On Thu, 08 Jul 2004 11:21:55 +1000, David Bromage wrote:

Mere coincidence this was done the same day India announced that the
Agni III will have intercontinental range?


I doubt Australia sees any nuclear threat from India and vice-versa.

Essentially the only possible countries firing nukes from australia at
India would be the US or maybe Britain. Assuming these countries don't
intend to use australia for a pre-emptive strike against India, the
likelyhood of a nuclear war is slim to none.

Missile defence in aus is thus most likely directed at north korea &
china.

It used to be that north korea exported its missiles to pakistan and
the two tested it there. Whether that is still happening with US
controlling Pakistan is not known. Recently the pakistanis (who tend
to pull missiles out of thin air) claim to have tested an 'indegenously'
developed 3500kms missile. If indeed they are not bluffing about the
range (which I bet they are), then north korea should be assumed to
have a missile in that range class as well.

Others in the region like japan have their own covert ballistic
missile program disguised as space launch vehicles developed at great
cost.