European blood
12-15-2011, 06:23 PM
DARWIN is a dump. And the people making the allegation should know - they are from Singapore.
The government supervised Straits Times questions whether US marines should set up base in Darwin because the city suffers chronic alcohol abuse and crime.
An article by former Australian navy commodore Sam Bateman infers that US marines will carry out sex attacks in the Territory.
"The experience of the US military in Okinawa, in Japan, gives few grounds for optimism," he says.
Mr Bateman writes: "Darwin is not a tropical paradise and keeping the marines happy in their off-duty hours will not be easy.
"For much of the year, during the dry season, Darwin is a hot, dusty place and then the rest of the year, during the wet season, it experiences heavy rain, frequent flash squalls and occasional severe cyclones.
"The change of season from the Dry to the Wet in October-November each year brings the so-called 'silly season' when the humidity becomes oppressive, people behave erratically and the suicide rate is high.
"Just to add to the rigours of life in the Top End, crocodiles lurk in local river systems and waterholes."
Mr Bateman says the marines will not enjoy the "bright lights" they are used to in Asia or Hawaii.
"There is a hard-drinking, hard-playing culture in Darwin with an endemic drug scene. Testosterone-driven males can get in a lot of trouble in the place."
He writes that Australian troops have suffered "morale and social problems" while in Darwin.
Mr Bateman says it will be a challenge to authorities to prevent a repeat of the 1942 Battle of Brisbane when a soldier was killed in fights between Diggers and visiting US troops.
But he finally concedes the Territory has "unique" tourist attractions - and that may help keep the marines out of trouble.
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/12/10/277481_ntnews.html
The government supervised Straits Times questions whether US marines should set up base in Darwin because the city suffers chronic alcohol abuse and crime.
An article by former Australian navy commodore Sam Bateman infers that US marines will carry out sex attacks in the Territory.
"The experience of the US military in Okinawa, in Japan, gives few grounds for optimism," he says.
Mr Bateman writes: "Darwin is not a tropical paradise and keeping the marines happy in their off-duty hours will not be easy.
"For much of the year, during the dry season, Darwin is a hot, dusty place and then the rest of the year, during the wet season, it experiences heavy rain, frequent flash squalls and occasional severe cyclones.
"The change of season from the Dry to the Wet in October-November each year brings the so-called 'silly season' when the humidity becomes oppressive, people behave erratically and the suicide rate is high.
"Just to add to the rigours of life in the Top End, crocodiles lurk in local river systems and waterholes."
Mr Bateman says the marines will not enjoy the "bright lights" they are used to in Asia or Hawaii.
"There is a hard-drinking, hard-playing culture in Darwin with an endemic drug scene. Testosterone-driven males can get in a lot of trouble in the place."
He writes that Australian troops have suffered "morale and social problems" while in Darwin.
Mr Bateman says it will be a challenge to authorities to prevent a repeat of the 1942 Battle of Brisbane when a soldier was killed in fights between Diggers and visiting US troops.
But he finally concedes the Territory has "unique" tourist attractions - and that may help keep the marines out of trouble.
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2011/12/10/277481_ntnews.html