Mark, Sept 11 was not prevented by a country with the most powerful air force in the world, and a few Skyhawks would have had little effect. While the USAF might be able to shoot down a fully laden 757 now, it'll will be an extremely brave man who issues the order to do so.It is also costing megabucks to maintain that fighter cover,and I doubt any country other than the US can afford it.Also, the strike force (NZ)had so many swingeing cuts to it's operations before being scrapped it served no useful air defence function.
Helen Clark cancelled the best deal ever made for the purchase of F16's. She is unlikely to consider the purchase of any British aircraft,
The Parliament building in Wellington is called the Beehive because it is round and not unlike those old-fashioned honey jars I recall from school-days.It was designed by Sir Basil Spence on the back of a table-napkin, and it shows. It also attracted the comment, when Sir Rob Muldoon , known as "Piggy" was PM, that NZ was the only country that kept pigs in a beehive.If anyone is thinking of blowing it up, Helen is on the 7th floor!
[ 13 October 2001: Message edited by: Samuel ]