International

United Nations

Gaza peace proposal ignores the terrorism of the Zionist state

Written By: lprent
Date published: - 36 comments

In 1947 the Palestine as an area held under mandate by the UK was divided in resolution 181. The creation of independent Arab and Jewish States plus Jerusalem outside both. Trumps’ new ‘peace plan’ isn’t one because it doesn’t deal with the problem of Zionist terrorism that prevents the creation of a Palestinian state. It merely creates a temporary ceasefire without looking at the problem. New Zealand and other UN members should just start treating Israel as a terrorist state.

“As long as it takes”

Written By: Mike Smith
Date published: - 159 comments

Well it didn’t take that long: from one SecDef to another in a matter of a month. It’s time for a rethink on Ukraine and much else.
Update: Hegseth’s speech video

NZ policy is consistent about Russian invasion

Written By: lprent
Date published: - 118 comments

Unlike Mike Smith and other noisy members of the imperialist cohort, I applaud that NZ foreign policy has remained consistent in upholding UN and ICC policies against invasions and forced annexations. Ardern, Hipkins and now Luxon have all said the same thing.Supporting the UN charter has massively reduced war casualties over the last 70 years. Clearly the Russian Federation finds this constraining.

Still pussy-footing on Gaza

Written By: Mike Smith
Date published: - 57 comments

Unlike the other four Eyes, New Zealand voted for a UNGA resolution calling for a humanitarian truce in Gaza. The US had previously vetoed a ceasefire resolution. Finally on RNZ, Ben Strang asked whether  Israel’s response to HAMAS is also a “war crime?’

Passing the buck on Gaza

Written By: Mike Smith
Date published: - 22 comments

The new government is leaving it to the old government to carry the ball on Gaza. Both governments have dropped it. The 5Eyes formula of “Israel’s right to defend itself” does not extend any right to the indiscriminate bombing, and refusal to allow any water, food or fuel to innocents in Gaza.

Russian roulette

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 277 comments

Vladimir Putin has effectively conceded that the Ukraine war is not going well for Russia by seeking to conscript 300,000 new soldiers, planning for referenda in Russian held areas and threatening the use of Nuclear weapons if Russia’s modified territorial integrity is threatened.

Who Pays the Price of Sanctions

Written By: Mike Smith
Date published: - 194 comments

New Zealand’s sanctions on Russia have not stopped the war in Ukraine. They may have made our parliamentarians feel better, and Tony Blinken was quick to congratulate us on falling into line with the US “high-impact sanctions.” The language is combative, but the evidence shows sanctions do not  work. They can have significant blow-back effects, particularly if not combined with effective diplomacy.

The International Legion of Territorial Defence

Written By: advantage
Date published: - 107 comments

However much infighting there was on the Spanish Republican side between leftists, Communists, anarchists and others, you could be confident that the Nazis were on the other side.  In the Ukraine it is not so simple.

Remarkably Hopeful

Written By: advantage
Date published: - 18 comments

We will probably never get over the feeling that somehow, if enough people just banded together, it would all get better again, like we did when the United Nations charter was struck.

Big developments in Beijing

Written By: Mike Smith
Date published: - 31 comments

The meeting between Putin and Xi Jinping is likely to set the geopolitical direction for the 21st century. If ‘divide and rule’ was the mantra for the US’s hegemonic rule in the 20th century, ‘unite and share’ looks like setting the tone for the 21st. Co-operation rather than competition is the mantra, and “friendship between the two states has no limits.” A truly remarkable turnaround.

Blinken and Blind-Sided?

Written By: Mike Smith
Date published: - 17 comments

Russian peacekeepers are already leaving Kazakhstan having nipped the ‘colour revolution’ in the bud. Blinken clearly didn’t have a clue when he said Russians never leave the house. Russian intelligence was superb. Now we wait for Russia’s response to US likely refusal to pull back from its borders. One thing I’d bet on – no invasion of Ukraine.

About the Hate Speech law changes

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 94 comments

The debate about the Government’s consultation on proposed changes to hate speech laws continues, with the level of heat increasing, but the level of actual understanding of what is being proposed in critical shortage.

What to do about Palestine

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 12 comments

The war in Gaza has continued with 197 Palestinians including 58 children being killed and with significant damage to infrastructure including hospitals and

Will we rebuild better?

Written By: advantage
Date published: - 36 comments

There’s a question Covid19 allows us to ask that we haven’t been able to ask since the end of World War 2: can we all just co-operate to get along – as a species?

The boy from Matamata

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 43 comments

Trump deputy chief of staff Chris Liddell, who is also a Kiwi, has announced his candidacy to be head of the OECD.  The Greens have announced their opposition because he has been part of inhumane decisions and also decisions that undermine international institutions.  The right back him because he is a kiwi.  What should Labour do?

How Africa has weathered the COVID-19 storm

Written By: nickkelly
Date published: - 14 comments

Ramaphosa has no doubt learnt from his predecessor Thabo Mbeki’s abysmal response to the HIV crisis in South Africa where inaction by the government caused the virus to spread quickly. Sadly it’s through these sort of deadly mistakes that politicians learn the importance of prevention in public health.

 

Pandemics are no a time for inward-looking nationalism

Written By: nickkelly
Date published: - 41 comments

Originally posted on Nick Kelly’s Blog

Trump is focused on the November US Presidential Election. His anti-Chinese, nationalist, America First rhetoric is his go-to response to keep his political base onside. He is placing his political ambition ahead of millions of lives both in the US and globally. Trump has placed electoral politics ahead of leadership that could save millions of lives.

LBJ Redux

Written By: advantage
Date published: - 36 comments

What if the American assassination of General Soleimani results in the complete withdrawal of US troops from the Middle East?

Unrelentingly negative

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 29 comments

National has chosen to attack Jacinda Ardern on her trip to New York for doing too much and not enough at the same time.  It seems to be a pattern.

Fairy tales of eternal economic growth

Written By: mickysavage
Date published: - 67 comments

Greta Thunberg has spoken at the UN Climate Change summit and has warned the world that it is stealing the dreams and hopes of young people through its failure to address climate change.