Tony Sage: We're not ones to be bullied

Jim Bolger observes that our reluctance to accept nuclear-powered warships at our ports precludes negotiation of a free-trade agreement with the United States. He suggests that the issue for New Zealand is the safety of nuclear propulsion.

To the political establishment that may be the case. To most other New Zealanders there is an issue of principle - whether we are prepared to be bullied by the United States.

It is basic to the national interest of the United States that its naval ships continue to have free entry to as many of the world's ports as possible.

The issue for the US has always been that if it lets New Zealand get away with an independent line then other countries with ports of strategic importance might be tempted to follow suit.

When politicians talk about a free-trade agreement with the US they are using a misnomer.

The home of the free is infinitely more protectionist than New Zealand. Any government of ours that negotiated such an agreement would certainly score a political coup. The capital's spin merchants would be in overdrive.

But the practical effect for our exporters would be little more than an insult and we would have to toe the line, for instance, on things like intellectual property rights in music, and buying drugs from American manufacturers rather than sourcing cheaper generics from Asia.

Bolger introduces intelligence-sharing with the US as necessary to New Zealand's security against terrorist attacks. That has nothing to do with visits by the US Navy.

Intelligence-sharing with the US and co-operation generally in this area already leave nothing to be desired as far as New Zealand's security is concerned.

Many New Zealanders would like the US to take on board the reasons for Muslim resentment of the American presence in the Middle East and its continual pressure on the governments of other countries with large Islamic populations to conform to American requirements on military and trade matters.

Nothing was more natural than for New Zealand and the United States to be allies in World War II. But that was 60 years ago.

The US emerged from its isolation and commenced to meddle in terms of its perceived national interest in the affairs of countries right around the globe. In the Middle East, the US elbowed Britain aside as the maker and breaker of governments. That was to keep the Soviet Union out and to ensure that oil to America kept flowing.

Also, although Britain had been instrumental in founding the state of Israel, it soon became a US protectorate.

The monumental injustices suffered by the Arab Palestinians is one of the greater tragedies of the 20th century. They continue into the present century with no end in sight.

All things considered, it is hardly surprising that the US is hated and despised by so many Muslims.

A rational response to Muslim outrage would be to start to address its basic causes. President Bush's war on terror only increases the mayhem.

Of course, we have to protect ourselves from terrorism. Spain, Britain and Australia have a military presence in Iraq. Spain's and Britain's experience of train bombs and Australia's experience in Bali prove that keeping our distance from the US military makes every sort of sense.

The US is beginning to set up China as the next international ogre. Do we want to be a part of that?

Nuclear-powered merchant ships are a long way from becoming a reality. The only nuclear-powered ships are naval ones.

Admitting them to New Zealand ports would be the thin end of the wedge.

Nuclear-powered naval ships and nuclear weapons are inextricably linked. There are overlaps in the production processes of fuel for reactors and of weapons material. Nuclear-powered submarines armed with nuclear weapons continue on station and nuclear-powered surface navy ships are armed with them if it is demanded by operational requirements.

As nuclear weapons technology spreads, the dangers multiply. Iran, for instance, might be able to be persuaded to abandon its ambitions to have atomic weapons in exchange for an international guarantee that Israel would forsake the nuclear arsenal it built with covert American assistance. Some hope.

We have opted out of the nuclear folly. Bolger's arguments that we change our minds are plausible but hardly persuasive.

* Tony Sage is an Auckland chartered accountant.