Open mike 06/01/2020

Written By: notices and features - Date published: - 49 comments
Categories: open mike

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49 comments on “Open mike 06/01/2020”

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          1. 3.2.1.1.1

            Your intelligence is impressive, you are aware two nations are separate. Well done!

            Here's a slightly more difficult one: Have you noticed that is NZ part of the "US-led military coalition in Iraq"?

              2. 3.2.1.1.1.1.2

                Did you forget that Brigadier Hugh McAslan was Deputy Commanding General of the Coalition Joint Force Land Component Command Iraq , and quite prominent in the battle of Mosul – Gossy?

          2. 3.2.1.1.2

            Dunno if you're too lazy to bother with your own research, or if it's just a delaying tactic to bog down discussions.

            The resolution passed today calls not only on U.S. troops to leave Iraq, but the entire international coalition fighting the Islamic State.

            and:

            "The government commits to revoke its request for assistance from the international coalition fighting Islamic State due to the end of military operations in Iraq and the achievement of victory," the resolution read.

            1. 3.2.1.1.2.1

              Yeah was just going to link to that – it is a call for all foreign troops to go.

              Gossy, as usual, too lazy to do his own research.

                  2. 3.2.1.1.2.2.1.1.2

                    lol

                    Defeat-ISIS Coalition in Iraq

                    Up to 121 NZDF personnel are deployed to the Middle East in roles associated with the Defeat-ISIS Coalition in Iraq.

                    The majority of New Zealand's personnel are based at the combined New Zealand and Australian Building Partner Capacity (BPC) mission at Taji Military Complex in Iraq. The purpose of the BPC mission is to prepare Iraqi Security Forces units for combat and stabilisation operations. Training includes basic weapons skills, individual and unit military skills to prepare for combat operations as well as other skills like medical support, logistics and training on the laws of armed conflict.

                    True, there's no basis for the guessing the identity of the opponents faced by the Iraqi forces trained by the NZDF contribution to the "Defeat–ISIS Coalition in Iraq". /sarc

                    Do you genuinely try to be that dense, or is it just a causal factor of you being a tory?

  4. 4

    A very interesting article. Though to my knowledge the UK uses drone strikes in much more restrictive circumstances than the writer says. I would note that in the war against ISIS normal rules of war apply. You can target enemy fighters even if they are not literally planning an imminent attack, provided they are generally involved in the war

    2. 4.2

      'normal rules of war apply. '

      The reality is that in war ,no rules apply…that are adhered to ..at least.

  5. 5

    "My assessment is that values in Canterbury are now down around 20 percent from the peak, or perhaps a little more, but still trending down from there.

    In Southland, there have been minimal recent sales although I do know of one sale of a large high-quality farm. It has been sold to an existing farming group who have brought in additional external equity capital.

    In Westland, at least half the farmers would get out if they could. My assessment is that values are now down by at least 50 percent from the 2014/15 peak but farms are still not selling."

    "Below the radar, there is still some foreign investment money coming in, but limited to overseas investors purchasing a 24.9% equity stake in existing farming groups, with this not needing approval from the Overseas Investment Office. Hence, there is no public notification of the restructure, or the underlying land price. I know of multiple situations where this is occurring, and there will be many others that I am not aware of."

    https://www.interest.co.nz/rural-news/103163/ten-years-banks-incentivised-staff-help-farmers-grow-their-business-led-over

    A rural downturn that may impact NZ First support …..Winston will have everything crossed

      1. 5.1.1

        Yes I had seen that but general opinion appears to be it will have little impact….and suspect 'the government' (including NZ First) will wear the backlash irrespective of fault

        1. 5.1.1.1

          Mark Patterson may be making a bit of progress in Clutha Southland, and forcing Compost (Haymush Walker) off into Labour / populist territory. Latest off piste is coming out in support of Dunedin City being forced to re-capitalise Aurora Energy (local lines company in Central) after asset striping to pay for Dunedin Stadium.

          https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/dcc/walker-joins-call-dcc-invest-network

          The day before it was toilets at Ben Lomond Saddle (in the mountains about 600m above Queenstown).

          https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/queenstown/calls-toilet-ben-lomond-saddle

          That both issues were the result of previous National government's policies seems to have escaped the lad.

    1. 6.1

      Not sure Al-Shabaab are supported by / connected to the Iranians?

      But who knows, politics in ME/North Africa makes for strange bedfellows sometimes.

        1. 6.1.1.1

          Yeah, but then the yanks were fighting ISIL with the Iranians were doing the same, while helping bomb the Houthis who the Iranians were supporting.

      2. 6.1.2

        as strange befellows as NZ having forces in Iraq for not other reason then ……..something something something.

        And yet, here we are with Troops in all the theaters of wars started by the US under false pretenses and outright lies.

          1. 6.1.2.1.1

            It does not matter in the end, fact is they – the Kiwis are – are where they should not be, supporting a roque nation that illegally invaded a nation, bombed it to smithereens, killed several hundred thousands of its population, destroyed any and all infrastructure, did nothing when the looting of hte museums went on, and covered the whole country in depleted uranium dust, never mind Abu Grhaib and all of that unpleasant jazz.

            Lie with dogs get up with fleas. NZ best get all its troops out of any of these fucked up adventures and bring them home.

            Surely they can be put to good use here or be honorably discharged and join civilian live.

            Also your enemy is my enemy so lets work together and kill our common enemy and when that is done we can go back to fighting each other. But then there is no one in the US that would ever think that far. They just think, enemy, bomb, . ………..rinse repeat.

  7. 7

    ‘

    Old white southerner says black/brown people are racists for opposing the murder of brown people.

    Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) blasted NFL player Colin Kaepernick and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) after they criticized President Donald Trump’s handling of the assassination of Iran military leader Qasem Soleimani.

    In a tweet on Saturday, Kaepernick suggested that the attack on Soleimani was part of a history of “American terrorist attacks against Black and Brown people.”

    https://www.rawstory.com/2020/01/look-in-the-mirror-lindsey-graham-calls-colin-kaepernick-a-racist-for-opposing-murder-of-brown-people/

    2. 10.2

      *shakes head*

      What he's saying: "We've spent a lot of money in Iraq," Trump told reporters, according to a pool report.

      • "Iraq, was the worst decision, going into the Middle East was the worst decision ever made in the history of our country … We're not leaving unless they pay us back for it," he said of the joint air base.
      • On the targeting of cultural sites, Trump said, "They’re allowed to kill our people. They’re allowed to torture and maim our people; they’re allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we’re not allowed to touch their cultural site? It doesn’t work that way."

      https://www.axios.com/trump-threatens-iraq-iran-sanctions-sites-06abb035-1eaf-42ec-8135-b9f82269529c.html

      1. 10.2.1

        he said that well before the election, in 2016 'we should have gotten the oil' 'we should get paid'. Never mind that it is our society, the western society that has fucked up the middle east for the longest of time. But hey her fucking emails Joe90, her fucking emails.

  12. 12

    Haven't heard from the Prime Minister for a long while.I trust she is finding the long holidays relaxing and therapeutic.

    1. 12.1

      It's a little over two weeks since she delivered her Xmas wishes from the PM's office in the Beehive. I expect she'll be back there in about a week's time. That'll be 3 weeks to recuperate from a hectic 2019.

      A darn sight less than John Key used to take. He disappeared off to Hawaii several times a year and a month over Dec/January.

    2. 12.2

      What a mean-spirited little polluter you are.

      To deny the Prime Minister a couple of weeks to spend with her brand new family, like most other Kiwis, is truely evil.

      A National voter for sure.

    3. 12.3

      Don't worry, when the therapeutics have worked their magic on her she'll be back to administer the same to those who miss her so. Sorry I can't tell you where the needy will have to queue.

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