Denying New Zealand of naval and air strike capacity would be like playing a game of rugby without a front row," Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Associate Minister of Defence, Don McKinnon said today.

The Minster's comments were in response to the report of the Foreign Affairs and defence Select Committee – Defence beyond 2000.

"The report suggests we scale down the role of our airforce and navy.

"The government has already acknowledged the Army as the highest priority for rebuilding and has approved $500 million for this.

"But ultimately, no one wants to prop up half a team. In terms of our capability to play a role in international security, neglecting our airforce and navy would see us relegated from the 2nd division into the third".

Mr McKinnon said that as a small and vulnerable player, it was important we continue to make a valid contribution to global security.

"The defence force proposed by the Foreign Affairs and Defence Select Committee would leave NZ unable to meet our international responsibilities and force us to bludge on our neighbours.

"Fronting up with half a team is not an option."

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>