By JOHN ARMSTRONG political editor
Bill English's credibility has taken a savaging after he demanded the SAS be brought back from Afghanistan to cope with terrorist threats back home and then hurriedly withdrew that statement after he realised what he had said.
The National leader's initial statement yesterday morning was immediately interpreted as pulling National's support for the United States-led multinational force in Afghanistan and a slap in the face to Washington - a policy shift which created an uproar within his caucus.
He subsequently issued a fresh statement which did not mention the SAS but sought an assurance from the Government that New Zealand had the counter-terrorism resources to deal with any threats or attacks.
He blamed the first statement on a "miscommunication" with his office, saying its release was a mistake.
His office quickly rang National MPs who had not been consulted in advance of the first statement to alert them that a revised version had been issued.
"We are not rewriting [National's] foreign policy," Mr English told the Weekend Herald.
Mr English's call to bring the SAS back from Afghanistan in case of a terrorist threat was even more puzzling as sufficient numbers of the special forces troops are kept in New Zealand to deal with such an emergency.
Under longstanding defence policy, the SAS is tasked with being able to conduct counter-terrorism operations within specified response times in New Zealand or the South Pacific.
The blunder will raise more doubts in his MPs' minds about Mr English's leadership capabilities just as National was getting back on the front foot. The incident has undermined National's hopes of exploiting the Ross Armstrong affair when Parliament resumes next week.
Prime Minister Helen Clark said the Leader of the Opposition's bizarre behaviour further demonstrated his unfitness for public office.
"Having given interviews earlier justifying his call to bring the SAS home, Mr English has now backtracked and blames his staff for putting out the statement. This will not wash. He issued it, and he gave interviews backing it up.
"Today's bizarre behaviour by Mr English has started the tongues wagging again in the National Party about his unfitness to lead."
In his initial statement, Mr English said the Bali bombing and this week's warnings of terrorist plots in East Timor were proof New Zealanders could no longer be complacent about domestic security.
"It's now more clear than ever that terrorism's come Downunder.
"We know our SAS troops are in Afghanistan, some have been injured. That makes a mockery of Helen Clark's neither confirm nor deny policy. And at this stage, you'd think they'd be better employed closer to home where Kiwis now face very real risks.
"Labour's been responsible for the running down of our defence force - it is now crucial that the services we have left are used in the most effective way."
In his revised statement, Mr English said: "New Zealand has and must continue to give support to our closest allies in the war against terrorism. In addition we must not forget to protect our own people in our own country."
Story archives:
Links: War against terrorism
Timeline: Major events since the Sept 11 attacks
English backtracks after SAS gaffe sparks caucus uproar
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