[Panther Al]

Agreed, France's security and intelligence services are perhaps the dirtiest players out there: but also some of the most successful as they play to win, not to avoid headlines. Rainbow Warrior was an Act Of War: No two ways about it. Credit to France to having the fortitude to do what they felt had to be done no matter what, but it was a dirty deed that broke all the rules. The shameful part was that the US refused to condemn France for its actions: Which is why NZ pulled back from dealings with the US in my opinion. This is what in my mind really put the kabosh on arms purchases of US made weapons, such as the cancelled F16 purchase. Oddly enough, the leader of the Rainbow Warrior attack now works at a senior level for FN: Which is perhaps the biggest supplier of New Zealand's firearms.