UN calls for investigation into Operation Burnham
Well well. What will you do now Bill?
International
war
The 50th anniversary of the Six Day War
This week marks the anniversary of the Middle East six day war. How have things developed and what can be done to achieve lasting peace?
Hager Hit & Run and NZ’s Asian wars
Nicky Hager will talk about his book Hit and Run, and the issues it raises about New Zealand’s values and role in the world at 5:30pm on Wednesday 7th June at Connolly Hall, Guildford Terrace, Wellington. The book is about important events and the incoherence of New Zealand fighting it’s longest ever war in Central Asia. This talk is particularly timely in view of this week’s visit of the American Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson.
UK election goes down to the wire
In the United Kingdom the polls continue to narrow and Jeremy Corbyn continues to perform outstandingly well. Is the upset of all upsets possible?
A lesson from South Korea
The history of the Korean peninsular suggests that there is more than a remote chance of nuclear war breaking out some time soon.
Four eyes and an arsehole
NZ with its various operations around this end of the Pacific really doesn’t need its own intelligence gathering operations blown by the current incompetent blowhard of the White House. Nor does anyone else who shares information with the US. That is the problem with Trump childishly boasting about the intelligence gathered by others merely to boost his ego.
NZDF changes story on Operation Burnham photos
Why did the NZDF wrongly claim that there were no photographs of the mission? Intelligence analyst Dr Paul Buchanan has a suggestion.
Anzac Day
Am I the only one who is upset, over mealy mouthed politicians making flowery speeches saying “We will remember them”
when they manifestly don’t.
Anzac Day
There is a list of Anzac Day services here, and a list of peace vigils here.
An appropriate day to contemplate “the meaning of honour”.
The first 100 Global Trump days
Donald Trump’s had his first 100 days ruling his big chunk of the world. Things have changed dramatically from Barack Obama’s time.
The NZDF’s transparent fig leaf
According to David Fisher (Herald) the NZDF never investigated allegations of civilian deaths at the time of Operation Burnham. They received only a summary of the whitewash ISAF report. They refuse to look further. This is the behaviour of an organisation with plenty to hide. Hager and Stephenson have facts, the NZDF are hiding behind a transparent fig leaf of deliberate ignorance.
Missing voices
Former Trump supporter speaks Her Truth
Black is White. Up is Down.
Media have a role to play, apparently…
Duck and Cover
Donald Trump is engaged in some over the top brinkmanship with North Korea which is increasing the prospects of at least a limited exchange of nuclear weapons.
My five books for Donald Trump
What books should POTUS read during this most religious of times.
Big Barrel Bomb
Firstly, remember how you’re meant to feel about even the mere accusation of the use of barrel bombs. Now put those feelings aside.
Framing Syria
If you’re determined to believe that western liberal democracy is essentially benign and only ever makes mistakes and honest mis-judgements, or is something that’s sometimes marred by an odd ‘bad apple’ or two, then this post on Syria probably isn’t the post for you.
Mediawatch on Hit and Run
“Has the meaning of book Hit and Run been obscured by all the claims and counter-claims in the media?” – Yes of course it has, and that is a deliberate strategy on the part of people who are desperate to avoid an inquiry.
Syria sarin capitalism and war
The dirty truth behind many of the wars that our political / media world gets itself so excited about is that they wouldn’t be happening without the arms that we (the “western” world) sell so copiously.
National’s response to the Syria attack
Unlike the Australian and United Kingdom Governments’ response to the American attack has been muted and confused. Is this just the nature of anything that Bill English says or is it an attempt to assess public opinion before responding?
Green Party criticises US strike on Syria
“We expect and deserve cooler heads than this from our global leaders.”
World War?
Well…don’t know about you, but I’m feeling like I want to throw up.
Small on the Nats’ Key deficit on Hit and Run
Vernon Small thinks the B Team is missing Key.
The truth will out
English can squirm and deny, but according to Stephenson there is more Hit and Run to come.
Warmongering
Right wing agendas seize control in England and America. Talk of war from England and America. Probably just a coincidence.
Land of the long white wash
In ruling out an inquiry Bill English insults both our intelligence and our integrity. Next stop the International Criminal Court? (Alas the title is not mine, take a bow Finlay MacDonald.)
The NZDF will never clear its name – and neither will Bill English
It’s likely that some time this week Bill English will announce that there will be no inquiry into operation Burnham. The NZDF will lose any opportunity to clear its name. Fronting up to the truth, whatever it may be, is better than the perception of a shabby coverup.
Update: And there it is – no inquiry.
HERALD EXCLUSIVE ON HIT AND RUN shows they haven’t read it
Worst piece of “journalism” on Hit and Run so far.
Update: To their credit, as of 11am this piece of nonsense seems to have vanished from The Herald website.
Former Defence Minister Wayne Mapp: “As a nation we owe it to ourselves to find out”
Mapp: “Part of protecting their reputation is also finding out what happened, particularly if there is an allegation that civilian casualties may have been accidentally caused. In that way we both honour the soldiers, and also demonstrate to the Afghans that we hold ourselves to the highest ideals of respect of life, even in circumstances of military conflict.”
Hit and Run developments
It appears that the questioned NZDF attack took place at the location claimed by the force, but hit the villages named by the book (coordinates used by various parties are off by 2km).
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%?
Mosul and Aleppo. They’re spelled differently.
Not so much a tale of two cities as the tales we were spun in relation to one.
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.