{"id":1395,"date":"2012-09-26T12:00:53","date_gmt":"2012-09-26T02:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/?p=1395"},"modified":"2012-09-26T11:52:02","modified_gmt":"2012-09-26T01:52:02","slug":"new-zealand-washed-in-the-blood-of-the-lamb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aspistrategist.ru\/new-zealand-washed-in-the-blood-of-the-lamb\/","title":{"rendered":"New Zealand: washed in the blood of the lamb?"},"content":{"rendered":"

I read with interest Robert Ayson\u2019s take<\/a> on the mending of relations between the United States and New Zealand. Rob believes that New Zealand is the prodigal son from the Good Book, welcomed home by the doting parent despite the other son\u2019s (Australia\u2019s) resentment. But there are three parables in Luke Chapter 15. And given the Land of the Long White Cloud\u2019s heavy dependence upon four-legged beasts who are white and woolly, perhaps it might be appropriate to rehearse the parable of the lost sheep (Luke, 15: 4-7). The finding of the lost sheep is a metaphor for a sinner\u2019s repentance; the lesson being that there is more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.<\/p>\n

This message of a sinner\u2019s repentance can also be found in the parable of the lost coin (Luke, 15: 8-10). And if Professor Ayson re-reads his own parable of the prodigal son I\u2019m sure he will find a similar theme there too. The younger son tells his father than he has \u2018sinned against heaven and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son\u2019 (Luke, 15: 18-19).<\/p>\n

All three parables make the same point: that the sinner who repents may be washed in the blood of the lamb. None says anything about sinners who don\u2019t repent. Since New Zealand shows no sign of abandoning its anti-nuclear policy, perhaps we have to look for its \u2018repentance\u2019 in other areas. A case could be made that New Zealand has attempted to help carry some of the weight in Afghanistan and more so in the South Pacific. And Washington certainly has no pressing need to bring nuclear-armed vessels into New Zealand\u2019s ports. But the return of strategic cooperation seems likely to be on a case by case basis.<\/p>\n

On a final point, I would say that Rob is wrong if he believes that Australia resents\u2014and opposes\u2014New Zealand\u2019s return. It is in Canberra\u2019s interest to have Wellington on board in relation to common strategic interests, and for New Zealand to bring what weight and influence it can to shared positions. The brutal truth though, is that it can\u2019t bring much weight\u2014so it\u2019s very much in Canberra\u2019s interest, as in Washington\u2019s, to know when and where Wellington sees itself as indulging in \u2018riotous living\u2019 (Luke, 15:13) and when and where it sees itself as a strategic player.<\/p>\n

Rod Lyon is a non-residential fellow at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I read with interest Robert Ayson\u2019s take on the mending of relations between the United States and New Zealand. 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