Three minutes to midnight. John Key incoherent.

Written By: - Date published: 7:07 am, October 2nd, 2015 - 91 comments
Categories: Globalisation, International, iraq, john key, Minister for International Embarrassment, Syria, us politics, war - Tags: , , ,

With his patent leather shoes gleaming thanks to John Key’s lovingly- applied spit-polish, Barrack Obama stood upon the world stage and presented the United State’s justification for its neoconservative imperialist war in the Middle East. It was classic US sheer hypocrisy and supercilious mendacity, exactly the same as is rolled out whenever the US has to defend the indefensible.

Obama’s speech framed the Syrian situation within a display of ignorance-based patriotism and a witheringly ironic call for all nations to join together and teach the world to sing in perfect harmony. And then he got to the point . . .

. . . But while military power is necessary, it is not sufficient to resolve the situation in Syria. Lasting stability can only take hold when the people of Syria forge an agreement to live together peacefully. The United States is prepared to work with any nation, including Russia and Iran, to resolve the conflict. But we must recognize that there cannot be, after so much bloodshed, so much carnage, a return to the pre-war status quo.

Let’s remember how this started. Assad reacted to peaceful protests by escalating repression and killing that, in turn, created the environment for the current strife. And so Assad and his allies cannot simply pacify the broad majority of a population who have been brutalized by chemical weapons and indiscriminate bombing. Yes, realism dictates that compromise will be required to end the fighting and ultimately stamp out ISIL. But realism also requires a managed transition away from Assad and to a new leader, and an inclusive government that recognizes there must be an end to this chaos so that the Syrian people can begin to rebuild.

Got that? The US has no choice but to be there because of this week’s “Fifth Institutional Filter” is Assad. No, forget about the last 150 years. Especially forget about Iraq . What drone strikes? No, never mind the last 15 years of massively-funded CIA covert political agitation and flooding of Syrian society with the latest and greatest munitions. The US is fighting this war to bring peace. Peace and democracy. All Syrians have to do is a little eeny-weeny bit of compromising. Or get bombed some more. Assad can hang around for a while but, really, it might be best if he scarpered sometime soon. If he wants to live, that is. Meanwhile, once the fighting has stopped,  the obligatory US puppet will be installed   transitioned as head of state. The Syrian people can then sweep up the mess . . .

We know that ISIL — which emerged out of the chaos of Iraq and Syria — depends on perpetual war to survive. But we also know that they gain adherents because of a poisonous ideology. So part of our job, together, is to work to reject such extremism that infects too many of our young people. Part of that effort must be a continued rejection by Muslims of those who distort Islam to preach intolerance and promote violence, and it must also a rejection by non-Muslims of the ignorance that equates Islam with terror. (Applause.)

This work will take time. There are no easy answers to Syria. And there are no simple answers to the changes that are taking place in much of the Middle East and North Africa. But so many families need help right now; they don’t have time. And that’s why the United States is increasing the number of refugees who we welcome within our borders. That’s why we will continue to be the largest donor of assistance to support those refugees. And today we are launching new efforts to ensure that our people and our businesses, our universities and our NGOs can help as well — because in the faces of suffering families, our nation of immigrants sees ourselves . . .

So, because of ISIL, the US will impose its interpretation of Islam and, once that’s done, will stop calling Muslims terrorists. Huh, what’s Wahhabism? Saudi Arabia are allies.  Also, great chunks of the US armed forces will remain in the Middle East for as long as the US wants and, since they’re there, might as well grab a piece of North Africa too. While the US is writing the new constitutions for which ever countries it chooses, its corporations and NGOs will stroll in, seize the resources and impose a neoconservative economy. Oh, and all the children in every “liberated” nation will receive a US-approved education. And this is all being done because, really, the US recognises Syrians as being just like them. We are all one.  Yadda yadda yadda.

Righty-ho, same ole same ole so far. Except this time, the US has a problem. A big problem. Russia.

Since the collapse of the Berlin Wall, NATO has emerged from, ostensibly, a force protecting the West from the oldskool “threat to civilisation”, the Russian Hordes. Its now the much expanded self-appointed protector of the globe’s energy supplies. In response, Russian snatched the Crimea. In return, NATO, pretty much, seduced the Ukraine and moved 30,000 troops in. In August this year, Russia began preparations to move 50,000 troops to the border. And then, today, Russia began air strikes in Syria which, allegedly, have taken out US-funded anti-Assad forces.

Right now, its three minutes to midnight according to the Doomsday Clock, and it may be slow.

With all this going on, our own Prime Minister is also striding the world stage, doing his best for all New Zealanders by stalking Obama and grabbing what moments he can with his bestie golf buddy. With all his access to POTUS sifted through his mighty intellect, John Key, in a surprise move, agreed with everything Obama said to the United Nations. He also generously provided the following interpretation of what it all means . . .

If you listen very carefully to what President Obama said today, he said that there was essentially a sort of multi-staged way of carrying out changes in Syria. And it was very much along the lines that both elements of concern in Syria would need to change over time, but not necessarily as a starting point. That’s really where New Zealand is at.

What a leader. Thanks, John.

Bazza, Bazza, got a moment, its me, John.

“Bazza, Bazza, got a moment Its me, John. John from Nuhzelund”

 

Just as well New Zealand top diplomat and brand new member of the United Nation’s Security Council, Murray McCully had a better grasp of what’s going on. Russia was chairing yesterday’s Security Council session. In order to ease tensions and let New Zealand’s position as an “honest broker” shine through at this difficult time, Muzza gave Russia a good old fashioned public bollocking and then told the rest of the Security Council it was dysfunctional and directly responsible for the death of children.

National Ltd™ – Making us all proud Kiwis.

91 comments on “Three minutes to midnight. John Key incoherent. ”

  1. Tracey 1

    A good piece from RNZ this week contrasting Obama and Putin’s views on Syria

    http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/player/201772461

    And another persepctive from RT, focusing on this week’s press conference of retired US Navy admiral, John Kirby, spokesperson for US Department of Foreign Affairs., where he said of Assad

    ““He is the reason ISIL, and other terrorist groups, have been allowed to fester and grow and sustain themselves inside Syria,” Kirby said. “Assad regime has allowed groups like ISIL to fester and grow inside the country.”

    https://www.rt.com/usa/315474-kirby-state-department-assad-isis/

    • dukeofurl 1.1

      What rubbish. Assad has always opposed ( and his father before him) any sort of Sunni militancy.

      The ISIS grew out of the remnants of Saddams military in Iraq, and the unrest there and spread across the border

      • The earlier versions of ISIS were funded by the CIA and trained by the British SAS.

        So Putin is correct when he asked , Do you know what you have done, while speaking at the UN last week.

        There have been and still are a bunch of bloody idiots running some counties.
        They are a dangerous lot.

    • BLiP 1.2

      Heh! He ain’t no saint and I’m glad I don’t live in his Russia, but respect to Putin for his occasional “fuck-you” to the US. What makes him particularly effective is that he speaks often speaks uncomfortable and hard to deny truths. The typical response from the West is petulant abuse which only further confirms the veracity.

      And, yeah: looks like Kirby has popped up on cue with his lines into the MSM to bolster the double-think real-speak fact that its all Assad’s fault. The spin merchants know you gotta have someone to blame; makes it nice an easy for the public to swallow. Even better if the “baddy” can be framed as another Saddam. No need to clutter the public’s mind with a reminder or, God forbid, an analysis of events over the last, say, 15 years. Such a narrative would only complicate the roll out of comms-plans and require the use of difficult to spell names best forgotten. Just so long as the heartland can be reassured that matters are in hand, they will keep smiling and waving their flags. Its not like they are really being lied to, the history is available if they want to find it.

      When you think about it, giving the public a “baddy” is a kind thing to do. While it was important to instill deep fear into their hearts to ensure support for this war, by handing them a “baddy” they can all focus their hate on will help deliver a greater sense of community. Properly handled, someone could make a fortune next Halloween with an Assad costume. No point in dragging up all that fuss again about the illegal invasion and on-going occupation of Iraq right next door to Syria. Didn’t make *that* much difference to running a country, surely. Who cares if the bulk of the Iraq army was summarily dismissed and left to roam about the place without jobs or homes or much hope. At least they got to keep their side arms. And as for Saudi Arabia recruiting, funding and arming droves of fervent Wahhabists, that’s neither here not there. They are allies.

      Remember also, the US has just got over having to face up to being a state which employs the use of torture enhanced interrogation. No point in dragging that up again. Just because Assad cooperated with the arbitrary kidnapping, torture and murder of innocents renditions programme, that was way back at the start of the century. Water under the bridge. Doesn’t mean the US owes him anything. Assad was help for a while, so what, big deal. He’s only the head of sovereign state that England created. Who’s he when it comes to the interests of corporate USA?. Fuck him Hang him out. Plenty like him to go around.

      • Tracey 1.2.1

        It’s like the West don’t want people to realise Assad is fighting ISIS! I tried to find the interview on RNZ of the guy who was saying Assad isn’t this big bad chap, but can’t. It was earlier this week. He pointed out that for all his life Assad has been accuse dof being too weak and soft.

        Nobody, imo, is all “right” in this, and that is probably why it is all going so so wrong.

        Putin makes a good comment, namely that the West won’t acknowledge that it has contributed in some way to this state of affairs (noting that Putin has recently conquered Crimea and is working on Ukraine). If you look at the link I posted it has a poll of syrians. Guess how many believe ISIS emergence is down to the USA?

        • Grindlebottom 1.2.1.1

          Bashar al-Assad has been accused of being Too soft?. I don’t think so. He might have been a bit of a quiet lad when younger, and there was hopeful expectation when he succeeded his dictatorial father that he might introduce liberal reforms, but he’s proved himself as ruthless as his old man.

          From what I can see, this apocalyptic mess in Syria is the product of the Arab Spring. I’ve been trying to catch up on who’s fighting who, how many different religious sects & sub-sects & ethnic groups are involved, whose side they’re on, how many different opposition groups there are (I’ve lost count, new ones keep popping up), who they’re actually fighting, how often they’ve splintered & re-splintered into factions, what coalitions they’re part of, how many of them are fighting with previous allies, or have changed sides. It’s an unholy mess (or maybe a holy one might be a better description, there are so many islamist groups as well as druze, christians etc). Even the intelligence agencies must be struggling to keep up with it all.

          ISIL now controls half the land area and various opposition forces are in control of maybe half or more of the rest, Assad’s running out of troops, even his own Alawites in some places are refusing to join his army and some have reportedly joined opposition groups. His regime is on the verge of collapse. That’s the reason Putin’s sending in troops, planes and equipment.

          Even if the Russians and Iranians and hezbollah manage to help Assad retain control over a shrunken rump state he’s finished as national leader of Syria. The religious & ethnic explosion of hatred, killing and territory grabbing this civil war’s released could take decades to resolve.

          The Syrian people, and especially those under ISIL’s heel, are the victims of every power player here, the US, UK, France and their allies, as well as Assad, the Russians, Iranians and Lebanese. They’re all guilty of trying to play ISIL to their own advantage and seriously underestimating who they were dealing with, from what I can see.

          • Tracey 1.2.1.1.1

            ” tried to find the interview on RNZ of the guy who was saying Assad isn’t this big bad chap, but can’t. It was earlier this week. He pointed out that for all his life Assad has been accused of being too weak and soft.” I believe the link to that piece was posted below

  2. Muzza gave Russia a good old fashioned public bollocking and then told the rest of the Security Council it was dysfunctional and directly responsible for the death of children.

    It must be about the first time in his life he’s said something that was reasonably accurate – most likely MFAT wrote it for him.

    • Tracey 2.1

      I thought that too, and that in Muzza’s mind he was talking about Russia.

    • dukeofurl 2.2

      So is Muzza going to give Turkey a public bollocking about its long occupation of part of neighbouring independent country Cyprus ?

      Or, is it when your are a nato member its all too inconvenient ? Not to mention the Gallipoli thing.

      Here we go again , occupying a neighbour is a terrible thing , except when our own ‘friends’ do it.

      Civil war in Ukraine ?. Again its a terrible thing that Russia provides support for rebel groups, but not a problem when ‘friend’ Saudi Arabia intervenes far more openly in neighbour Yemen.

      • tinfoilhat 2.2.1

        “Civil war in Ukraine ?. Again its a terrible thing that Russia provides support for rebel groups, but not a problem when ‘friend’ Saudi Arabia intervenes far more openly in neighbour Yemen.”

        The stench of hypocrisy from both the USA and Russia is no different than it has been for many many decades.

      • Psycho Milt 2.2.2

        So is Muzza going to give Turkey a public bollocking about its long occupation of part of neighbouring independent country Cyprus ?

        Is he going to spend NZ’s time on the UN Security Council dredging up old disputes rather than dealing with the ones that are happening right now? I’m picking “No.”

        Russian forces are supporting Assad by attacking rebels backed by the US. This is as stupid and dangerous a move as it would be for US forces to attack Ukrainian rebels supported by the Russian Federation. Obama refused to go down that path, but Putin is cheerfully setting off down it while giving the rest of us the fingers. MFAT was right to get McCully to give them a bollocking, and hopefully other countries followed suit.

        • dukeofurl 2.2.2.1

          SO US, UK, France, Jordan , Turkey and others should stay while Russia gets out because they will confuse things ?

          All those countries have been active with airstrikes in Syria. None have done so with support of the legal government ( Assad) , while Russia does so.

          Mysterious you think dredging up old disputes should be ignored, its an ongoing occupation, but its inconvenient to you because it would offend ‘our friends’
          Israel/ Palestine occuptaion settled because its ‘even older’ ?

          • Psycho Milt 2.2.2.1.1

            SO US, UK, France, Jordan , Turkey and others should stay while Russia gets out because they will confuse things ?

            Russia should get out because it’s attacking forces backed by a superpower and thereby risking a serious escalation of the conflict. Also: unlike Russia, the other powers carrying out airstrikes are coordinating their activities to avoid friendly fire incidents, and unlike Russia, are actually troubling themselves to confine their attacks to Da’esh rather than anyone the Syrian army wants taken out (disclaimer: description of “other powers” may not apply to Turkey, which never loses an opportunity to take out armed Kurds).

            Mysterious you think dredging up old disputes should be ignored…

            It’s mysterious that I don’t object to the NZ government focusing on the disputes that are actually in front of the security council now, rather than taking the opportunity to raise your pet issue from 40 years ago? I don’t see any mystery there.

          • Bill 2.2.2.1.2

            Never mind Assad’s missing requests for help. The UK government has done it against the wishes of its own parliament.

        • Poission 2.2.2.2

          Russian forces are supporting Assad by attacking rebels backed by the US.

          Russia justify’s the action for some very good reasons.

          Power vacuum in some countries in the Middle East and Northern Africa obviously resulted in the emergence of areas of anarchy, which were quickly filled with extremists and terrorists. The so-called Islamic State has tens of thousands of militants fighting for it, including former Iraqi soldiers who were left on the street after the 2003 invasion. Many recruits come from Libya whose statehood was destroyed as a result of a gross violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1973. And now radical groups are joined by members of the so-called “moderate” Syrian opposition backed by the West. They get weapons and training, and then they defect and join the so-called Islamic State.

          In fact, the Islamic State itself did not come out of nowhere. It was initially developed as a weapon against undesirable secular regimes. Having established control over parts of Syria and Iraq, Islamic State now aggressively expands into other regions. It seeks dominance in the Muslim world and beyond. Their plans go further.

          http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1510/S00002/putin-70th-session-of-the-un-general-assembly.htm

  3. dukeofurl 3

    Good point Blip that you bring up the use of Drone strikes

    The US signed the INF treaty back in Reagan day.
    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intermediate-Range_Nuclear_Forces_Treaty

    An interesting part of that bans cruise missiles with a range ( total distance traveled) between 500km and 5500km.

    The real interesting part is the definition of cruise missile from the text of the treaty.
    “”The term “cruise missile” means an unmanned, self-propelled vehicle that sustains flight through the use of aerodynamic lift over most of its flight path. The term “ground-launched cruise missile (GLCM)” means a ground-launched cruise missile that is a weapon-delivery vehicle.”
    http://www.state.gov/t/avc/trty/102360.htm

    That definition of cruise missile is exactly what a ‘drone ‘ is, and of course they are weapon delivery vehicles. The range of 500km around 300 miles but for drones that fly there and back, it means 150 miles away .

    So its clear as night and day , US armed drone strikes in places like Pakistan, Yemen and probably Syria are violations of the INF treaty.

    Which them explains another strange situation, the US has never admitted openly that they conduct drone strikes in pakistan and yemen. Its an open secret but officially doesnt happen

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-brenner/drones-and-denial_b_2396612.html

    • BLiP 3.1

      Yep, slaughters by drone are a violation of all sorts of international laws. They are, in effect, extrajudicial executions carried out on the basis of suspicion and “best guess” and zero accountability. Drone strikes are also carried out in the full knowledge that innocent civilians will also be slaughtered. I’m not up with all the treaties and laws and agreements which cover this but, given the complete inability for anyone to do anything about it, they seem worthless. Might as well use them to keep score and see which country breaks the most laws each month. A legal-type explained how the US slaughter of that Kiwi citizen which John Key approved of broke some local laws. Can’t recall the details now but do remember thinking at the time “I should write this down”. D’oh!

      As far as I tell, the US slaughter by drone programme is underway in Pakistan, Somali, Yemen and Afhanistan. It is the UK slaughter by drone programme which is currently operating in Syria. Of course, these details have been released to the public by the murderers themselves so it highly likely they are inaccurate.

      (EDIT: Can’t seem to get that US link to embed. Here is is:
      https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/category/projects/drones/)

    • One Anonymous Bloke 3.2

      1. For the purposes of this Treaty, existing types of intermediate-range missiles are:

      (a) for the United States of America, missiles of the types designated by the United States of America as the Pershing II and the BGM-109G, which are known to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics by the same designations; and

      (b) for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, missiles of the types designated by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as the RSD-10, the R-12 and the R-14, which are known to the United States of America as the SS-20, the SS-4 and the SS-5, respectively.

      2. For the purposes of this Treaty, existing types of shorter-range missiles are:

      (a) for the United States of America, missiles of the type designated by the United States of America as the Pershing IA, which is known to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics by the same designation; and

      (b) for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, missiles of the types designated by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as the OTR-22 and the OTR-23, which are known to the United States of America as the SS-12 and the SS-23, respectively.

      Might throw a spanner in the works, although the rest of the text is couched in very broad terms.

      Also, only parties to the treaty have inspection rights.

      All that aside, extrajudicial killings are inherently illegal, or else why have they spent so much money on lawyers to define “enemy combatants”?

      • dukeofurl 3.2.1

        Clearly the drones are a new type, not even thought of at the time. Pershings were a type of rocket and not a winged missile.

        But the definition clearly covers future developments, why else sign it if you could come up with a new missile in 2 years

        • One Anonymous Bloke 3.2.1.1

          The point being, quibbling about clever interpretations of a nuclear non-proliferation treaty is redundant considering that the whole extra-judicial murder program is illegal in international law as it stands right now.

    • That definition of cruise missile is exactly what a ‘drone ‘ is, and of course they are weapon delivery vehicles.

      There’s a word in the title of the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty that reveals why the US’ current drone fleet, as well as its non-nuclear-armed cruise missiles, are not covered by that treaty.

      • dukeofurl 3.3.1

        No it doesnt.

        THIS is the title to the Treaty ( from state.gov website)
        “Treaty Between The United States Of America And The Union Of Soviet Socialist Republics On The Elimination Of Their Intermediate-Range And Shorter-Range Missiles .”

        Short title may be INF- but thats has no effect. No mention of nuclear ‘in the title’ and of course in the wording where the most detail is shown and any legal reasoning would be used.
        And the US Senate ratified that treaty not like others like ‘Law of the sea’ where they didnt. The major reason why nuclear warhead isnt mentioned is thats unverifiable to distinguish between the two.

        At the time , they certainly didnt think of drones, so we have a prima facie situation of US breaking treaty – with Russia.

        • Psycho Milt 3.3.1.1

          Well, you could try bringing a case against the US and Russia for both continuing to produce and use non-nuclear-armed missiles after signing the INT, but I don’t think your case would get past the judge noticing that it’s a nuclear arms limitation treaty.

          • dukeofurl 3.3.1.1.1

            You havent read anything we are talking about. It covers rockets and missiles that have only intermediate range(500-5500km) And they must be ground launched. So excludes naval and air launched.

            Both signatories have eliminated their weapons in that category.

            The US is in breach of its own treaty. End of story.
            Its not up to me to bring a case ????.

            Im publishing the details for others information. Doesnt change the facts which you cant accept. Instead of raising fatuous points why cant you just say it too.
            Im adding the concern by others about the illegal US drone strikes.

            • One Anonymous Bloke 3.3.1.1.1.1

              Whether what you’re adding is of any conceivable use or relevance is debatable: there are far stronger cases to be made against drone murders.

              • dukeofurl

                Us Treatys can be enforceable in US courts

                http://www.yjil.org/print/volume-37-issue-1/international-law-at-home-enforcing-treaties-in-us-courts

                More important is an international result that US hasnt abided by its treaty obligations. Not that things like the illegal war in Iraq stopped them either.

                Just handy for people like you who often claim the moral high ground for US.

                • One Anonymous Bloke

                  It can be enforced by the Russians, if they so choose. In my estimation this is extremely unlikely.

                  In the meantime, while we wait for the Russians to pursue a red herring, why not address the mass murder issue by pointing out that it’s mass murder?

                  Or would you prefer to impotently lash out at me instead?

      • McFlock 3.3.2

        That word is also in the treaty text:

        The United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, hereinafter referred to as the Parties,

        Conscious that nuclear war would have devastating consequences for all mankind,

        Guided by the objective of strengthening strategic stability,

        Convinced that the measures set forth in this Treaty will help to reduce the risk of outbreak of war and strengthen international peace and security, and

        Mindful of their obligations under Article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,

        Have agreed as follows:

  4. just saying 4

    Well at least it was laugh-out-loud incoherence from our great and glorious leader this time. (For me, anyways)

    I like your stuff Blip. Very much how I feel, but much better expressed than I could manage.

  5. The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 5

    Are we marching against the Russian aggression? Like we did in 2003 against US aggression? Or is it different, somehow?

    [lprent: You might have, although I’d need photographic proof before I’d believe it. I certainly didn’t.

    I just expressed my complete lack of faith in the US intelligence communities ‘evidence’ about Iraqi complicity in the September 2011 attacks on the twin towers and the pentagon, and their evidence about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. It was a completely justified lack of faith. Consequently I expressed my opposition in getting involved in a completely unjustified war in Iraq being waged by a fucking idiot in the US for what appeared to be personal reasons.

    I object to your accusation that I marched against the US. In fact I could get quite upset about it. Finger hovers over the rhetorical idiot button…..

    In other words – don’t be a gormless fool. If I see that kind of phrasing too often placing people indiscriminately in groups for spurious smearing, then I’ll boot you off the site. And don’t follow the hypocritical example of our lying prime minister John Key. Take responsibility for your words. You should now issue an apology to those you have besmirched. ]

    • Tracey 5.1

      I’m still waiting for the US and ourselves to stand up for the Ukraine, afterall a foreign nation stole Crimea and is now inside Ukraine killing people in, something very like combat.

      • tinfoilhat 5.1.1

        As you know Tracey you’ll be waiting a long time, realpolitik on display as usual.

        • Tracey 5.1.1.1

          Makes me wonder if there is a correlation between the end of times when Leaders stood at the front of the battles they want to wage, and the 20th century being the bloodiest in history

          • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 5.1.1.1.1

            So, Trace, to be clear: you want the US to invade the Crimea?

          • Phil 5.1.1.1.2

            Even accounting for the brutality of WW1 and WW2, the average probability of any person on earth dying, either as a direct or indirect result of weaponised conflict, has steadily declined for at least the last 500-1000 years.

            So, no. There is no correlation.

            • Tracey 5.1.1.1.2.1

              can you cite your source. unless it is an urban myth i read somewhere a few years ago that the 20th century was the bloodiest/deadliest in the history of thecplanet.

    • What on earth would be the point of that?

      You protest against the actions you think you have some influence over (no matter how slim). Going on to the streets to harangue the ‘official enemy’ is an empty, self-indulgent act or, worse, like the ‘protests’ engineered by dictators to demonstrate against the dictator’s official enemies.

      It’s a pretty basic moral principle that you always attend to the beam in your own eye before complaining about the splinter in someone else’s eye.

      Here’s how that goes in practice: if one of New Zealand’s supposed allies or ‘very, very, very good friends’ does something immoral then, hopefully (if official allegiance has any substance)’ protesting in New Zealand might have some impact on that ally. Therefore it makes sense to protest here.

      If, by contrast, New Zealand (and it’s quite strong allies) are already giving a ‘bollocking’ to something that an official bad guy has done (e.g., Russia) then there is little to be gained by marching in the street. Our government and those of its allies need no encouragement to do what they can to punish such a bad guy.

    • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 5.3

      Whatevs.

      [lprent: You weren’t listening. Whatevs, this is a important point. Lets see if we can get that through. Clearly a warning didn’t work. Banned 2 days. ]

  6. Stuart Munro 6

    Crimea is more Russia friendly than most of Ukraine – heavily settled by generations of naval families and thus its secession to Russia made a kind of sense. But the Russian insurgents and of course the shooting of MH17 are pretty unpardonable. I’m not sure that Putin gets to bomb his way back to any kind of political credibility – however dodgy his targets may be.

    Muzza is of course worse than useless like all Gnats.

  7. Lucy 7

    We have always been at war with Eurasia!!!
    I don’t like Putin but he at least has the sense to know that the enemy of your enemy is not your friend. The Russian top brass came out of Afghanistan with a defeat but with an understanding that middle eastern politics is not easy and that democracy and capitalism is not for every nation. If you demand the figure at the top goes you need to make damn sure that the people of the country want whoever you put in! From non US media there are many stories about the rebels changing side when they saw who the US were importing to fight alongside them! ISIL was a US funded and armed organisation until the US realised the end game – just like Al Qaeda. After 100 years the US and the UK still have no understanding of world politics and are both still playing “sideses”

    • Tracey 7.1

      thanks Lucy.

      do we know who is selling weapons to ISIS and Taleban etc?

    • Draco T Bastard 7.2

      After 100 years the US and the UK still have no understanding of world politics and are both still playing “sideses”

      Both the UK and the US suffer from the belief that they can make things the way they want them to be by simply declaring that they are that way. They then act as if that is the truth and ignore the reality.

      • Tracey 7.2.1

        Putin suffers from this also. I don’t know about China cos they say almost nothing about stuff.

  8. One Anonymous Bloke 9

    ISIL…depends on perpetual war to survive.

    Projecting much, Barack?

    • Draco T Bastard 9.1

      Yep, the US has an incredibly violent past and it’s mostly them attacking others for their own benefit.

    • Gangnam Style 9.2

      Yeah that stuck out like a sore thumb to me too!

    • Tracey 9.3

      WWI and WWII were long conflicts precisely because the USA fond it could make more money out of perpetuating the war through sale sof military stuff, than it could by joining in. The US Empire existed only because it lef tits friends to die and go bankrupt

  9. Vaughan Little 10

    this has to be the weakest post I’ve read on the standard.

    you might take a care not to identify muslims with wahhabis. wahhabis are an islamic version of liberals: overturning historical hierarchies and their attendant power structures and replacing them with a radical egalitarianism. though of course liberals are a darn sight less violent or egalitarian.

    ok so I’m using your demoniac rage (cf Kierkegaard)-inspired rant to rag on liberals. may as well squeeze some fun out of it.

    plus, how did you manage to spin such a dark cloud out of Obama’s commitment to take more refugees? that’s a pretty special alchemy you’ve got going. reminds me of cv bitching about labour.

    • BLiP 10.1

      . . . you might take a care not to identify muslims with wahhabis. wahhabis are an islamic version of liberals: overturning historical hierarchies and their attendant power structures and replacing them with a radical egalitarianism. though of course liberals are a darn sight less violent or egalitarian . . .

      ORLY – Wahhabism is not an ideology and theology developed by Muhammad ibn Abd-al Wahhab out of Sunni Islam in the 18th and 19th centuries in the tribal areas of the Eastern Arabian Peninsular and hailed today by members of the Saudi ruling class for its staunch opposition to Shiaism and for its Salafi piety? Seems more likely you’re spouting shite. And clutching at straws.

      ok so I’m using your demoniac rage (cf Kierkegaard)-inspired rant to rag on liberals. may as well squeeze some fun out of it.

      So far, I’m the one having fun.

      plus, how did you manage to spin such a dark cloud out of Obama’s commitment to take more refugees? that’s a pretty special alchemy you’ve got going. reminds me of cv bitching about labour.

      Fuck him. If he’s gonna wait this long into the crisis – a crisis the US caused – just so he gets extra coverage when announcing what everyone else has already announced, he’s a poser exploiting the refugee crisis for his own benefit. His statement – not a formal commitment, just his word – complete with the sly qualifier “increasing number”, is the most pathetic response I have seen from any nation responding positively to the refugee crisis. Even National Ltd™ was, finally, forced into making a better job of it for New Zealand than Obama did for the US. We made a real commitment and mentioned numbers.

      • vaughan little 10.1.1

        so you can’t be bothered reading my comment properly but can be bothered replying. i guess that’s why your foreign affairs analysis above is so stodgy – you need to read widely with some sensitivity to be able to produce anything worth reading on it. clearly i know what wahhabism is, if you thought about the similarities between liberalism and wahhabism for a while you’d get that. just because wahhabis use terrorism doesn’t mean you can call muslims terrorists, as you quite possibly suggest.

        responding to your post is a bit like clutching at straws because that’s pretty much all there is to prop up the invective. i mean, right from 911 American leaders were working to publicly distinguish islam from terrorism.

        thanks for stating clearly this time your belief the US caused the crisis in Syria and that the planned US intake of refugees is something that Obama is doing for exploitative reasons. put next to key’s tongue tied (nonetheless accurate) comments, you make him look insightful. obama wasn’t announcing new policy, he was alluding to established policy. and have you paused to consider that one reason why states have been slow to respond is because they’re struggling to cope with the magnitude of the problem?

        i say yay to any country that takes in refugees from this collapsing state. the quicker the better.

        • BLiP 10.1.1.1

          . . . this has to be the weakest post I’ve read on the standard . . . your foreign affairs analysis above is so stodgy . . . responding to your post is a bit like clutching at straws . . . a pretty special alchemy you’ve got going . . . put next to key’s tongue tied (nonetheless accurate) comments, you make him look insightful . . .

          And yet here you are. Do go on, please.

          Its great to see you have learned something, even if you like to pretend that you knew all along. Kinda sweet, really. Now that we agree Wahhabism is a part of Islam, what do you think will be the response among Muslims to Obama’s announcement that the US will be interpreting what is and isn’t an acceptable expression of Islam? Do you think this will help or is it possible that it might hinder relationships with and amongst the Mullahs and their respective followers? It seems a rather old-fashion, colonial approach to me.

  10. Bill 11

    Brilliantly put Blip.

    So hmm, this comment almost works, ie – doesn’t quite work…maybe works better than the original, but whatever, I couldn’t resist – given the glaring temptation…

    But we also know that they gain adherents because of a poisonous ideology. So part of our job, together, is to work to reject such extremism that infects too many of our young people. Part of that effort must be a continued rejection by social democrats of those who distort democracy to preach intolerance and promote violence, and it must also a rejection (…) of the ignorance that equates Islam with terror.

    k time for the coffee.

    • BLiP 11.1

      Heh! Poor ole social democrats. Do you know what you get when you cross a social democrat with a pig? Can’t happen, there are some things a pig won’t do.

      I’m the last one who should talk about typos but I see your snipped carries one that is actually on the original. When I was reading it, it seemed odd that a statement from the President of the United States to the United Nations should have more than I usually do. Felt good.

  11. Tracey 12

    Everyone!!! SHUSH. That great statesman of the world, John Key, has the floor at the UN.

    • Tel 12.1

      I wonder if he’ll declare if he has any conflict of interest… heaven forbid the sordid little man has shares in the US arms industry? Yeah nah, Pandas for everyone and how about a new flig for the UN. haha

    • Rosemary McDonald 12.2

      And here it is….http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/72629197/john-keys-speech-to-the-united-nations

      “But part of the problem is also behavioural.

      The Permanent Members have become used to exercising power and are protective of their privileged position.

      They presume to control the Council’s agenda and to determine its processes.

      Despite this, we are doing what we can to ensure that the elected members have the information and the opportunity to contribute effectively to Council decision-making.

      And, in turn, that it makes effective decisions.

      We want to contribute to a Council that is genuinely focused on finding practical solutions to political problems and not on preserving the status quo.”

      • BLiP 12.2.1

        I love how a man who week after week chased a young, female cafe worker around her place of employment pulling her pony tail feels sufficiently qualified to berate the United Nations Security Council about behavioural problems and the inappropriate exercise of power from a privileged position.

        • Paul 12.2.1.1

          I love how a man who week after week checks with his pollsters before making moral decisions feel he can moralise to the world.
          A man who at first declined to take any extra refugees lectures the world on tracking refugees.

        • b waghorn 12.2.1.2

          You can ad a man who has children dieing of preventable problems in the country he governs using the death of a child to make his point and also going on about the use of veto powers when he uses them himself to this little hypocrisy list

      • Tracey 12.2.2

        Contrast this

        “The Permanent Members have become used to exercising power and are protective of their privileged position.

        They presume to control the Council’s agenda and to determine its processes.”

        With how He and Australia behave at the Pacific Forum.

    • Reddelusion 12.3

      Petty and juvenile, comment says more about writer than target of said comment

  12. AmaKiwi 13

    Follow the money.

    Do any of these leaders believe wars are about anything other than getting more money (i.e. resources or strategic advantages that will get them more power and therefore more money)?

    I don’t.

    • Tel 13.1

      Syria is or perhaps was a lucrative source of income for Russia. 24 Billion dollars over the last decade according to the World Bank, which is likely to be a conservative figure.

    • Draco T Bastard 13.2

      Nope. Our present system requires ever more resources as we use up the ones that we have in our own lands thus we need to invade other lands to get their resources to support our greed.

  13. Pasupial 14

    Campbell made a good point yesterday:

    Russia may not be offering a very palatable plan on Syria, but at least it is a plan. Putin pointed out at the UN that the only forces currently fighting Islamic State on the ground are the Assad regime, and the Kurdish militia…

    Due to this self-imposed immobility by the Americans, all of the diplomatic momentum over Syria is now with Putin. In reality, Russia’s military effort in Syria won’t probably do very much to defeat Islamic State – but in a matter of weeks, he has moved Russia right back to the centre of the US/European stage, after the isolation caused by Russia’s actions in the Ukraine.

    http://gordoncampbell.scoop.co.nz/2015/10/01/gordon-campbell-on-putins-diplomatic-coup-over-syria/

    There is blame enough to go around to all sides in Ukraine; Russia, EU, NATO, Yanukovych, Poroshenko and others. However, the Syrian situation makes even that clusterfuck look like a minor scuffle. The thing that stands out to me is Erdogan’s Turkish contribution of bombing the PKK – the kurdish militia that has been s one of the bulwarks against IS:

    Turkey’s Nato allies have expressed unease about the operations aimed at the PKK, since the Kurds have been a crucial ally in the fight against Isis both in Syria and in Iraq.

    http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/29/turkey-launches-biggest-attack-kurdish-militants

  14. johnm 15

    Prince of lies,applied violence and domination, duplicity, manipulation and utter revolting bullshit the U$ “Great Satan” lusting for World hegemony at any risk and price has spoken. Shonkey, the Satanic flunky flits about pouring forth meaningless rubbish. Muzza is another total hollow flunky of the same evil power that spends more on arms and the military than the rest of the World put together, why? Certainly resource domination is a major reason and if they spark WW 3? that’s an acceptable risk.

    • johnm 15.1

      The Artist Taxi Driver explains the mass insanity of spending a 100 billion pounds on Trident. He also covers Iraq and Syria.

      Nick Robinson BBC “I believe in a Nuclear Holocaust”

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZHD9QVgtpg

      Trident is the U$K’s entry pass into Great Satan’s club of world domination.

  15. D'Esterre 16

    @Tracy: I think this is the RNZ interview you couldn’t find. It’s in this segment, I’m pretty sure.
    http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/thepanel/audio/201772572/the-panel-with-sue-wells-and-sue-guthrie-part-1

    A spot of revisionism anent Crimea, folks. It seceded; this was actually reported at the time, though the narrative has since morphed into “Putin-grabbed-Crimea”. Which doesn’t make it true, no matter what Uncle Sam and his poodles say.

    Crimea was traditionally part of Russia, until it was gifted to Ukraine by Krushchev in 1954. Because he could. Since independence in 1991, Crimea has made two previous attempts to decamp; after the coup last year was the third attempt. That time, they made sure it happened.

    • BLiP 16.1

      I think you’ll find that, while there was plenty of support in the Crimea, Russia managed to run foul of international law in the process it employed. Doesn’t appear to be just a technical breach. IANAL.

    • Tracey 16.2

      So Putin took back the gift, by killing people… just a technicality

      On this basis you support the Palestinians, if armed well enough, taking back Israel?

      • D'Esterre 16.2.1

        @ Tracey: “So Putin took back the gift, by killing people… just a technicality”

        This is wrong. Again: Crimea seceded. It unilaterally declared its intention to secede, held a referendum, the turnout for and results of which were unequivocal, and then formally petitioned Russia for annexation. The entire process took place almost without a shot being fired. In this part of the world, we find it difficult to understand how Crimeans feel about having been handed over in that fashion. They got no say in it, of course. But as soon as they got the chance, they set about getting their country back to Russia. Memories are long…

        Pretty much most of what’s been reported in Western media about the Ukraine situation is US/NATO propaganda. Here we are, commenting on a post which takes an articulate and well-deserved swipe at the US and its infantile foreign policy (sorry, might be putting words into mouths there!) and idiotic patriotism. Yet at the same time, commenters here are just unreflectively accepting the US and NATO demonisation of Russia in general and Putin in particular. I’d have thought that the Syria situation would have caused people to re-evaluate what the media has told them about the glorious Ukraine and its dastardly neighbour.

        The end of the Cold War, and the resulting loss of the USSR as an adversary, left the US without a military purpose. As a consequence, it has, through NATO, since done everything possible to force a confrontation with Russia. Fomenting the violent overthrow of the democratically-elected government of the Ukraine was just the most recent attempt. Keep that in mind as you follow events in the Middle East.

        I’m not attempting to defend Putin or Russia; what I think about them is irrelevant. But it’s really important that people see US pronouncements on Russia for the Cold War propaganda that most of it is.

        “On this basis you support the Palestinians, if armed well enough, taking back Israel?”

        So: are you telling me what I think?

        @ BLiP: “I think you’ll find that, while there was plenty of support in the Crimea, Russia managed to run foul of international law in the process it employed.”

        International Court of Justice: unilateral secession is consistent with international law. Crimea unilaterally seceded. It ran the referendum and so on: Russia wasn’t involved. This was reported at the time, as it happens.

        There certainly were Russian troops in Crimea at the time, along with sundry military hardware. But they were there legally, under the terms of the Black Sea Fleet Treaty, which allowed Russia to station up to 25,000 troops and equipment on the peninsula.

        @ Stuart Munro: “…of course the shooting of MH17 are pretty unpardonable..”

        Here’s something on that topic worth a read. Don’t just dismiss it as Russian propaganda: it has links to back up the story. He’s written on the topic previously.

        http://johnhelmer.net/?p=14240

  16. I find it hard to believe that the USA, blames Russia for bombing civilians .
    USA has always been the worst offender for so called friendly fire, in fact the word was invented for the American Armed Forces,

  17. gnomic 18

    Is there something in the water? This is the most confused and confusing thread of all time. Well OK, maybe just a candidate for the title. And the Obama speech extracts must be up there in the race for the most obfuscatory bullshit ever. However I can see why Obomba doesn’t want to get involved; who would? What a mess. I for one hope the human race survives but this war in the Middle East is not helping with that mission. Too many cooks in the kitchen. Midnight approaches.

    By the way I have no idea at all what this sentence means. ‘The US has no choice but to be there because of this week’s “Fifth Institutional Filter” is Assad.’ Can anyone explain?

    Confusion reigns OK? Chris Trotter is confused for example. He thinks that IS must be destroyed. I wonder, is there a Serco for that? Should we ‘destroy’ the women and children as well? Surely a bit simplistic? Maybe a robot exterminator? Let’s hope it doesn’t get out of hand. Perhaps even death cult members have human rights, at least in theory.

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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
    Lower fruit and vegetable prices are welcome news for New Zealanders who have been doing it tough at the supermarket, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. Stats NZ reported today the price of fruit and vegetables has dropped 9.3 percent in the 12 months to February 2024.  “Lower fruit and vege ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
    Recommendations from the Climate Change Commission for New Zealand on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) auction and unit limit settings for the next five years have been tabled in Parliament, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. “The Commission provides advice on the ETS annually. This is the third time the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
    The coalition Government is beginning its fight to lower building costs and reduce red tape by exempting minor building work from paying the building levy, says Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “Currently, any building project worth $20,444 including GST or more is subject to the building levy which is ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
    Proposed changes to tax legislation to prevent the over-taxation of low-earning trusts are welcome, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The changes have been recommended by Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Committee following consideration of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill. “One of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister’s Ramadan message
    Assalaamu alaikum. السَّلَام عليكم In light of the holy month of Ramadan, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our Muslim community in New Zealand. Ramadan is a time for spiritual reflection, renewed devotion, perseverance, generosity, and forgiveness.  It’s a time to strengthen our bonds and appreciate the diversity ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister appoints new NZTA Chair
    Former Transport Minister and CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Hon Simon Bridges has been appointed as the new Board Chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) for a three-year term, Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced today. “Simon brings extensive experience and knowledge in transport policy and governance to the role. He will ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
    Good morning all, it is a pleasure to be here as Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology.  It is fantastic to see how connected and collaborative the life science and biotechnology industry is here in New Zealand. I would like to thank BioTechNZ and NZTech for the invitation to address ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
    Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says he is looking forward to the day when three key water projects in Northland are up and running, unlocking the full potential of land in the region. Mr Jones attended a community event at the site of the Otawere reservoir near Kerikeri on Friday. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
    Associate Finance Minister David Seymour has today announced that the Government has agreed to restore deductibility for mortgage interest on residential investment properties. “Help is on the way for landlords and renters alike. The Government’s restoration of interest deductibility will ease pressure on rents and simplify the tax code,” says ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
    Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will travel to Switzerland today to attend an Executive Committee meeting and Symposium of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Mr Bishop will then travel on to London where he will attend a series of meetings in his capacity as Infrastructure Minister. “New Zealanders believe ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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