By CATHERINE MASTERS
A top American scholar says New Zealand's involvement in Afghanistan could have made the country a possible terrorist target.
But that is no reason not to get involved in the war on terror because nowhere is safe anyway, says Robert Hathaway, a former adviser to the US Congress.
His message comes as an Islamic internet site reported three SAS soldiers were injured in a land mine explosion and questioned what New Zealand troops were doing in Afghanistan.
"What do they have to do with the current conflict?" the report said. "After many Australians blamed their Government's involvement in Afghanistan as the cause of the Bali bombing that targeted Australians, perhaps New Zealanders should also ask their Government the same questions."
Mr Hathaway said that a refusal to get involved did not ensure safety.
He has been in New Zealand giving a series of lectures at the invitation of the United States Embassy.
Mr Hathaway says instability in Indonesia and Southeast Asia will have ripple effects for New Zealand.
He believes President George W Bush is making a "serious mistake" pursuing war with Iraq before completing the first phases of the war on terrorism.
He says Southeast Asia - and he includes New Zealand in the region - is widely regarded as the second front in the war against terrorism.
"An American attack against Iraq could conceivably encourage extremist groups here to escalate their activities."
Story archives:
Links: War against terrorism
Timeline: Major events since the Sept 11 attacks
NZ 'right to be involved' in Afghanistan
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