Star Wars kills-off Anzac spirit
Green MP Keith Locke says New Zealand will have to review its defence relations with Australia in the light of the
Howard government's commitment to America's "Star Wars" programme.
"Buying into this missile system will make Australia a nuclear target, rather than defend it from attack," said Mr
Locke, the Green Party Defence spokesperson. "Star Wars will only accelerate the nuclear arms race, as America's
potential adversaries build bigger and better missiles to penetrate the missile defence screen.
"Rather than being perceived as a peace-loving country that poses no threat to its neighbours, Australia will now be
seen as a regional stalking-horse for the Dr Strangeloves in the Pentagon. John Howard's policies endanger the South
Pacific.
"There is no way that our no-nukes legislation is compatible with what Howard is proposing. This must mean an
unravelling of the defence links between the two countries.
"This is just the latest chapter in Howard's reckless pursuit of recognition and reward from the White House," Mr Locke
said. "It was bad enough when he committed troops to the illegal invasion of Iraq, but now Howard is helping George Bush
undermine the entire nuclear disarmament process.
"The New Zealand Greens will be offering whatever support we can to the Australian Greens, who will be spearheading the
movement to keep Star Wars where it belongs - in the movie theatre."
ENDS