Subject: Re: The Hierarchy of Death
Date: Sat, 01 Dec 2001 08:26:40 +0000




Margaret,

To elaborate a bit from my earlier 7 am response. One, if NZ does not like 
ANZUS, what's preventing it from leaving it? And two, I do remember the 
Rainbow Warrior episode. I don't think at any stage New Zealand called the 
French action an act of war against itself, nor did it seek military 
assistance from Australia or the US. One of the principles of such mutual 
aggression pacts is, indeed, that other states that are part of the pact 
respond when asked. Examples? Nato, Indo-Soviet "Peace" Treaty, etc. If that 
principle is not observed, we'd find all pact-signing countries jumping the 
gun to respond to a perceived act of war against one of the members. And 
since NZ, in 1985, did not term the French action as an official act of war, 
nor did it seek support from US or Australia, the question of ANZUS being 
useless doesn't arise -- and indeed, NZ can walk out if it wants to. That it 
does not do so is a matter of choice made by the citizens of New Zealand. To 
that extent, the people do want the best of both worlds -- a US security 
umbrella, and yet the personal satisfaction of striking a posture against 
nuclear arms.

Salil

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