The Lounge 2

[Grier]

You reckon it will fail/fall Terry. From what reasons?

Mostly from hearing about the slow slow rate of building Nuclear subs in the US, and UK. Especially compared to China's much faster rate.
Apart from building Nuclear Sub bases near Perth, I doubt we'd even get just one sub in 20 years... We're happy to berth US and UK subs.
Hell, in 20 years the face of Warfare will be at another level, like what's happening with Drones in the air, Dones under water, Drone like remote controlled Iranian water craft packed with explosives ... 'Asymetrical Warfare' is developing.
I do like those Hi Tech Frigates we going to get from Japan, at a fraction of the cost of just one nuclear Submarine, and a reliable partner, unlike the orange maniac!
Our new Bushmasters are brilliant with powerful lasers to fry enemy drones, and some heavy duty missiles with long ranges, for our big country. I really like them and other innovative Aussie military assets. Crikey, we sure punch above our weight.
Many are now seeing China as another reliable trade partner with many nations shaking off the toxic US shackles. The world is sick of Trump's Chaos and backstabbing of once Allies. We owe him nothing, in fact he owes the whole planet hundreds of Trillions of Dollars for the great harm he's caused our World. For future generations too, not that that'd bother Trump. Drill, drill, drill, ...
Ironically Trump's ham fisted attack on Iran is giving Green energy options a good boost. That's good and EV sales are doing nicely.

The Devil saved him from that assassin's bullet, imho.

It was satisfying to hear German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
who sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the ongoing U.S.-led war on Iran, accusing the administration of having "no truly convincing strategy" and allowing the U.S. to be "humiliated" by Tehran.
President Trump lashed out at Merz on social media, defending the war as necessary to prevent a nuclear Iran and accusing the Chancellor of supporting Iranian nuclear ambitions. Trump further told Merz to focus on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and to stop "interfering". Free Speech, ok !?
The criticism stems from the significant economic impact the conflict is having on Germany, particularly with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz driving up energy costs.
This public feud highlights a major fracture in transatlantic relations between the U.S. and its European NATO allies under the new Merz administration in Germany.

Make America Alone Again.


Note Trump is walking in front of Jesus, just like he actually did walking in front of Queen Elizabeth II inspecting her royal guards.

 

[Richie]

Mostly from hearing about the slow slow rate of building Nuclear subs in the US, and UK. Especially compared to China's much faster rate.
Apart from building Nuclear Sub bases near Perth, I doubt we'd even get just one sub in 20 years... We're happy to berth US and UK subs.

Spot on mate. Can we pull out of the deal and perhaps go back to the original French sub deal or better still build our own using hydrogen power at the Perth base. Reckon the only Aussie company capable of building the hydrogen subs is Austal as Tassies Incat is in big demand to build massive electric ferries instead. Wonder if the Libs will dump the nuke subs if in power.

 

[Richie]

WE Aussies may have thrown squillions away on imported nuke subs rather than build hydrogen powered ones ourselves, but we are going full steam ahead on our own unmanned sea drones powered by renewable energy, including wave.

Named the Bluebottle, these vessels are designed to provide hi tech intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and will function as a network for underwater defense assets such as providing a communications gateway for submarines. The will also be capable of deploying their own armed aerial drones.

When all 55 Bluebottles have been locally constructed by world-leading technology company Ocius, this nation will have one of the largest uncrewed surface vessel fleets globally.
View attachment 3905
An Australian Navy Ocius Bluebottle drone

More brilliant Aussie drone technology fellars, this one is an underwater stealth drone, Speartooth and according to those in the know it is set to reshape maritime warfare. To the extent that the US military wants them.

No Cookies | Sky News Australia

SkyNews.com.au — Australian News Headlines & World News Online from the best award winning journalists

www.skynews.com.au

 

[Grier]

Spot on mate. Can we pull out of the deal and perhaps go back to the original French sub deal or better still build our own using hydrogen power at the Perth base. Reckon the only Aussie company capable of building the hydrogen subs is Austal as Tassies Incat is in big demand to build massive electric ferries instead. Wonder if the Libs will dump the nuke subs if in power.Oure old Collins class French subs were originally nuc

Those original French Collins Class Submarines were Nuclear I think Craig.
Of course we were then so anti nuclear we had the subs with Diesel engines put in instead. Duh!
My old Dad, a RN Commander and Sub Mariner, was dismayed with the Collins class; just saying his opinion.
Ex PM Keating last said they were sufficient for protection of Australian waters. And a lot lot cheaper.

Personally I reckon we should foget AUKUS and buy our military hardware from decent and trust worthy democratic middle power Democracies and advanced nations like Japan, Canada, France, Germany, South Korea, ... and the UK because of our King Charles III and his Queen Camilla.

On the bright side China is now much more stable and a valuable trade partner with Australia. For now.

Heck, China is taking Global Warming seriously producing mega amounts of Green energy systems. Unlike D T rump.
With all the Chinese EVs and Hybrids available our roads are filling up with Chinese and other Asian vehicles.
In fact they're getting better and cheaper like the BYDs.

 

[Richie]

It was satisfying to hear German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
who sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the ongoing U.S.-led war on Iran, accusing the administration of having "no truly convincing strategy" and allowing the U.S. to be "humiliated" by Tehran.

..and what did the baby President do to retaliate, will remove 5,000 Yank troops from their German base, one of NATOs largest in Europe. That is called 'spitting the dummy'.

 

[Richie]

More brilliant Aussie drone technology fellars, this one is an underwater stealth drone, Speartooth and according to those in the know it is set to reshape maritime warfare. To the extent that the US military wants them.

No Cookies | Sky News Australia

SkyNews.com.au — Australian News Headlines & World News Online from the best award winning journalists

www.skynews.com.au

No comment guys. Sounds like a game changer in drone warfare.

 

[looker-on]

No comment guys. Sounds like a game changer in drone warfare.

It's definitely an achievement of your defence industry to produce something that fills a gap in the US strategic arsenal and it shows that AUS is up to scratch in this segment. He had to be rather secretive as to its real capabilities compared with a sub but it seems to be promising.

 

[Richie]

He had to be rather secretive as to its real capabilities compared with a sub but it seems to be promising.

Certainly does mate. The robotics of the vessel was not described very clearly. Or are all autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) robotically operated?

 

[Grier]

More brilliant Aussie drone technology fellars, this one is an underwater stealth drone, Speartooth and according to those in the know it is set to reshape maritime warfare. To the extent that the US military wants them.

No Cookies | Sky News Australia

SkyNews.com.au — Australian News Headlines & World News Online from the best award winning journalists

www.skynews.com.au

Crikey, we Aussies are a smart lot! I read about our underwater drones and they are amazing Craig.
And our Air and Ground drones.
Look how Iran's Swarms of Drones are befuddling DTrump.
Asymmetrical Warfare they call it, and it's enduring.

An old staggering and faultering Ukrainian Grandmother trying to escape the Russian onslaught recently was spotted by a Ukrainian operated air drone, who sent a remote controlled buggy to pick her up and so escape to safety.
A message on the bonnet said "Get in Granny" .

Alvin Toffler with his "Future Shock" book seems apt to mention.

 

[Richie]

An old staggering and faultering Ukrainian Grandmother trying to escape the Russian onslaught recently was spotted by a Ukrainian operated air drone, who sent a remote controlled buggy to pick her up and so escape to safety.
A message on the bonnet said "Get in Granny

True story? The Ukranians are also making giant strides in drone warfare Terry.

Crikey, we Aussies are a smart lot! I read about our underwater drones and they are amazing Craig.
And our Air and Ground drones.

I post this stuff as I become so proud of our nation that I want others to hear about us. Pity there are so few here now, with the Three Musketeers you, Thomas and moir surviving and keeping afloat the sinking ship.

 

[Grier]

True story? The Ukranians are also making giant strides in drone warfare Terry.

Here's two links to that story Craig:

How a robot rescued an elderly woman from Ukraine's frontline

The Ukrainian army spotted the woman using a drone and sent the machine to her rescue as she was trying to leave her war-torn village.

bbc.com

 

[looker-on]

Spring has come and some places are buzzing with people such as supermarkets, petrol stations (due to discounted prices for two months), DIY- and garden centres.
Have you ever lost your glasses without having the faintest idea how and where it happened? I have and spent a morning at an optician’s ordering new ones, which set me back 400 quid.

 

[looker-on]

Did you hear about the car driver ploughing into a crowd killing two people and injuring many here in Leipzig? It happened in a busy street which I often walk along to meet with my brother for a coffee and a beer.
Here you can see the restaurant and the arrow indicates the car's direction.

I went there two days after. This is one of three spots where people got killed or injured and it shows bollards put there as a provisional precaution.

 

[Grier]

Spring has come and some places are buzzing with people such as supermarkets, petrol stations (due to discounted prices for two months), DIY- and garden centres.
Have you ever lost your glasses without having the faintest idea how and where it happened? I have and spent a morning at an optician’s ordering new ones, which set me back 400 quid.

That's so annoying losing things Thomas, especially a costly pair of spectacles.

Even losing small value items like my weeding fork a fortnight ago.
Sometimes lost items do turn up.
I invoked Murphy's law by buying a new and better weeding fork for $6, with the notion that soon I will likely find the old one!
Some call it Sod's law.

 

[Grier]

Did you hear about the car driver ploughing into a crowd killing two people and injuring many here in Leipzig? It happened in a busy street which I often walk along to meet with my brother for a coffee and a beer.
Here you can see the restaurant and the arrow indicates the car's direction.
View attachment 3936
I went there two days after. This is one of three spots where people got killed or injured and it shows bollards put there as a provisional precaution.
View attachment 3937

So sad to hear that Thomas.

Indiscriminate Murder by vehicle is a hideous and vile crime which seems globally more prevalent nowadays.

 

[looker-on]

So sad to hear that Thomas.

Indiscriminate Murder by vehicle is a hideous and vile crime which seems globally more prevalent nowadays.

What strikes me, though, is that it's men only who use a car as a weapon or have you heard of a woman doing that?

 

[Richie]

400 quid.

As in 400 Euros Thomas? So both you guys wear specs, for what everyday or a specific purpose such as close up reading as I do now. When I drove I used a prescription for long distance but as I aged I found I did not need them any more.

 

[Richie]

Did you hear about the car driver ploughing into a crowd killing two people and injuring many here in Leipzig? It happened in a busy street which I often walk along to meet with my brother for a coffee and a beer.
Here you can see the restaurant and the arrow indicates the car's direction.
View attachment 3936
I went there two days after. This is one of three spots where people got killed or injured and it shows bollards put there as a provisional precaution.
View attachment 3937

Yeh mate the third or fourth now in Germany over past two/three yrs. I was gonna post something when you came back on here.. Was this terrorist related or just some nutter with a grudge? They are the most dangerous as on the outside they dont have a motive for authorities to pinpoint before the act...

 

[looker-on]

Yeh mate the third or fourth now in Germany over past two/three yrs. I was gonna post something when you came back on here.. Was this terrorist related or just some nutter with a grudge? They are the most dangerous as on the outside they dont have a motive for authorities to pinpoint before the act...

He was a psycho acting alone and bearing a grudge against his wife or female partner. He'll hopefully spend the rest of his life in prison. Over here it's not just a medical issue but one that has legal implications relating to our personal freedom.
Craig, who informed the public about the incident?

 

[Richie]

Especially compared to China's much faster rate.

We dont want the Commies building our military weapons. There has to be a cheaper way out of this AUKUS subs mess. Either find another seller or show some balls Albo and tell Yanks Aukus is off and that we will build our own hydrogen powered subs because nuke powered are too expensive and far too long to wait to build our own. Approach Twiggy Forest who is big on hydrogen, feel sure he will help push along the project.