Of course they were here to see for themselves how well the weapon works ...

US delegation caught in quake

23/02/2011

The former United States ambassador to Iraq Christopher Hill told CNN the earthquake was the most frightening experience of his life.

Hill was in Christchurch with a large US delegation including former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and a number of sitting US congressmen for the New Zealand-US Partnership forum.

Speaking to CNN, Hill said the quake was a "violent shaking” after a series of smaller tremors earlier in the day.

"In fact I was speaking to the conference and made a crack this was like being back in Baghdad."

But when the big quake struck it was like "a giant took the room you were sitting in and just shook it".

"I've never been subjected to such violent shaking….all the waiters and waitresses fell down, glasses broke everywhere, it was really quite extraordinary."

Hill said he flew to Wellington yesterday evening on a New Zealand Defence Force plane. Other US delegates including Dr Campbell also few out to Wellington.

[link to www.stuff.co.nz]
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