NZDF credibility on the line
There were several significant developments on Hit and Run and the NZDF over the weekend. Which version of the NZDF story is it that Bill English backs 100%?
war
afghanistan
Impossible to refuse an inquiry
Bill English should stop being evasive and just get on with an inquiry into the fiasco outlined in Hit and Run. The latest developments make any other outcome ridiculous. The longer English delays the worse he looks.
Wayne Mapp does not deny civilian deaths in botched raid
Good on you Wayne. Hit just got real.
Hit and Run – time for an inquiry
Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson’s book Hit and Run makes a compelling case for the Government to conduct a full inquiry to see if New Zealand forces were complicit in the killing of innocent men and women and if there was a cover up.
Hit and Run
The book’s synopsis, background, and Q and A from Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson.
Sad
Ad wonders how left wing Trump supporters are now feeling.
Americans Killed By Terrorists since 9/11.
Killed in the USA?
Trump’s broad international challenges
Barak Obama is leaving Donald Trump a number of international crises to face. What will the Donald do and will he make America great again?
I’m a Muslim, an Immigrant and I voted Trump
Take a deep breath and transcend your fear.
Alert Memo to President Obama: it’s better to Jaw Jaw Jaw than War War War
Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity advise Obama that the best way to get out of the dangerously escalating hawkish jam that parts of his government have put him in is to meet directly with Putin.
Why American Foreign Policy still matters
So what should the next President of the United States focus on? Military power or economic domination or international institutions?
Afghanistan – a forgotten war
More than a decade after the Taliban Government was ‘regime changed’ by the west, the Taliban are resurgent and Afghan civilian deaths are as high as ever.
Treachery and silly season political snippets
There’s still a few MPs “on duty”. Their function is to maintain the semblance of active government and to roll out a bunch of announcements they hope will escape full scrutiny.
Obama says “sorry” but…
Will New Zealand (John Key), as a signatory to the Geneva Convention Protocol I, support Medecins sans Frontieres call for an independent fact finding commission into the bombing of their hospital, and the deaths of Doctors and children and 37 injured? Or will he pretend he never got the letter?
Stephenson beats his critics
Respected journalist Jon Stephenson has extracted an apology and payment from the NZ Defence Force for their attack on his work in 2011. He is owed an apology from John Key too…
All the left wants is a clean contest of ideas
Josie Pagani yesterday chose as a left wing commentator to condemn Jeremy Corbyn’s politics as being based on narcissism where hard decisions never need to be made, and the unpopularity of a policy was evidence not of its failure but of its virtue. She should have analysed his history before making these claims. And in the interests of balance the media really needs to choose left wing commentators who will proudly stand up and support progressive ideals rather than repeat right wing attack lines.
In Our Back Yard – Manus Island and Nauru
As the photo claims, refugees are human beings. We can tell this from general expressions of resignation, desperation and misery.
But what about our own expressions of humanity?
Happy Father’s day
For father’s day how about a gift of a donation to charities helping the refugees pouring into Europe?
The smoke & mirrors of the surveillance-military-economic-complex
There are a range of issues, which are part of a GCSB-intelligence-surveillance-military-complex. Some significant elements seem to be posing as diversions from other parts of the complex, and the way all parts hang together. What will he offer Obama to advance NZ’s position in the TPPA?
Militarism and the NZ Left?
Two uncritical articles in Auckland’s local press, raise questions about the role of the NZ military, and the educational and cultural impact of a military charter school. Unstated and unquestioned, is the nature of NZ’s relationship with that of militaristic US imperialism.
Syria et al.
Sometimes the most complicated and complex situation becomes clear when viewed from a simple and obvious perspective.
Nothing to hide, nothing to fear?
Nicky Hager’s investigative journalism explains why the government uses state surveillance against investigative journalists, academics and political activists. Jane Kelsey explains why spying is used to prevent legal activities, democratic processes and NZers speaking truth to power.
Malala Yousafzei Respect
Malala Yousafzei must be one of the bravest young women in the world. She was shot by the Taliban for advocating for education of young women but refuses to be silenced. She recently had the opportunity to speak to the United Nations.
Hager: Uncomfortable truths
Phil Twyford on Nicky Hager’s Capt Jack Lyon Memorial Lecture Uncomfortable truths, NZ foreign policy in the ‘war on terror’. As Phil notes: “I think it is a cautionary tale for any future Labour-led government with a progressive, independent foreign policy”.
“He Toki Huna New Zealand In Afghanistan” – Maori TV
Last night Maori TV screened an excellent documentary of, by and about excellent Kiwi journalism: He Toki Huna New Zealand in Afghanistan (by Kay Ellmers and Annie Goldson). Now available for viewing on Maori TV’s website. Must see viewing.
Yet another thing the PM is “not responsible” for
Yet another thing the PM is “not responsible” for – add it to the long list. This time it is his “oversight” of the SAS. Or is Key seeking his Obama “gotcha” moment, and a political bounce from it?
Key owes the families an explanation
Key owes it to the families to provide them with an explanation as to what purpose remaining in Afghanistan serves.
Towards a metric for Prime Ministerial decision-making
So, a pre-planned trip to watch a son’s baseball and a week’s holiday in the States is more important than attending 2 soldiers’ funerals. But attending 3 soldiers’ funerals outranks attending the Pacific Island Forum attended by the region’s leaders. A question for the reader: how many Little League games beats a pull aside with Julia Gillard on boat people?
Another dark day for NZ in Afghanistan
3 New Zealand soldiers have been killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. 5 dead in a fortnight. That’s a big cost. All in the same area of Bamiyan Province. John Key has used American chickenhawk language saying “we won’t cut and run”. Actually, we’re leaving in 2013 anyway. The question is whether its worth the cost of hanging around another year.
Three more Kiwi deaths in Afghanistan
The media is reporting that three more Kiwi soldiers have been killed in a bomb attack in Afghanistan.
Our hearts go out to their family and friends.
NRT: Not worth it
I/S at No Right Turn on the latest Kiwi deaths in Afghanistan.
NoRightTurn: Election choices
I/S looks at two dividing lines between left and right that may help your choice in a month’s time. The first is Afghanistan. Labour has promised to bring the SAS home within 90 days. National won’t commit to withdrawing. The second is water: National wants more subsidies to polluters; Labour and the Greens want businesses to pay for their use of public resources.
Cameron cancels Key photo-op
David Cameron has cancelled his planned trip to Japan and New Zealand. He is facing a backbench revolt over European Union membership at the same time as he is trying to intervene in the crucial financial summit trying to sort out problems in the Euro zone on Wednesday. Oh well, one less photo op for John Key – perhaps its just as well as Britain’s future isn’t getting brighter.
Amnesty International: Arrest Bush for war crimes
Perhaps Mr Key’s staff might like to explain to him what the implications of this development, in conjunction with the recent UN Report […]
NoRightTurn: SAS prisoners tortured?
When an armed force takes prisoners in a war, they have a responsibility to ensure that the prisoners are treated according to international law – eg they aren’t tortured. Are the prisoners our SAS takes being tortured? The Defence Minister says ‘dunno’. Not good enough. If our soldiers are delivering prisoners to torturers, that’s a war-crime.
Key’s ‘Honour’
John Key says we must stay in Afghanistan to honour the dead, leaving us to wonder who’ll be the last to die for […]