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You know, what NZ needs to do is buy two or three supersonic bombers and some tactical nukes. This would be enough of a deterent to keep away any but the most powerful of enemies, who are the sort that the ANZUS would leal with together anyway. It's the best defense alternative, as NZ just doesn't have the manpower or tax base to field a large modern army.

JMHO :o)

,,, the Aussies and the US have built a major military runway at Katherine, in Aussie's Northern Territories. This is quite a strategic asset and will prove it's worth in time to come as a medium to long range base. Aussie's F-111s are up for replacement. New Zealand's air strike capacity is mothballed.

A quickly deployed force is what New Zealand needs. Fast moving troop ships, more C-130s or an update of them, when applicable, and more than the 107 or so LAVs in use at present. I doubt there's money available, even out of the trumpeted $NZ2,5b budget surplus.

Klark should have honoured the contract in place for the cheap deal on F-16s we were offered. Anything that progresses from here should be in consultation with the Aussies and the US as back in the ANZUS days.

<< ..... what NZ needs to do is buy two or three supersonic bombers and some tactical nukes. This would be enough of a deterent to keep away any but the most powerful of enemies, who are the sort that the ANZUS would leal with together anyway. It's the best defense alternative, as NZ just doesn't have the manpower or tax base to field a large modern army. >>

A renewed ANZUS Treaty, expanded to include Singapore and Israel [With the US the only two other countries on Earth worth going to war with and for] and a fleet of 5-megaton-nuke-carrying slightly used ex-US Navy Tridents [A BIG stick] and a firm promise [Delivered quietly] to create huge glass puddles where Baghdad, Peking, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Jakarta -- or wherever -- used to be, should a single hostile foot be set upon New Zealand Territory or one of its Citizens harmed in any way by act of war.

'Cept for the SAS, New Zealand's army can go home and get back on the dole.

Between freezing works' killing seasons, anyway.

Or play with its air force's aeroplane.