Obama Puts US Troops Under Foreign Command

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Australian general gets key US Army post

FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii — Maj. Gen. Richard Burr salutes with his palm facing out, like he's shielding his eyes from the sun. He wears a wide-brimmed felt "slouch hat" with a brown and green camouflage uniform.

The two-star general in the Australian Defence Force stands out amid the American soldiers donning berets and green and beige fatigues at the U.S. Army's headquarters for the Pacific. But he's responsible for directing their training and exercises as U.S. Army Pacific's deputy commander for operations. The Army is also making Burr their liaison to New Zealand, his homeland Australia and countries in Southeast Asia.

Burr's appointment — it's the first time a non-American has served in such a high-ranking position at a command like this_ symbolizes the Army's push to connect more with allies and friendly nations in the Pacific as it implements the Obama administration's policy to "rebalance" national defense strategy toward the region.

Burr said his presence in Hawaii tells others the U.S. Army is open to broadening its relationships.

"I think it sends a very positive message to all countries in the region — not just our two countries — that stronger partnerships is really the way to go," Burr said in an interview Wednesday, one month after arriving in Hawaii for the new job. "And building from bilateral to multilateral partnerships is the key to a stronger, more stable region."

http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/news-national/20130201/US.Australian.General/

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Australia is basically an American colony. What's the big deal? I wouldn't mind if the guy was from another American colony either, like say Canada.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

[quote name=' timestamp='1359754867' post='5954675]

Australia is basically an American colony. What's the big deal? I wouldn't mind if the guy was from another American colony either, like say Canada.

We had an Aussie Warrant Officer teach one of our courses at EOBC. The last day of his class, he showed up with an ice chest full of Fosters Lager and offered to teach us Aussie Rules Football.