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

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