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National sails closer to ending nuke ships ban COMMENT BY LARRY ROSS, October 13, 2004
This July 13, 2003 article shows that National Party MP's have a long history of opposition to New Zealand's nuclear ship ban. They would repeal NZ's nuclear ship ban if voted to power. That would also mean turning a blind eye to the possibility that visiting US nuclear-powered warships might also carry nuclear weapons under the US's "neither confirm nor deny" policy. As National's defence spokesman, Simon Power recently said (see other articles on this - links below), they want to become an ANZUS partner again, and would send NZ troops to support any US wars. That would mean New Zealand's acceptance of any US use of nuclear weapons under the new US policy of potential use during conventional campaigns - or even pre-emptive use as the new doctrines threaten. It also means that National would accept and parrot US lies to get the public to support future wars, as the US did over both Vietnam war in the 60's and the Iraq war of 2003.
Howard did this in Australia. The Australian public rewarded Howard by re-electing him, because Labour Leader Latham, decided not use his potentially strongest argument with the electorate - Howard's lying to justify sending troops to support an illegal war. That made Howard a war criminal, and few Australian's would knowingly vote for a war criminal. By avoiding this strongest card - Iraq, Latham virtually gave the election to Howard. Perhaps it was a fear of offending the Bush neo-con regime. Political sycophants in NZ, UK and elsewhere will take heart at Howard's win and believe they also, can lie their way into power. Since July 13, 2003, National have shown further commitment to scrapping NZ's nuclear ban. Don Brash told visiting US Senators, he would end the nuclear ban by lunchtime (see articles below) There is no doubt that National is NZ’s nuclear party. A vote for National means bringing back nuclear warships and probably nuclear weapons to NZ, and participating in any future US wars, however unjustified, like Iraq, they may be. This would happen even if a war could go nuclear and lead to millions, if not billions of casualties. Becoming again, a pliant US pawn, and supporting US wars, means NZ becoming a more likely terrorist target, as Australia has become, and becoming a potential nuclear target if the US goes nuclear. It also means losing NZ's image as an independent, nuclear-free, clean and green environment that attracts tourists so much. So potential NZ voters should consider these consequences before they vote. Remember: If NZ becomes a terrorist or nuclear target, they may be no second chances. Larry Ross ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
National
sails closer to ending nuke ships ban National is continuing to inch towards a policy that would allow nuclear ships back into New Zealand ports and has even raised the prospect of the wider use of nuclear technology.
Numerous delegates to the weekend's conference made it clear they saw the ban on nuclear ships as the major impediment to better relations and closer military ties with the United States and Australia. Mr English has asked a party committee led by former deputy prime minister Wyatt Creech to look at the nuclear policy. A report is expected shortly. The conference passed two remits supporting the scrapping of the ban which ended New Zealand's participation in Anzus, the New Zealand, Australia and US grouping. National MP Paul Hutchinson also upped the ante, passing an amendment that would allow "safe nuclear technologies" to be used in New Zealand. In his speech Dr Hutchinson referred only to medical and research technology. A number of delegates pointed out afterwards that if the remit became policy it would allow nuclear power plants, which is widely regarded as a safe source of energy. Conference remits are not binding on the party or its MPs. Mr English maintained a cautious approach to the issue, saying he would await the report. "The party is having a considered debate about that issue and we will speak publicly on it when we know exactly where we are going," Mr English said. There were other moves to restore links with the United States such as "not attacking them" Mr English said, referring to Prime Minister Helen Clark's recent and widely reported criticism of US President George W Bush and the invasion of Iraq. Mr English wants to treat the nuclear issue as a wider part of foreign policy. "We have to consider all of this in the light of New Zealand's national interests. We are not here to please the Americans. We are here to pursue our national interest and what serves it best." Delegates were clear the nuclear ship ban should go and repeatedly claimed the Government and state-owned media were anti-American. One delegate told Mr English to stop "fluffing" around and just make repealing the nuclear ship ban a policy. Party strategists are treading through the nuclear issue carefully. A pledge to repeal the ban is not seen as a vote winner, but it would help to shore up support amongst the party's traditional supporters. Because of the iconic nature of the nuclear legislation, senior National MPs want to spend time reinforcing that the party is anti-nuclear weapons and building a strong and simply explained case for repealing the nuclear ship ban. Widening the repeal to allow nuclear power plants does not have widespread support among National's senior members as it would widen the political debate beyond foreign policy. National campaigned against the ban when it was in opposition but did not change it when it came to power in 1990. A special committee was set up, chaired by Sir Edward Somers, and presented a report on nuclear-powered ships to then-prime minister Jim Bolger in 1992. It declared nuclear ships to be safe and said they posed no realistic risk. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Also see: |
