A man who attacked the Waihopai spy base near Blenheim in 2008 says the thought of Iraqi fathers losing their children in the war was partly what motivated the attack.
Adrian Leason is before Wellington District Court, along with Peter Murnane and Sam Land on charges of intentional damage and entering a property with intent to commit a crime.
Mr Leason said that on an average day at least 200 people are killed in the Iraq war, including several children.
He said he and his co-accused intended using a crane on the back of a truck to get over the base's electric perimeter fence, but the truck became stuck in mud.
He said they ended up using bolt cutters on the fence to gain entrance to the domes covering the satellite equipment.
Mr Leason said they slashed one of the domes with sickles, saying "we disarm you in the name of Jesus Christ".
