget blowout, Australian staff and their families had moved to France, French staff and families had moved to Adelaide, and a communiqué had gone to the French manufacturer confirming that the next stage could now proceed. Then Boris Johnson went into a huddle with Morrison and Biden, on the chilly beach in Cornwall, and talked them into "AUKUS", which was part of his personal rescue plan to show the British people how clever he was at patching the Brexit holes. Never mind that the UK has no vested interests in the Pacific - what's it got to do with Britain? I won't go into the embarrassing details of his visit to Washington, but in typical BoJo style he did his cultured English statesman act, and then slid out of sight. Macron was livid. When asked by a reporter if he thought Morrison had lied, he replied, "I don't think. I know." Morrison was not only obliterated in the election, he's now being investigated over an odd little manoeuvre a few months ago when he appointed himself to several ministries, without mentioning it to anyone. Well, Johnson has gone, Morrison has gone, we've got a good team in government at last, but no wonder the diplomatic honey is being spread around liberally. Sorry to hijack the topic, but I haven't really - and my blood boiled to see that Heather was quoting the wrong story.
Thank you so much for sharing your perspective and on the ground facts. It just shows that in spite of the immediacy and global reach of the internet there is a lot that is filtered by the choices of local media coverage.
Thank you for that perspective. I'm happy to see that, despite this 'slight', Macron is making friendship and an open mind with the U.S. as a priority. That's mature, classy, and oh so healthy for the world.
Still... we need to not be taking him for granted.
Absolutely.
Thanks Anne-Louise for the clarification. So interesting to learn the truth!
Thank you for this. I too was angry that my country (U.S.) moved in on France, but after reading this morning's newsletter and understanding that France's limits on nuclear power, it makes sense. Need to do research on the huddle at Cornwall.
All of this should remind US how fortunate we are to have a president with his eyes set on climate change and a world livable for all. The complexities would overwhelm a lesser person. His history and ability to surround himself with good and experienced people is a gift to all of US and us.
Amen!! I sick and tired of all the negative press he gets about his age. He has more experience and knowledge and capable people than many past presidents. We need to support him!
Thank goodness, at home, he had a smart wife who loves and supports him.
The Hill still reporting that most Dems do not want him to run again. My guess is they're behind on that. Many people have come around and are supporting him.
I actually believe his age is an advantage right now.
Absolutely!!!! He is truly a man among men.
He is just amazing. And so few know.
Amen!! 🤩🤩
It wasn't the US, it was Johnson. And he's got away with it. I can see them now (video), Jill Biden, and Carrie, newly minted wife of Johnson, playing with the toddler Wilfred on the beach, while the three men talked together, far from any microphones - out of sight of the other delegates.
Galilee See my extensive commentary on Aussie subs earlier today..
Trying to find it.
Thank you. Grateful for this picture you draw. But we do owe so much to France and I am grateful for that picture also. I keep thinking about the French Revolution and the Dreyfus Affair....can't help it.
Thanks, Kathy. Macron's rival, mentioned by Heather, never got over failing to win the presidential election - twice - and throughout the whole of Macron's mandate he's done everything he can to stir up trouble (weaponizing the "yellow vests" for example), in strenuous efforts to dislodge him. He sells himself as a hearty man of the people, all bushy grey hair and eyebrows, never mind all this elegance and good manners. I'll leave it at that, but Macron is young, strong, smart, and brave - and he actually cares about what he does and its effect.
Damn, losing political rivals doing everything they can to stir up trouble. Sounds like a Repub playbook.
Jeri Chilcutt "Damn, losing political rivals doing everything they can to stir up trouble. Sounds like a Repub playbook."
𝘋𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘒𝘢𝘳𝘪 𝘓𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘍𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘥𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘮 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/election-denier-kari-lake-sues-arizona-elections-officials/ar-AA156VY9?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=23e521d057714abb8cc5f6da446afb60
Of course she did. Let’s hope it gets thrown out of court.
Kathy Without the French, we would have lost the American Revolution. More recently the French have been somewhat prickly allies, especially during the de Gaulle years.
The American eagle doesn’t have smooth flying with French frogs or British lions. I do remember, after the U-2 incident prompted Khrushchev to explode at Ike when walking out of the Paris conference, de Gaulle walked over to Ike to tell him that Ike could count on him 100%.
Ditto with the Cuban missile crisis. I believe that it was Dean Acheson who personally took U-2 photos to de Gaulle. De Gaulle said ‘I don’t need to see these. Tell President Kennedy that I support him 100%.
Quite different than during WW II when Churchill referred to a cantankerous de Gaulle as his ‘cross of Lorraine.’ Ike also had galling experiences with de Gaulle, but nothing like Macron faced with Trump.
Thank you for this clarifying post. I am not up at all on the ins and outs of this sort of maneuvering. That Boris Johnson was the main actor does not surprise me at all. I am glad to see him and your former PM gone.
Oh, so are we!
and the Truss-er, too
Correct, the UK has no vested interests in the Pacific. Canada, however, does and I'm mystified as to why we were left out of AUKUS.
Ask that master strategist Boris Johnson. He ignored New Zealand, too. And Scott Morrison who doesn't have two brains to rub together was only concerned with self-aggrandizement.
It is my understanding that the petroleum giant BP is head quartered in London. As the Pacific is the gateway to the Arctic oil fields it would seem there is a vested interest in the pacific theater albeit in northern latitudes. China, Russia, the U.S., and the Uk have a keen interest in where global warming may take maritime shipping routes, especially as pertains to a possible northern route. Submarine fleets are no doubt an important consideration in maintaining control. Having lived and worked in Prudhoe Bay this isn’t science fiction rather jockeying by nations anteing up and holding hands at the table. The British company, British Petroleum, controls the Prudhoe Bay venture. Japan, Korea, and Australia are all players as well. As are Canada, Iceland and Greenland.
Crucial pieces to this puzzle... thank you, Pat!
Australia doesn't need subs north of the tropic of Cancer.
When I was stationed at NSA in 1966, there were classified documents that said CANUKUS EYES ONLY. At that time Hong Kong was still British and of course our Atlantic Alliance from WWII.
I also found it amusing that papers from GCHQ had those red sealing wax stamps from centuries past with their emblem pressed into it. It was a different era.
Anne-Louise, there are many Brexit holes that cannot be plugged certainly not by any Tory government past or present but, shifting to the technical side of nuclear sub systems that are vulnerable in 2022 into the next decades to space, surface & subsurface defenses are you aware of any public sources accurately evaluating Russian, US, French or other countries systems? Per defensenews.com, the 1st of 4 third generation FRENCH nuclear powered subs will not be delivered until 2035. The national costs are in the billions.
No, Bryan, I'd have to do a lot of internet trawling - I'm a music historian! I can offer this - and Caleb Larson would appear to have some good information : "https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/france%E2%80%99s-new-nuclear-attack-submarines-are-killers-186433" You have to leap over some large ads, but keep scrolling. And this, from Reuters:
"French officials have not disputed that there were difficulties, as there might be with any big contract, but said Canberra never suggested it wanted nuclear propulsion, even when Paris brought up the subject. Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian last week called the cancellation "a stab in the back."
"On the same day as the #AUKUS announcement, the Australians wrote to France to say that they were satisfied with the submarine's achievable performance and with the progress of the program. In short: forward to launching the next phase of the contract," France's Armed Forces Ministry spokesman Herve Grandjean said on Twitter on Tuesday.
An official from the French Embassy in Canberra told Reuters on Tuesday that an intergovernmental agreement should have allowed for confidential discussions between ministers about changes to political or strategic circumstances.
"No warning, no proposals for discussion were offered," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
Thank you! "Political, strategic & propulsion matters noted. Thank you for the Learning Link as well.
On 'Music Historian Subject re World Musical History & Insruments: The "MIM" museum on the north side of Phoenix, AZ covers all continents & all musical eras. Also, Fascinating historical details on AZ musicians from the recording studio of Duane Eddy to Linda Ronstadt's Father's early musical history in Tuscon. African drums, US Jazz, a gigantic Wulitzer for kids & a magnificent Steinway are all there to enjoy.
Upon admission you are issued earphones. All you have to do is to walk up to an exhibit and tasty riffs play in your ears automaticaly. :)
MIM ... so great to know about!! LOVE AZ!! Thank you, Bryan!!
Wow 🤩 today’s letter/comments is a gold mine of information. 🙏🏼
🙏
Sounnds great (no pun intended)! The Musée de la musique in Paris has a similar audio arrangement. Magic!
Thanks, Anne-Louise! Appreciate your 'internet trawling' <-- term of the day!! :D
Can't find the toddler-on-beach picture, but here's an extract from Australian ABC news. Mentioned elsewhere but not here: unusually, no video cameras were allowed inside the meeting.
Boris Johnson joins Scott Morrison's first meeting with US President Joe Biden at G7 summit
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It was widely thought Scott Morrison's first meeting with US President Joe Biden would be a bilateral encounter, as is usual on the sidelines of a leaders' summit.
But instead, unexpectedly and unusually, the Prime Minister’s anticipated one on one with the US leader became a three-man affair.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson turned up too.
Mr Morrison said it was a "unique opportunity" and a "mutual" decision.
Nevertheless, it marked Mr Morrison’s first encounter with the new US President and an opportunity to reset the alliance and relationship in a post-Trump world.
"Australia has no greater friends than the United States and the United Kingdom, and we've been working together on our respective security issues for a very long time,” Mr Morrison said after the encounter that lasted for 40 minutes.
Mr Morrison was invited as a guest to the G7 summit in Cornwall.(Supplied: Australian Government)
But while united with Australia on countering China, Mr Biden does not agree with Canberra's approach to climate change and is demanding a firm commitment to the 2050 target for zero net emissions. Mr Johnson has pressured the Australian leader on that front too; However, Mr Morrison said the topic was not raised during the three-way talks.
And this is from the Financial Review, months later:
When British Prime Minister Boris Johnson “gatecrashed” a planned one-on-one meeting between Scott Morrison and US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Cornwall in June, there was a pile-on from Labor and Morrison’s many other detractors.
The optics of Johnson being added at the last minute to what was expected to be the first bilateral meeting between Morrison and Biden was widely interpreted as a Biden snub because Morrison had been too close to Donald Trump and because Australia was a laggard on climate change.
After announcing on Thursday one of the biggest decisions by an Australian government in decades – a new trilateral regional security alliance, AUKUS, underpinned by a decision to develop eight nuclear-powered submarines as the first instalment of a regional arms race – Morrison said the Cornwall meeting was “probably the most important trilateral meeting Australia has had for the past 70 years”.
It was where the leaders agreed in principle to AUKUS.
Wow. Thanks, Anne-Louise. And... what about Canada being included as one of Australia's greatest allies?? Welcome to a post-cheeto - post-Morrison - post-BoJo world!! (BoJo!! Love it!! Hahahaha)
Anne-Louise I have posted more on the sub situation. Frankly whether the Aussies would get a French diesel sub by around 2030 or get a nuclear sub from the US/UK about 2040 while they have 6 creaky Collins subs in the meantime smacks of military irreverence.
Exactly - and diesel wasn't what the French were proposing in the first place. The French knew what they were doing, the Australians didn't. In the end the customer is always right, even if they're wrong.
Diesel Subs & Collins Subs are way too loud ... LOUD ... LOUD! subsurface.
Bryan Diesel subs should be in a naval museum. I was on a French sub at the Philly naval yRD DUEING WW II. Stank, extremely uncomfortable, and dangerous. Watch movie DAS BOAT. Why any major power would want diesel subs today, much less through 2030, leaves me gobsmacked.
Danke. Watched Das Boot many times & retain a CD copy. Satellites are capable of monitoring water displacement of Subs with powerful thrust from the screws.
❗️❗️❗️
Thanks, Anne-Louise.
Thank you for this. Need to hear it.
We just get an overview from these brief daily letters, but it is rare (and refreshing) to see these topics covered at all. I don't think I have previously encountered the alliances you mentioned above.
And I second the depth of this writing today. In particular, all the different parts of Macron's visit define the alliance between our countries in the delicate balance Biden supports with his expertise in global affairs. Listening to "La Marseillaise" amid the pageantry of the formal speeches was almost the same as listening to the words Heather uses : ".....the idea that people have the right to consent to the government under which they live". Ahhhh......history, history, history.
When I was working in COMINT (Communications Intelligence) in the early 1960s, I was aware of the Five Eyes arrangement. What was ‘fuzzy’ was how this related to American COMINT intercepts involving British Commonwealth countries. My lips remain sealed under a secrecy agreement. Relationships between ‘friendly’ intelligence agencies have not always been straight forward.
I was always tempted to pick up the red telephone in my helicopter and pass myself off as Ho. Looking back I wish I had. “ Uh, mistah plesident my name Ho Che Minh. How you been? Not well I hope.” Just for amusement, Keith. Do you think Nixon would have found that funny.
Pat I doubt that Tricky Dick would have responded Ho Ho Ho.
You remind me of one of my COMINT experiences. I had been reading the intercepts of a ‘baddie’ who was in Stanleyville as a diplomatic rep to the Congolese rebel government. Later he was transferred to Leopoldville, where he became my tennis doubles partner. I was sorely tempted to ask him a few delicate questions, but secrecy prevailed.
🤣🤣🤣 That’s one for Trump, who wouldn’t have recognized the name.
Had Trump been in office Virginia, I would have begged to be sent to Hawaii to recuperate from my bone spurs.
Pat And in Hawaii you could have looked for Obama’s birth certificate.
You guys are cracking me up. I realize now how lucky I am to have been drafted in his place. I should send him a campaign contribution as I hear he is running for conductor of the Rock Island line up.
AUKUS ( minus the Brits), Five Eyes, and perhaps the Quad — all an attempt to rebuild what would have already been in place (including Canada) had Obama’s TPP not been torpedoed.
Ah, TPP. There is that piece of the story .
Until 1960, I think, I could identify every independent nation on Earth, and knew their capitals, and in almost all cases could identify their flags. The. France declared more than a dozen of its colonies in Africa independent, and I haven’t caught up since. So now with AUKUS (awkward), it’s clear that I’ve lost the battle of the acronyms, too.
AUKUS is a rift on 'caucus'. Someone thought it was clever.
Jon I believe that there are over 50 African countries today. When I first went to Anglo-Egyptian Sudan in 1954, there was only 1 (Ethiopia). It’s even more confusing, as some African countries have changed their names or splintered.
Now I wonder if any American states may change their names.
Biden is busy building bridges, of all sorts and for the good of the planet!
I didn't know a lot of this. Contrasting to former guy's and supporters "America first." So how do we get across to average Americans why this is so important?
Reading George Lakoff’s book Moral Politics has helped me to meet my conservative friends on our areas of agreement.
I will look for it.
I agree with you Mary.