ORIGINAL: DivePac88
ORIGINAL: AW1Steve
The only nuke vessels we have are CVN's and submarines. The only vessels that carry nukes are SSBN's. Every other country accepts the statement "we don't have nukes". New Zeland requires inspections. Basically they say, "of course we trust you. Now bend over so we can frisk you". [:D] This doesn't go over well.[:(]
Under the 2007 anti-nuclear legislation, inspections are not needed, and your word is good enough. The problem is that the USN has a policy, that states that in will no devoluge when a ship is caring nuclear weapons or not.
Denmark has a similar nuclear policy to New Zealand, and doesn't allow nuclear armed or propelled vessels to visit it's ports either. But the USN dose ban Danish ships from it's port, so one would wonder about the USN's policy towards us.
But Steve's reaction to my post, goes someway to explaining to me the American view of us. That we are not really important to them, and the fact that my Son has served with US service personnel lately, is of no value what so ever.
My reaction? Sorry Des, but you've got it backward. Every enounter I have had with Kiwi military forces has been more along the lines of your folks not having much desire to deal with us. I've had several Kiwi exchange officers who were hostile to coming here, and telling me frankly that they couldn't see much reason for the alliance, as NZ has no enemies and the USA has nothing but.
In 1991 George HW Bush pulled all tactical nukes off all us naval vessels . The only nuclear armed ships are SSBN's , which frankly , don't make port calls. Bush told the world, offered inspections, and that should have been that.
Des , New Zealand kicked the US out. And that's fine, that's your right and privilege.It's your country, your rules. And for 25 years both countries have accepted them. But if things have changed, then diplomats and leaders HAVE to talk. In 2010 a NZ ship pulled into Seattle. That was an opportunity. And it went no where. So please don't wave the "sacred alliance" here. There are bad feeling on BOTH sides. You kicked us out , we responded in kind. What's so hard to understand? But please don't go putting ALL the blame on the old EVIL USA. There is more than enough blame to go around. [:-]
