Kiwis in world's largest naval exercise

3/07/2012 4:53:26 p.m.

Pierre wrote:

@JOHNMILLAN - had me laughing hard there mate, tin cans ay.

3/07/2012 10:25:39 a.m.

Thomas wrote:

The US has a long standing policy about revealing whether a Naval vessel has or does not have any nuclear weapons aboard. It’s very public about naval nuclear power plants. This is for security reasons. By telling the US that they could not bring vessels with nuclear weapons into port, NZ effectively said "no US vessels" since the US wasn't going to declare which vessels had or didn't have nukes aboard. The "reciprocity" shown the NZ navy falls into the childish "I'll just take my ball and bat and go home" scenario. It's unnecessary and so amateurish of the US that it reflects very poorly on those who made that decision in 1984 and those who planned a joint exercise without reviewing the policy in 2012. It also reflects badly on the NZ Navy if “this denial of port was expected” and they still approached Pearl Harbor. This is not the "cold war" ... maybe it's time for both countries to "re-visit" their policies. By the way…the Chinese…an increasingly important NZ commercial partner (and land owner) has had their Navy ships visiting NZ. Are they prepared to welcome NZ inspectors aboard to verify whether they have or do not have nuclear devices aboard?

5/06/2012 1:14:52 p.m.

Canadian Navy wrote:

Only the submarines and the aircraft carriers are nuclear powered and are not classified as nuclear explosive devices. The kiwi ANZAC frigates are welcomed along with the other nations of the Pacific Rim, regardless of what they "look like". Its not what a ship looks like, its what its crew can do. Also, this is not about starting a third world war. This is about being able to defend the Pacific Rim in case a hostile country decides its time to start messing about (ie: North Korea). There will also be exercises in providing humanitarian relief in light of the Japanese tsunami, the flooding in Australia and the earthquake in New Zealand. Even Russia is joining this year's RIMPAC. Do a little research before you start throwing your judgements out there. Good luck to the Kiwis and everyone else participating this year. Lets show 'em what we can do.

4/06/2012 9:47:47 p.m.

Rich wrote:

Isn't this sort of thing illegal under the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act 1987, section 5(2): "No person, who is a New Zealand citizen or a person ordinarily resident in New Zealand, and who is a servant or agent of the Crown, shall, beyond the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone,— (a) manufacture, acquire, or possess, or have control over, any nuclear explosive device; or (b) aid, abet, or procure any person to manufacture, acquire, possess, or have control over any nuclear explosive device."

4/06/2012 8:20:19 p.m.

johnmillan wrote:

Our tin cans will look like life boats too those Yank ships.And just wondering,if those Yank ships are NUKE powered,as this would go against the Anti nuke status for Kiwis to be involved in.Or has PM Key passed a special legislation for them to take part,in the creation of a third world war.The world is broke so what a better time to have a war.