Speculation: New Zealand - A change in no nukes policy?

Richard Prebble's "Letter from Wellington". | Monday, November 18 2002 | Richard Prebble (ACT member of Parliament) New Zealand

[shaggy eel]

,,, unemployment stands at 5,3%. Klark keeps fine tuning things in order to keep the middle ground/largest blocks of voters happy, like in most other countries. It seems that a coalition government, results from what polls show her plus pressure from economic moves like this will ensure she can't blaze trails too much.

[NeoCaveman]

Thanks for the ping eel!

[shaggy eel]

,,, you're welcome dubya.

[shaggy eel]

,,, who said you lied? It could have been that your ship's reactor was running close to certification running out or something. Any number of reasons could have precluded it visiting. It sounds like all aboard wanted to come on down though. It's a pity you didn't get here.

[farmfriend]

You will do it our way or else!

Sarcasm aside, a free trade agreement would change things on the agricultural front. Thanks for the ping.

[kstewskis]

,,, we had nuclear propelled and armed ships here from the US up to the mid 1980s. USS Truxton was one of the last ships I remember coming here.

Hey there Shaggy! Good memory on the USS Truxton. One of my good friends from high school was on his West Pac tour on that boat at the time and I remember him saying he was down there. I do hope we'll see the trade between the US and NZ grow!

Cheers mate!

[cynicom]

Shag...

Those socialist Zoolanders could go back to sails only rather than compromise their principles. When a severe pain evolves in the wallet, their principles are meaningless tripe.

[Brian Allen]

<< ... that's what it amounts to. Play ball with us or we'll stick the bat up your... >>

We [More Polite and Civilized] Americans tend to think of it as "grow up Kidlywinks"

[Or we will stick your baby bat up your arse and take our balls, our market -- and our Marine Corps -- home!]

HehHehHeh ......

[NativeNewYorker]

The world is getting increasingly dangerous. Acting rationally is a tiny price to pay for a spot under Uncle Sam's big umbrella.

[general_re]

Acting rationally is a tiny price to pay for a spot under Uncle Sam's big umbrella.

And it's even good for business, to boot. It's the kind of deal where everybody wins, so naturally, Clark will find some way to **** it up.

Well, let's hope not ;)

[metacognative]

I don't see that it is 'our way or else'. "If you're not going to help bake that cake, you don't get to eat it"..said Mrs. Hen to the freeloaders.

[farmfriend]

You missed the sarcasm in the post. It was directed at Mr. Eel, and he knows what I meant.

[shaggy eel]

,,, my first ever post on FR addressed New Zealand's nonsensical no nukes policy. The world has changed since Sept 11 and we knew down the track there would be ramifications far beyond higher insurance premiums. This is a perfect chance for New Zealand to proclaim that our future doesn't lie with the developing world and align our policies accordingly. Klark is smart enough to know that anything less would be suicide.

[stanz]

I like to see politicians forced from the left just to please their constituency. Our poor Hillary is undergoing the same fate. Good for NZ!

[Man of the Right]

New Zealand has about as much leverage over U.S. policy as Liechtenstein has. Perhaps less, in light of the number of large corporations headquartered in the latter country.

[shaggy eel]

BUMP

[Brian Allen]

Welcoming Our Navy back into their ports will sit very comfortably indeed with most New Zealanders who remember their debt to Our Nation's WW2 dead. The love and gratitude that most of them direct toward America has never faltered, notwithstanding the boorish stupidity and borderline insanity of that tiny percentage of them that sway elections one one or the other -- and elect the likes of the loathsome, fearsome and freakish pervert, KKKlark!

The Kiwis are with US.

[shaggy eel]

,,, interesting comment in post #37 Brian. For as little as NZ doesn't matter, it's caused a lot of hassle. Hopefully Klark will act on this opportunity. It will sit well with the right and keep her in the life she's become accustomed to for a while longer.