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Trump welcomes Australia's PM, cementing strong trade, security ties


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Trump welcomes Australia's PM, cementing strong trade, security ties

By Alexandra Alper and Steve Holland

 

2019-09-20T145543Z_1_LYNXMPEF8J1IK_RTROPTP_4_USA-AUSTRALIA.JPG

U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump stand with Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Jenny Morrison on the Truman Balcony during an official arrival ceremony at the White House in Washington, U.S., September 20, 2019. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed Australia's prime minister on Friday for only the second state visit of his administration, signalling the close bond between the two allies as Washington takes on Beijing and Tehran.

 

Trump and Scott Morrison are expected to discuss security and trade, as China's increasing assertiveness, especially in the energy-rich South China Sea, has raised concerns within the region and the United States.

 

The leaders are also set to release a plan on Friday aimed at securing the supply of rare earth minerals, as concerns grow that China, the world's largest processor and producer of the minerals, could cut off shipments of the prized commodities.

 

Days before the visit, a sign draped across the Australian Embassy in Washington proclaimed "100 years of mateship" between the two countries. On Friday, Trump feted Morrison's arrival at the White House's South Lawn with a 19-gun salute and U.S. Marine Band performances of each nation's national anthems.

 

"It's highly symbolic of where the relationship sits at the moment," said Patrick Buchan, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noting that Morrison's state visit was second only to French President Emmanuel Macron's last year.

 

"Australia played a very smart game with Trump," he added, noting the country had avoiding directly criticizing him, unlike some European counterparts.

 

Trump got off to a smooth start with Morrison in May, congratulating him on his surprise election victory in a tweet noting there were "no greater friends" than the United States and Australia.

 

The two also met on the sidelines of the G20 in June, cementing warm ties that Trump did not enjoy with Morrison's predecessor, Malcolm Turnbull. Trump berated Turnbull in February 2017 over a bilateral refugee agreement before abruptly ending their telephone conversation.

 

Australia also agreed last month to join a coalition to protect oil tankers and cargo ships from threats posed by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz after a series of attacks there that Washington has blamed on Tehran.

 

Australia has also banned China's Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, the world's top provider of telecoms equipment, from its 5G network, something the Trump administration has struggled to persuade other allies to do. The United States says Huawei’s ties to Beijing make the network equipment it sells to telecoms firms a security risk.

 

Australian intelligence concluded China was responsible for a cyberattack on Australia's parliament and its three largest political parties, Reuters reported on Monday.

 

Following an arrival ceremony, bilateral meetings, and a joint news conference, Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will host a luncheon for Morrison to be followed by a state dinner at the White House.

 

SECURITY AND TRADE

 

During a visit to Sydney last month by Pompeo and U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper, the United States and Australia pledged to strengthen opposition to Chinese activities in the Pacific.

 

China has unnerved the region and angered the United States by installing military equipment and other facilities on artificial islands it has made in the disputed South China Sea.

 

The United States and its Western allies also worry that China is using foreign aid to secure greater influence over small Pacific countries that control vast swath of resource-rich ocean.

 

Australia, traditionally the major power in the South Pacific, has promised up to A$3 billion ($2 billion) in grants and loans to counter what Washington describes as China's "payday loan diplomacy."

 

But Morrison has pressed Trump to end his trade war with China, which has roiled markets and hammered global growth.

 

(Reporting by Alexandra Alper and Steve Holland; Editing by Peter Cooney and Steve Orlofsky)

 

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-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-09-21
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Two like minded people, neither with a concise, logical narrative for governing forward and both opposed to supporting the less fortunate in society.

 

I trump appears to have taking pointing lessons, the man never looks happy.

 

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1 hour ago, RJRS1301 said:

Two like minded people, neither with a concise, logical narrative for governing forward and both opposed to supporting the less fortunate in society.

 

I trump appears to have taking pointing lessons, the man never looks happy.

 

Don't know about OZ but the U.S. prez. is helping the "less fortunate" find jobs ...fortunately.

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1 hour ago, RJRS1301 said:

Two like minded people, neither with a concise, logical narrative for governing forward and both opposed to supporting the less fortunate in society.

 

I trump appears to have taking pointing lessons, the man never looks happy.

 

Nonsense. Morrison just plays along in appearance only, preserving Australia's national interests by keeping the US President happy. But the two could scarcely be more different in outlook, background, culture etc. Morrison carefully crafts his words in an 'Almost quite a lot of the way with USA' kind of way, while carefully NOT causing more offence to Beijing that absolutely necessary.

 

So far, since he became PM last year, he's done a pretty good job, though he's more a careful manager than an inspirational leader.

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16 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

Nonsense. Morrison just plays along in appearance only, preserving Australia's national interests by keeping the US President happy. But the two could scarcely be more different in outlook, background, culture etc. Morrison carefully crafts his words in an 'Almost quite a lot of the way with USA' kind of way, while carefully NOT causing more offence to Beijing that absolutely necessary.

 

So far, since he became PM last year, he's done a pretty good job, though he's more a careful manager than an inspirational leader.

Come on.  Name one Australian polly who hasn't bent over in front of these guys.

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40 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

Nonsense. Morrison just plays along in appearance only, preserving Australia's national interests by keeping the US President happy. But the two could scarcely be more different in outlook, background, culture etc. Morrison carefully crafts his words in an 'Almost quite a lot of the way with USA' kind of way, while carefully NOT causing more offence to Beijing that absolutely necessary.

 

So far, since he became PM last year, he's done a pretty good job, though he's more a careful manager than an inspirational leader.

Careful manager controlled by the arch conservative far right of the party, lacking narrative, foresight, and building a false surplus on the back of the poorly managed NDIS. 

I am not sure the where the "pretty good job" comes from. Failed on drought relief, welfare support for most vulnerable, closing support services.

 

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People who want to think about Oz/US relations might want to reflect on why it is that Oz has - like every other modern 'Western' country except the US - a decent working (not perfect) welfare system.

 

They might also want to reflect on how words like 'rightwing' & 'conservative' are bandied about, and how it is possible to be 'progressive' only on one side of politics. It could be - worth thinking about - that, in a welfare state, being 'rightwing' might be 'progressive', even 'revolutionary'. And mouthing empty clichés - on whatever side of politics - might be boringly 'conservative'.

 

Certainly in a country like Australia, the trade unions are one of the strongest conservative elements ('Stop the world! We can't cope with all this change!')

 

If you start to reflect rationally about such issues, it's not difficult to see that what is considered 'rightwing' in Oz is pretty left-of-centre in Usofa. And someone like me - a cultural conservative & right-of-centre on economic matters - would have voted for Bernie Sanders in the last Presidentials.

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16 hours ago, RJRS1301 said:

Careful manager controlled by the arch conservative far right of the party, lacking narrative, foresight, and building a false surplus on the back of the poorly managed NDIS. 

I am not sure the where the "pretty good job" comes from. Failed on drought relief, welfare support for most vulnerable, closing support services.

 

Most vulnerable....how I hate that term when they should be using the word bludger. Typical Labor/Green left wing nonsense.

Everyone in Australia has access to the same amenities from birth - world class education and medical care etc etc.

Some get off their butts and make something of themselves, others sit on their <deleted> and cry 'I'm vulnerable' and I'm not getting the support I need.

The NDIS along with the NBN is a curse bestowed by those two idiots Gillard and Rudd on the taxpayers of Australia and their children and their children's children. Neither were or are needed and will be an ongoing cost for decades and deliver nothing in real terms except to provide employment for the otherwise unemployable army of public servants who administer this disaster.

In terms of Morrisons 'miracle election win', it was only a miracle for Keating's true believers - no miracle for any thinking person. Did anyone really think Labor would in with Bill Shorten in charge.5555 An absolute clown, liar and hypocrite.

 

Time for another Singha.

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16 hours ago, car720 said:

Come on.  Name one Australian polly who hasn't bent over in front of these guys.

Not sure who did the bending but I do recall a segment for the Chasers on the radio when then PM John Howard was to meet Bush Junior about the Iraqi war business.

It went something like this 'Howard prefers pullout while Bush prefers condoms' made my day.

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1 hour ago, emptypockets said:

Most vulnerable....how I hate that term when they should be using the word bludger. Typical Labor/Green left wing nonsense.

Everyone in Australia has access to the same amenities from birth - world class education and medical care etc etc.

Some get off their butts and make something of themselves, others sit on their <deleted> and cry 'I'm vulnerable' and I'm not getting the support I need.

The NDIS along with the NBN is a curse bestowed by those two idiots Gillard and Rudd on the taxpayers of Australia and their children and their children's children. Neither were or are needed and will be an ongoing cost for decades and deliver nothing in real terms except to provide employment for the otherwise unemployable army of public servants who administer this disaster.

In terms of Morrisons 'miracle election win', it was only a miracle for Keating's true believers - no miracle for any thinking person. Did anyone really think Labor would in with Bill Shorten in charge.5555 An absolute clown, liar and hypocrite.

 

Time for another Singha.

So people with disabilities, aged persons and chronic health problems are bludgers 

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40 minutes ago, RJRS1301 said:

So people with disabilities, aged persons and chronic health problems are bludgers 

No, I never said that at all. But thanks for the oh so predictable greenie/left wing reply.

 

People with disabilities (and I mean genuine disabilities, not I've got a crook back bludgers, have always been looked after, for decades). I'm getting a bit <deleted> off though with the newly retired pensioners have been on one type of support or another all their lives now claiming that we are doing nothing for the old people. I know, personally, of three generations of single mums who have never, ever worked in their lives but have complained constantly how they do not get the 'support they need'. I'm sick of it!

My ex father had a small pommy pension. John Howard gave him a thousand bucks as he was determined to be a self funded retiree....spare me.

 

I don't have a problem with people in genuine need wanting my tax money to help them but it has gone crazy in Australia. My daughter is paying over 120 dollars a day in child care…..all subsidised by the taxpayer (me)...while she works!!! It's ridiculous. Her mum, my wife at the time charged 10 bucks a day for what  was essentially babysitting, family day-care. No different to the care her kid gets now. Except instead of four kids to look after the day-care has 40 kids, plus a ticketed first aider and an early childhood diploma or degree holding babysitter.

Yet the same kid can go to granny two days a week for free, get better personal care and interaction.

 

And the single mums can get everything I've mentioned basically for free while they hit the pokies in the local pub.

 

Australia is pretty well stuffed.

 

The land of institutionalised bludgers at the moment.

 

Poor man my country.

 

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2 hours ago, emptypockets said:

No, I never said that at all. But thanks for the oh so predictable greenie/left wing reply.

 

People with disabilities (and I mean genuine disabilities, not I've got a crook back bludgers, have always been looked after, for decades). I'm getting a bit <deleted> off though with the newly retired pensioners have been on one type of support or another all their lives now claiming that we are doing nothing for the old people. I know, personally, of three generations of single mums who have never, ever worked in their lives but have complained constantly how they do not get the 'support they need'. I'm sick of it!

My ex father had a small pommy pension. John Howard gave him a thousand bucks as he was determined to be a self funded retiree....spare me.

 

I don't have a problem with people in genuine need wanting my tax money to help them but it has gone crazy in Australia. My daughter is paying over 120 dollars a day in child care…..all subsidised by the taxpayer (me)...while she works!!! It's ridiculous. Her mum, my wife at the time charged 10 bucks a day for what  was essentially babysitting, family day-care. No different to the care her kid gets now. Except instead of four kids to look after the day-care has 40 kids, plus a ticketed first aider and an early childhood diploma or degree holding babysitter.

Yet the same kid can go to granny two days a week for free, get better personal care and interaction.

 

And the single mums can get everything I've mentioned basically for free while they hit the pokies in the local pub.

 

Australia is pretty well stuffed.

 

The land of institutionalised bludgers at the moment.

 

Poor man my country.

 

Most vulnerable....how I hate that term when they should be using the word bludger. Typical Labor/Green left wing nonsense.

Everyone in Australia has access to the same amenities from birth - world class education and medical care etc etc.

 

 

Above your quote, 

Not all people have the same advantage in Australia, there is very much a divide depending on place of birth, whether you are Aboriginal or other group, Especially when it comes to education, medical care, transport , even in places access to clean water. There is a matter of cumulative disadvantage for many, which is often not able to be addressed across a lifetime

 

NBN is a disaster, yes originally a Rudd initiative, then almost completely changed when Turnbull became Communication Minister to save funding, which has led to a complete blow out cost wise, and inefficient services and coverage.

 

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16 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

Morrison had this giddy smile on his face the entire time. He looked like he was enjoying himself and felt quite honored to be allowed to be near Trump's sphere of greatness. There is a true man crush going on.

It may have been a grin, but the happy clapper was eating a $h!t sandwich and was chewing furiously. Trump is essentially asking Australia to choose between China and the US in a trade war, which would totally throw the Australian economy under the bus, and for him to go in with him harder on Iran, when they've just arrested three Australians for trumped up (excuse the pun) charges of spying.

 

The only way he could please the donald was donate $100m to Nasa for Trump's mission to the moon thing and pretend that he was Donald's mate.

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18 hours ago, emptypockets said:

Most vulnerable....how I hate that term when they should be using the word bludger. Typical Labor/Green left wing nonsense.

Everyone in Australia has access to the same amenities from birth - world class education and medical care etc etc.

Some get off their butts and make something of themselves, others sit on their <deleted> and cry 'I'm vulnerable' and I'm not getting the support I need.

The NDIS along with the NBN is a curse bestowed by those two idiots Gillard and Rudd on the taxpayers of Australia and their children and their children's children. Neither were or are needed and will be an ongoing cost for decades and deliver nothing in real terms except to provide employment for the otherwise unemployable army of public servants who administer this disaster.

In terms of Morrisons 'miracle election win', it was only a miracle for Keating's true believers - no miracle for any thinking person. Did anyone really think Labor would in with Bill Shorten in charge.5555 An absolute clown, liar and hypocrite.

 

Time for another Singha.

Or we could talk about middle class welfare - the rort that is negative gearing and the 50% capital gain discount. I didn't like shorten very much either, but he paid the price for threatening to take away a massively economically distorting policy which has done nothing but pump up the ponzi scheme of housing pricing in Australia, to the next generations detriment.

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8 hours ago, samran said:

Or we could talk about middle class welfare - the rort that is negative gearing and the 50% capital gain discount. I didn't like shorten very much either, but he paid the price for threatening to take away a massively economically distorting policy which has done nothing but pump up the ponzi scheme of housing pricing in Australia, to the next generations detriment.

 

8 hours ago, samran said:

Or we could talk about middle class welfare - the rort that is negative gearing and the 50% capital gain discount. I didn't like shorten very much either, but he paid the price for threatening to take away a massively economically distorting policy which has done nothing but pump up the ponzi scheme of housing pricing in Australia, to the next generations detriment.

Also the blatant lies regarding the Franking Credit Scheme” rebates from tax to those who pay no tax , one of the most wealth men received 500,000 rebate from that scheme. Now that’s HiSo welfare

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On 9/22/2019 at 6:20 AM, RJRS1301 said:

Most vulnerable....how I hate that term when they should be using the word bludger. Typical Labor/Green left wing nonsense.

Everyone in Australia has access to the same amenities from birth - world class education and medical care etc etc.

 

 

Above your quote, 

Not all people have the same advantage in Australia, there is very much a divide depending on place of birth, whether you are Aboriginal or other group, Especially when it comes to education, medical care, transport , even in places access to clean water. There is a matter of cumulative disadvantage for many, which is often not able to be addressed across a lifetime

 

NBN is a disaster, yes originally a Rudd initiative, then almost completely changed when Turnbull became Communication Minister to save funding, which has led to a complete blow out cost wise, and inefficient services and coverage.

 

When you bring the Aborigines into the discussion then you are talking nonsense. But something the lefties love. I worked and lived for ten years in the Northern territory and grew up out bush in Western Australia.

I can tell you definitely the billions of dollars of money goes to the public servants and not to the end users. To watch the humbugging at the Westpac bank in Nhulunbuy was quite sad but that is their culture.

I have/had many Aboriginal friends when I was there. The sudden surge (twenty/thirty years ago) of people claiming to be blackfellas is astounding. Follow the money. Everytime.

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