Bruce Bisset: Sailing away with our pride

Bruce Bisset.

In two weeks' time the USS Sampson will arrive in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf to take part in a multinational "celebration" of the 75th anniversary of our own rather meagre two-frigate Navy, breaking a 32-year standoff and, ostensibly, ushering in a new era of closer military relations with the world's major superpower.

Surprisingly, given the antagonism the US has displayed toward New Zealand's forthright anti-nuclear stance since 1984, and given the pride with which Kiwis have regarded and maintained that stance, few people seem to find it odd we should again, in effect, be cosying up to the bomb.

See, arguably this visit - at the invitation of our Government - compromises our proud "no nukes" position, if only because the US still refuses to budge on its "neither confirm nor deny" policy in regards to nuclear weapons aboard its ships. Even for such a special occasion with such a (formerly and presumably henceforth) staunch ally.

But discounting the Right reactionaries, and apart from the Labour Party - whose opinions I frankly no longer trust - even people like investigative journalist Nicky Hagar, or ex-Greens leader turned Greenpeace NZ head Russel Norman, are hailing the visit as some sort of victory for New Zealand's anti-nuclear stance. I can't see it.

Sure, technically the Prime Minister only has to be "satisfied" that any vessel is neither nuclear armed nor propelled in order to allow it to berth at an NZ port - and John Key says he is. It helps that except for its submarines, it's an open secret the US fleet no longer carries nuclear warheads. At least, not as a matter of course.

But that lack of unequivocal clarity is a sore point. One that to my mind is conveniently being brushed under the rug in order to "normalise" our military ties with the US.

All the talk of "moving on" and "moving forward" sticks in my craw, too, as it seems to imply we protesters of the 1980's - and all the 90-plus per cent of the population who claimed to support the David Lange government's nuclear-free ideals - were somehow naive or misguided, and have since wised-up with age.

That impression is reinforced by Key calling the Anzus falling-out "somewhat historic now" and saying "we are taking the next step forward" because "the relationship [with the US] is more important".

Well, sorry John. It isn't.

For those who seem to have forgotten, there's still more than sufficient capability left in the arsenals of the major nuclear powers to destroy the world several times over.

And, not to put too fine a point on it at a time when tensions between the US and Russia - and China on the side - are running "near miss" high, a tyrannical xenophobe could well be US President within a month and have his tiny fingers all over the big red button.
Besides, exactly what are we "moving on" to? US Vice-President Joe Biden gave some hint when, during his visit here in July, he remarked that the US was "rebalancing" to the Pacific because "this is where the action is going to be".

Perhaps that's why representatives of 500 arms dealers and manufacturers will be holding a showcase conference in Auckland at the same time as the big naval get-together. And why NZ has now committed to spending $16 billion over the next 15 years on our armed forces.

Meanwhile the law against protest at sea, brought in to protect commercial (oil drilling) interests, will doubtless be used to "protect" the various visiting navies, including the USS Sampson.

And you wonder why I can taste ash.