Clinton, Panetta Stop in San Francisco

By Matt Smith Tue., Sep. 13 2011 at 7:15 AM

Categories: Politics

I'll tell you what a cesspool is

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta will arrive in San Francisco on Wednesday to talk with their Australian counterparts over a proposed base-sharing agreement.

According to a Monday U.S. State Department bulletin:

Secretary Clinton will travel to San Francisco on September 14 to cohost the Australia - United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN). On September 15, Secretary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta will meet with Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and Defense Minister Stephen Smith to discuss challenges in the Asia-Pacific region, ways to improve and deepen Alliance cooperation, and issues affecting global security. On September 16, Secretary Clinton will deliver the keynote address at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Women and the Economy Summit.

Also, they might be talking about that pending deal to allow more U.S. soldiers to train at Australian bases.

According to Stuart Parks, a commenter on the Northern Territory News website, which carried the base talks story, the American onslaught will be viewed warily.

"Geez the Americans? Really? Really???? Anyone notice that when the yanks are in town the place becomes more of a cesspool than it already is? Let them train here, sure, but don't let it be permanent."

The State Department announcement did not say whether Clinton would discuss the "cesspool" issue while in San Francisco.

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