Australian PM is Correct on Pre-Emptive Strikes

Australian Prime Minister John Howard is correct to not preclude pre-emptive strikes against known terrorist threats, ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader Ken Shirley said today.

"One can envisage circumstances where a real threat to one's sovereignty and way of life exists, and the foreign nation hosting that threat may lack the will or capacity to address the issue.

"In such circumstances it would be irresponsible for a Government to preclude pre-emptive strikes against such a known threat.

"Obviously the threshold for action would be high and ideally the threat could be removed through international negotiations. If those measures fail however, the right of pre-emptive strike for self-preservation should not be denied.

"John Howard has raised an important issue that should be discussed, both at national and international levels.

"Modern warfare stemming from cells of fanatical terrorists striking across jurisdictional boundaries calls for new protocols on rules of engagement. I call on the New Zealand Government to support John Howard's initiative and not to dismiss it out-of-hand," Mr Shirley said.

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