Maybe the U.S.A. should just tax the rest of the world.

[Andrew D]

Gob:

Are you disputing that the U.S. is the overwhelmingly dominant naval power on the high seas?

Among the statements of mine to which you have objected are:

The bottom line is that "big deck super-carriers rule the seas", and that means that the U.S. rules the seas.

On the high seas, the U.S.A. is God.

I have not said that the U.S. ought to grab the rest of the world by the balls and take whatever it wants. I have observed that the U.S. could do so if it wanted to

Do you dispute that the U.S. has so much more high-seas naval power than any other nation that the U.S. could, if it wanted to, impose its rule over the blue water of the entire globe? Do you dispute that, as one analyst has put it:

Even as accelerated globalization appears to have made naval power as an element of sea power more important to the workings of the global economy, the number of truly global navies has shrunk to one: that of the United States.

[Gob]

I have never disputed that the US is the dominant sea power, where did you get that daft notion from?

[Andrew D]

From your claim that the three statements of mine which I just quoted are examples, according to you, of my "act[ing] the swaggering braggard".

So I was not "act[ing] the swaggering braggard" when I pointed out that the U.S. rules the seas and could grab the rest of the world by the balls?

Or is pointing out an undisputed truth swaggeringly bragging?

[Andrew D]

Given the U.S.'s undisputed rule of the high seas, do you dispute this assertion by a Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute:

The oceans of the world are the best- and longest-studied part of the global commons. They are also still crucial to the global economy and global stability. ... With eleven carrier groups and an unmatched submarine force, the United States has exercised command of the naval commons since the end of World War II.

[Andrew D]

The next time "a Chinese warship challenge an Australian naval flotilla for 'intruding'," what is Australia going to do?

That time, an Australian frigate -- the most powerful ship in the Australian flotilla -- was able to call China's bluff.

But next time, when China challenges Australia with a 55,000-ton aircraft carrier equipped with some 52 aircraft, what is Australia going to do?

Or, more accurately, whom do you think that Australia is going to call?

[Sean]

Ghostbusters?

[Rick]

Ghostbusters?

Fortunately nobody here has had to live in a world without a US Navy...

[Gob]

From your claim that the three statements of mine which I just quoted are examples, according to you, of my "act[ing] the swaggering braggard".

So I was not "act[ing] the swaggering braggard" when I pointed out that the U.S. rules the seas and could grab the rest of the world by the balls?

Or is pointing out an undisputed truth swaggeringly bragging?

I'm sure that come the election of President Andrew, he will declare war on the rest of the world in order to gain control of the worlds shipping lanes, and that this will be done in a polite an courteous manner with no lunatic braggadocio whatsoever

The US will then win WWIII, with little or no consequence to itself, and hold the world by the balls.

And all will be sunshine, rose and unicorns..

Yes, I can see that happening.

[Gob]

The next time "a Chinese warship challenge an Australian naval flotilla for 'intruding',"

Next time?

[Rick]

If it was up to me I would use Neutron bombs.

Just to be a show off...

[Gob]

Hell yeah, while we're at it why not point the eminently successfull star wars progam back to earth and take out Bejing?

[Rick]

Hell yeah, while we're at it why not point the eminently successfull star wars progam back to earth and take out Bejing?

Hey Australia ain't got no laser beam, we do...

[Gob]

So how should the USA go about this conquering of the waves?

I think they should be sneaky, pretend they are only taking out Russia and China's navies for global security first. Then, while that is going on, blow up the French navy, and the British navy. Then Italy and Germany to gain power in Europe. Then Japan. Then Australia and New Zealand. Then Korea. Of course they would have to deal with Canada and South America at some point, but that should be piss easy.

So, maybe I could get a job under "Lunatic President Andrew the VI" as a global warfare strategist.

[Rick]

The Australian Navy has 54 vessels of which ~ 19 are able to fight in open seas warfare.

6 of those are diesel boats good luck with that.

The others are frigates of those how many are less than 20 years old?

But ya'll certainly have no worries do ya?

Wonder why that is...

[Gob]

Because "no worries" is our nationals slogan!

[Andrew D]

The next time "a Chinese warship challenge an Australian naval flotilla for 'intruding',"

Next time?

Yes. Next time. The time after (or perhaps more than one time after) this time:

A CHINESE warship challenged an Australian naval flotilla for "intruding" even though it was in international sea lanes at the time, it emerged yesterday.

A spokesman for the Australian Department of Defence said the incident, which happened "earlier this month", involved at least one frigate whose captain rejected the Chinese challenge and sailed on. He said: "The Australian naval vessels were challenged by a Chinese naval vessel which claimed that the Australians were intruding on Chinese waters.

So.

Anything to say on the subject?

[Gob]

Yes, they'll probably sail on.

[Andrew D]

Well, now that Gob has abandoned his claim that I was bragging ....

... in order to gain control of the worlds shipping lanes ....

The U.S. already has control of the world's shipping lanes. Hadn't you noticed?

Your country gets to ship its goods because my country says so.

Your country gets to import goods because my country says so.

Life's a bitch, ain't it?

[Andrew D]

Yes, they'll probably sail on.

And, at the whim of China, unless the U.S. steps in to save them, they'll be annihilated.

If that's the policy Australia wants to pursue, go for it.

[Rick]

Because "no worries" is our nationals slogan!

I'll buy that...