Govt Cans F-16 Deal - F-16 Deal The Aftermath - Dead Flown To Tangi - Uganda Cult Deaths - Queen's Meeting Marred By
Stalker
GOVT CANS F-16 DEAL: Prime Minister Helen Clark has axed the controversial deal to buy 28 F-16 planes from the United
States. Defence consultant Derek Quigley’s report says the true cost of the deal would be over $1 billion dollars.
However the Government has ignored the report’s suggestion to only buy 14 of the jets saying that there was not enough
money to do so. US Ambassador Carole Moseley-Braun says the United States was disappointed with the decision. The
opposition and other parties have reacted to the announcement. The Greens support the deal, however National, United and
ACT were also critical of the Government’s decision.
F-16 DEAL THE AFTERMATH: In the wake of the decision many air-force pilots are considering moving into the commercial
sector. The air-force has recently offered a cash payment to keep the pilots. Privately defence staff admit they are
crushed at the decision which could completely end New Zealand’s air-force defence capabilities. However there is
widespread public support over the issue with a Colmar-Brunton poll showing 68 per cent in favour of Government’s
decision.
DEAD FLOWN TO TANGI: An aging air-force Hercules jet flew six members of the family killed in a van-truck crash on
Friday. The family had been on the way to a wedding when the crash occurred.
UGANDA CULT DEATHS: Doctors in Uganda are examining the ruins of a church where members of a Christian sect committed
mass suicide. The followers of a church, which followed Catholic doctrines, dowsed themselves in petrol, burning their
church to the ground.
QUEEN'S MEETING MARRED BY STALKER: There has been a security scare in Sydney after police nabbed a man with a knife who
was masquerading as a member of the Queen’s security team. However hundreds of royalists attended the Queen’s later
public address.