Media Release
11 May 2004

Nuclear Deception And Learning On The Job

President Bush and his embattled Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld have enough problems right now without having Don Brash in Washington without the guiding hand of a responsible adult, says New Zealand First leader Winston Peters.

Mr Peters was responding to reports of Dr Brash’s intention to visit Washington and other major centres without Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials being present

“Running back to Washington to tell them he didn’t really mean what he has been saying publicly at home and that he really will ditch New Zealand’s nuclear policy spells out clearly to New Zealanders his true agenda.”

“This is an ill-equipped National leader who continues to demonstrate the problems of learning on the job,” said Mr Peters.

“Clearly, he has not learned from his ill-fated predecessor that indecision on foreign policy and other significant policy matters is not only terminal at home, but embarrasses New Zealand internationally.

Mr Peters said anyone who found Dr Brash lost in the halls of power in Washington could send him on to Iraq where he could see for himself the results of blindly following America and Britain into battle – a position he advocated last year.

ENDS

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