AUKUS red-faced after sub files found in pub’s toilet
“Don’t pick up the phone” might not be a formal agenda during meetings for the next Brics+ conference in South Africa comes August, 2023; but surely it will be a hot topic during coffee breaks! “So that you won’t be shouted down!”
But Australia has been an ally since the end of WWII, with the establishment of ANZUS, a 1951 security agreement between Australia, New Zealand and the United States, so Australia always pick up the phone; even if it is from a dangerous ally. For more see, here “Dangerous Allies!”
Now Australia’s AUKUS partners are red-faced after their sub files are found in a pub’s toilet: the worst deal in history
The Sydney Moring Herald by Rob Harris • April 29, 2023 // RT World News
London: Australia’s partner in the $368 billion AUKUS defence deal has been left red-faced after official documents about one of its Astute-class submarines were found in the toilets of a local pub.
Files carrying details about HMS Anson were left in the Furness Railway in Cumbria, alongside a Royal Navy lanyard, and showed the inner workings of the nuclear-powered submarine and were used by submariners learning how to isolate and depressurise elements of its system.
The pub is a short distance from a BAE systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, where Australian submariners will undergo training as part of the agreement with Britain and the United States over the cutting-edge nuclear submarines.
The Royal Navy has played down part of the report carried in Britain’s The Sun newspaper, which said the files, marked “official sensitive”, were discovered on the floor of a cubicle.
Government guidance says that information marked “Sensitive” must only be shared on “genuine need to know” and could have damaging consequences if lost, stolen or published.
The Royal Navy said it would investigate the breach, but said the papers were generic resources and did not contain any classified information.
“These are generic training documents that carry no classified information,” a Royal Navy spokesman said. “However, we take all security matters extremely seriously and will investigate the circumstances of their discovery.”
HMS Anson is the fifth of the new Astute-class attack submarines to join the Royal Navy fleet. The vessels are capable of firing tomahawk missiles and described as the “largest, most advanced and most powerful attack submarines” ever used.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is anticipated to visit the secure facility when he travels the UK next week ahead of attending King Charles III’s coronation. In the past year, Defence Minister Richard Marles and Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy have visited the base, as well as South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas.
Last month it was revealed the first Australian-built nuclear-powered submarines, fitted with vertical launch systems to fire cruise missiles, would be British-designed and incorporate US technology.
The submarines will be developed by BAE Systems at its Barrow-in-Furness shipyard before Australia expands it capability at Osborne, west of Adelaide. The SSN-AUKUS class will replace the Royal Navy’s Astute-class boats when they enter into operation.
The AUKUS pact is intended to help Australia secure nuclear-powered submarines as part of a wider push to counter China’s military might, but will also eventually result in the three nations co-operating in other areas, such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing and cyber warfare.
Albanese has described AUKUS as the “single biggest leap” in Australia’s defence capabilities, but concerns remain about Australia’s reliance on the US and the maze of export controls that could slow the transfer of the nuclear-propulsion or other technology. But Paul Keating sas it is the worst deal in history.
“And they shall come against thee with chariots, wagons, and wheels, and with an assembly of people, who shall set against thee buckler and shield and helmet roundabout; and I will set judgement before them, and they shall judge thee according to their judgements.
“And I will set My jealousy against thee, and they shall deal furiously with thee. They shall take away thy nose and thine ears, and thy remnant shall fall by the sword. They shall take thy sons and thy daughters, and thy residue shall be devoured by the fire” Ezekiel 23:24-25
The Mystery of Ephraim 