But it seems likely that in the late 1990's and early 2000's, "going along with the yanks" was the easier path to walk. I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.
The Italians when they went for a bigger ship just went for a SCS carrier with capacity for more jump jets and helos. So obviously if you just want a bigger ship, just edging up the size of the Sea Control Ship is the other road to go.
OTOH, maybe they figured that the export market was bigger for an amphibious assault ship ... after all, they sold the design to Australia, who is building not one, but two. I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.
Or, of course, counter-invading the Northern Territory coast if Indonesia invades Darwin. I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.
... but a counter-invasion in case the Indonesians invade Darwin? That one is a lot more plausible. In a country of 20m next to a country of 100m+ with a history of invading places in their neighborhood, the military, at least, of the less populous country smaller country will not ignore that prospect in its strategic planning. I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.
