War Begets War

Written By: - Date published: 9:49 am, January 19th, 2015 - 75 comments
Categories: International, religion - Tags: , , ,

challenging piece on Scoop yesterday by Ramzy Baroud:

War Begets War: It’s Not about Islam; It Never Was

It is still not about Islam, even if the media and militants attacking western targets say so. Actually, it never was. But it was important for many to conflate politics with religion; partly because it is convenient and self-validating.

While much violence happens across the world in the name of Christianity, Judaism, even Buddhism in Burma and Sri Lanka, rarely do entire collectives get stigmatized by the media. Yet, all Muslims are held directly or otherwise accountable by many, even if a criminal who happened to be a Muslim went out on a violent rampage. Yes, he may still be designated as a “lone wolf”, but one can be almost certain that Muslims and Islam somehow become relevant to the media debate afterwards.

When a Muslim in Brazil or Libya reacts to a hostage crisis in Sydney, Australia, condemning violence on behalf of Islam, and frantically attempting to defend Islam and disown militancy, and so on, the question is, why? Why does the media make Muslims feel accountable for anything carried out in the name of Islam, even by some deranged person? Why are members of other religions not held to the same standards? Why aren’t Swedish Christians asked to explain and apologize for the behavior of Uganda’s Lord’s Resistance Army, or Argentinean Jews to explain the daily, systematic violence and terror carried out by Jewish extremists in Jerusalem and the West Bank?

Islam is not just a religion, but a way of life. By demonizing Islam, you demonize everything associated with it, including, of course, Muslims.

Is it not possible that Muslims are angered by something much more subtle and profound than Charlie Hebdo’s tasteless art?  Avoiding the answer is likely to delay a serious attempt at finding a solution, which must start with the end of western interventionism in the Middle East.

The day before, the New York Times ran this excellent piece, a background on the Charlie Hebdo attackers and some of the events that unfolded. It begins:

In the year after the United States’ invasion of Iraq, a 22-year-old pizza delivery man here couldn’t take it anymore. Sickened by images of American soldiers humiliating Muslims at the Abu Ghraib prison, he made plans to go fight United States forces.

War begets war. It’s a pretty simple message.

75 comments on “War Begets War ”

  1. Kiwiri - Raided of the Last Shark 1

    War begets war – agree.

    “Hate is not conquered by hate.
    “Hate is conquered by love.
    “This is the eternal rule.”

  2. Ad 2

    On the one hand the writer of the article asks:
    “Can Swedish Christians be held accountable for the Ugandan Lord’s Rsidtance Army?”
    But on the other hand he concludes that the shootings of the Charlie journalists were caused by “collective feelings of hurt and humiliation.”

    Clearly the Muslim extremist shooters felt common accountability.

    The “collective feelings of humiliation” are what Osama Bin Laden wanted to inflict upon the US. Petty hard to expect rationality after that.

    • Clearly the Muslim extremist shooters felt common accountability.

      Yes. Apologists for the shooters seem to accept the idea of collective responsibility when it comes to terrorists holding everybody in western democracies personally and directly accountable with their lives for the activities of individual criminals like the ones at Abu Ghraib, but are full of dire warnings against collective responsibility when it comes to outfits like PEGIDA holding (gasp) a protest march.

      • Colonial Rawshark 2.1.1

        It’s not just a couple of one off criminal actions like that at Abu Ghraib prison. Or even Blackwater shooting up civilians around a Baghdad square.

        It is ongoing multiple official western actions like droning of civilians, like supplying munition resupplies to Israel as the IDF is killing Palestinian children, like financially and militarily supporting the most oppressive regimes in the world.

        Then there is the supplying of weapons and funds to “moderate” Syrian rebel groups and anti-Assad Muslim foreign fighters…some of whom turned out not to be so “moderate” and ended up creating ISIS.

        And of course, ISIS now has access to humvees, strykers and Abrams tanks, thanks to the USA leaving that equipment behind with the incompetent Iraqi army.

        • Ad 2.1.1.1

          So, Colonial and Psycho, do you think the tendency towards war after any outrageous violation is going to get better, or worse?

          “War begets war” is a little trite. May as well do a George Clooney and ask “why can’t everyone just get along?”

          Sometimes anger and rage is an appropriate response to a violation. What I would want to get to pretty quickly here is:

          “What are the conditions for a just war in 2015?”

          • greywarshark 2.1.1.1.1

            @ Ad
            I wonder if you are being the devil’s advocate or perhaps the devil?

          • tracey 2.1.1.1.2

            you might like to read up on anger, otherism and empathy from a hard wiring point-of-view..

          • Psycho Milt 2.1.1.1.3

            So, Colonial and Psycho, do you think the tendency towards war after any outrageous violation is going to get better, or worse?

            I tend to the view that, with the example of G. W. Bush’s egregious failures in front of them, western governments will be more reluctant to go down that path. But then, I also tend to be over-optimistic…

            “What are the conditions for a just war in 2015?”

            A UN mandate and an actual entity you can go to war with ought to be preconditions. Defeating terrorists requires police forces, not military.

            • Ad 2.1.1.1.3.1

              Agree, and I’m with the optimists.

              UN mandate would be a start.
              They’ve gone a bit tits-up sometimes but are better than nothing.

          • Colonial Rawshark 2.1.1.1.4

            So, Colonial and Psycho, do you think the tendency towards war after any outrageous violation is going to get better, or worse?

            The response to these incidents is no longer to start foreign conflicts. It is to further tighten controls and invasive mass surveillance on ordinary citizens at home.

        • Psycho Milt 2.1.1.2

          It’s not just a couple of one off criminal actions like that at Abu Ghraib prison. Or even Blackwater shooting up civilians around a Baghdad square.

          It is ongoing multiple official western actions like droning of civilians, like supplying munition resupplies to Israel as the IDF is killing Palestinian children, like financially and militarily supporting the most oppressive regimes in the world.

          OK, then let’s consider “ongoing multiple official western actions.” Are shoppers in a kosher supermarket in Paris collectively accountable with their lives for the actions of the Israeli government? Are users of the London Underground collectively accountable with their lives for the actions of the British government? And as you keep making the argument that they are, how, by your logic, can the world’s Muslims not be collectively accountable with their lives for the actions of these terrorists?

          • Colonial Rawshark 2.1.1.2.1

            What are you talking about? You talk as if Muslim civilians aren’t paying with their lives every week already, in the west’s self styled global war on terror.

            • Psycho Milt 2.1.1.2.1.1

              But that’s OK, right? Because of “their” continued attacks on “us.” If you play that argument against one side, you have to allow it against the other side. By your own logic, individual Muslims are accountable with their lives for the actions of “their” terrorists against “us”, so it’s unsurprising they’re getting killed. Hell, “we” have the capacity to kill a lot more of “them” – shouldn’t you be prodding your local MP to know why “we” in the west aren’t showing a bit more gumption in revenging ourselves on the “them” accountable for these attacks?

              • Colonial Rawshark

                No idea what kind of sick game you are playing but I’m out.

                • I’m just stating the implications of all your comments about these kinds of attacks being a natural consequence of “the west’s” attacks on Muslims. You’re implying a “collective responsibility” argument with those comments, and I’m in turn pointing out that collective responsibility cuts both ways. You may be offended by that point, but it’s a valid one.

              • Voters in a democracy are collectively responsible for what their government does – they either voted for it or had the power to vote it out. By choosing to reside as adults in a democratic society, they as individuals accept that responsibility. After all, if they really object, they are free to leave.

                • I guess there’s no point in trying to charge Blair or Bush with war crimes, then – imagine trying to imprison the entire populations of the UK and USA…

                  Which isn’t intended to be just a smartarse quip. The extent of collective responsibility for the actions of your country’s government isn’t unlimited – it certainly doesn’t extend to people annoyed at your government’s actions being allowed to kill you, which seems to be what Colonial Rawshark proposes.

      • tracey 2.1.2

        applying your logic, how does it apply to Christianity and the Army of God in the USA?

        • Psycho Milt 2.1.2.1

          Using my logic, collective responsibility is bullshit so the question doesn’t really come up.

          • Ad 2.1.2.1.1

            You’re going to struggle with nation-states as an idea then.
            Nothing against anarchists, of course, except they can be a little hard to flat with.

  3. vto 3

    If war begets war then how do we determine where the initial warmongering is, in order to stop the begetting?

    See who makes the most arms?
    See who does the most war?
    See who is in the most battles? Occupying the most countries?

    Who would that be? What should NZ’s response be to that nation?

  4. George Hendry 4

    @ Ad 🙂 –

    “Can Swedish Christians be held accountable for the Ugandan Lord’s Rsidtance Army?”

    Anthony didn’t type that. Your hasty typing without proofreading, I’d say.

    I would also suggest less haste and more research before retailing the idea that only Osama Bin Laden (the one we are told we must believe in) wanted to inflict humiliation on the whole US. As with climate change, the 9/11 science is now in ( for overwhelming evidence, simply type in ‘9/11 truth’, ‘pilots for 9/11 truth,’ or ‘engineers for 9/11 truth’ ) and only remains debated due to an extremely well resourced disinformation campaign.

    • Ad 4.1

      Quote was from the linked article. Your lack of attention I’d say.

      Re 9:11: Micro conspiracies irrelevant to global narrative.

      Have a go at my actual points.

      • Colonial Rawshark 4.1.1

        Re 9:11: Micro conspiracies irrelevant to global narrative.

        Not sure how you can say that as three major wars (incl iraq and afghanistan) were initiated using 9/11 as justification.The third war initiated being the so-called “global war on terror.”

        Seems fairly relevant to the global narrative.

        • Ad 4.1.1.1

          Global narratives are important. Agreed. States drive and are driven by them.

          Conspiratorial alternatives to them: not so much.

  5. Truth Will Out 5

    The answer is simple:

    Because the “war on terror” is a lie, and the mass confusion in societies about who is to blame for it is the result of people being unable to reconcile the ethical and moral dilemmas it creates, when an entire (massive) group of people are being blamed for the actions of a tiny handful of extremists, while profoundly selective morality ensures that the same destructive and violent behaviour demonstrated by individuals leading other groups and nations goes completely unchallenged.

    I repeat, the “war on terror” is a lie.

    It is being fought for intellectually and ideologically dishonest reasons.

    The public in most countries are flat-out being lied to by international bankers and their politicians about the real reasons why it is happening.

    The whole thing is being done with smoke and mirrors, leading to the ongoing ethical and moral dilemmas as mass confusion.

    The sooner those behind the scenes who are pulling all the strings and profiting from it all are exposed for the evil scumbags they are, the faster the world will know peace.

    History proves that the same financiers and their corporations financed virtually every side of World War 2.

    History is repeating itself because we haven’t learned from it.

    War is highly profitable.

    Land / territory / religion / patriotism are always the lies and excuses.

    But power and control over the masses, as well as profit, are ALWAYS the real motives.

    Wake……up…….people.

    • Ad 5.1

      If everyone woke up, would the shootings in Paris not have happened?

      • Truth Will Out 5.1.1

        @Ad

        If your parents had known how you would turn out, would they have chosen birth control?

        • Ad 5.1.1.1

          You asked people to wake up. Wake up to what? What new reality have you offered?
          Answer your question.

          • Truth Will Out 5.1.1.1.1

            @Ad

            I didn’t ask a question – you did.

            And it was a profoundly stupid, empty, rhetorical question at that, which was thoroughly deserving of the response it was given.

            • Ad 5.1.1.1.1.1

              What was profoundly stupid was your original contribution, which was a series of vacuous arm-wavings, cliches and shouty rhetoric, like Stryper covering an AC/DC version of War What Is It Good For. Fact free ranting from a cliff top ranting moist-eyed teenager crying off a U2 song sheet, and easily datable to 1990 and the first Desert War.
              There’s a loss of truth in war? Really? People make money off it? Really? Astounding! There’s smoke and mirrors – oh – everywhere. And the US! And them Cor-porations! Oh power! Agony! It’s hurting – all this badness, all this badness everywhere. It’s just So Bad.
              Wait! There’s more power over there! And The Masses! They’re Eveywhere! All of them! Massing!
              And the power! There’s power everywhere! I can’t control it! And wait! There’s ethical dilemmas as well!
              Give me a break from your foppish, preening, vacuous weeping like some helpless little kitten in the unforgiving mouth of Bad Mr Reality.

              And then I woke up. It was all a dream! Oh thank god for that.

              • Truth Will Out

                @Ad

                If you believe the war on terror is so necessary why aren’t you on the front line now risking your own life?

                Your rant was so disturbing it reveals the need for psychiatric intervention, you are seriously scary.

                All it proved was that birth control would have been the sensible option in your parents’ case instead of inflicting you on the world like they did.

                Seriously, get some help, you are insane to the degree that I would suggest society needs protecting from you more than anyone else.

                • In Vino

                  Strangely enough, I agree… When the Soviet Russia dissolved, I thought to myself: Who is the next deadly external enemy? USA had to have a new external enemy after World War 2, so Truman went to Congress with the avowed intention of scaring the pants off them… and we got the cold war. The US survives internally by having an external enemy, so yes, I am a little cynical about how this whole war on supposed terror (who would have thought that some cloaked terrorists could replace the entire super-power USSR? – yet they have) got generated in the first place, and about how it gets prolonged.

                  I will bet you one thing: Should we suddenly win the War on Terror, there will very soon be a whole new catastrophe, and a whole new dangerous enemy, semi-external at least.

                  A bit like Snowball in Animal Farm.

        • Murray Rawshark 5.1.1.2

          That is a prick of a question. We can do without that sort of garbage.

  6. Some people and countries are so empty inside that they have to define themselves by what they are not. And so enemies become necessary and must be found or created.

  7. Colonial Rawshark 7

    Lack of political process means US airstrikes against ISIS are helping ISIS recruitment

    Tribal leaders who helped the US previously in 2007 and gained nothing with the Baghdad government now reluctant to help the US again.

    http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/18/lack-politial-process-iraq-renders-us-coalition-bombs-grave-mistake

    • Ad 7.1

      Similar dynamic to Wole Soyinka’s “A Season of Anomie” of a previous post -colonial era.

      • Pascals bookie 7.1.1

        It’s how things pretty much always play out.

        -Terrorist event aimed at provoking a reaction.

        -Escalation of the conflict.

        -Propaganda war over who is really to blame for the conflict, if the terrorists can convince their people that terrorism was an understandable option given what ‘we’ are suffering, then they are winning. They don’t even need ‘approval’, just to be hated less than the ‘oppressor’.

        -If the terrorist group can endure long enough such that the state(s) can no longer maintain the conflict, they get a negotiated solution.

        • Ad 7.1.1.1

          Precisely.

          What makes this dynamic somewhat harder is currently there is no single Islamic terrorist group to negotiate with. Not an impossible hurdle at all.

          It’s where some of the at-risk nation states can have a useful role in the next few years: enabling a bundling of fringe Islamic groups into coherence. Plenty have done it in decades past.

          Some prefer the fantasy of perpetual conflict because it fulfills ideological impulses. Most don’t.

    • That makes sense, after 100 years of Sykes Picot the benefits of being an agent of imperialism doesnt guarantee a decent share of the booty.
      So if you’re going to get overthrown anyway why not follow the lead of Israel and take someone else’s land by force and set up a theocratic state.
      That way your agent’s fee becomes the landlords rent. And more than that you can ape your former Western masters and exploit the land, labour and valuable resources on your own account.
      Like the Algerian war, the terrorism of parcel bombs was always the poor persons
      answer to the terrorism of aerial bombs.
      But this was never the answer because without the armed masses in control the generals always sold out and went back on their masters payroll.
      The disproportion of aerial and parcel bombs is the recipe for ongoing mutual destruction.
      The international working class has to redress this balance by smashing the imperialist military machines at home and abroad.
      When the aerial bombs stop falling, the parcel bombs will also cease.
      Class war is the only just war.

      • In Vino 7.2.1

        Yes, but too few have any sense of class, and the majority of those who do are oppressors.

      • A Voter 7.2.2

        The west should leave the middle east alone to sort out its shit
        Israel should be cut off from western support and then it will have to deal on its own with its neighbours
        Its their problem to sort out if they are going to fight amongst themselves so be it
        What has the west got to offer another Vietnam mind their own business and let the middle east establish their own sovereignty
        how stupid of us not recognise the west’s intervention has always been a fuck up
        Leave it alone the fuckin oil will still be there when its all over
        And all the sanctimonious bullshit can stay with a collapse on Wall st for living off the basket case they created
        Its like the 67 war the outcome was in the middle east its not for us in the west to decide who stays in power its for them to decide
        Geo Bush was a cunt and Cheney as well how many years of trouble since
        Are we going to perpetuate a situation that is really none of our business

  8. Why does the media make Muslims feel accountable for anything carried out in the name of Islam, even by some deranged person?

    The Jerusalem Post is hardly “the media” and can be assumed to have an agenda when covering this kind of story. I haven’t noticed “the media” trying to make Muslims feel accountable for anything carried out in the name of Islam. Muslims aren’t accountable for terrorist attacks at all, except in the sense that they’re supporters of the same ideology as the terrorists. If you’re a Marxist, you’re not accountable for anything Sendero Luminoso or the CPSU got up to, but you might want to have a think about why your ideology turns out repressive, ruthless totalitarian regimes anywhere it gains a foothold.

    Islam is not just a religion, but a way of life.

    Well, yes, exactly. It’s a way of life fundamentally and utterly opposed to post-enlightenment western society, starting from its name “Submit” and working up from there all the way to predestination.

    By demonizing Islam, you demonize everything associated with it, including, of course, Muslims.

    What fucking demonising? If I think fascism and communism are hideous totalitarian ideologies and the people who adopt them must be seriously deluded, I haven’t demonised anybody. I’m happy to hang out with fascists and communists, because at the individual level of personal interaction, ideology counts for shit. Same with Muslims, the ones I’ve met have generally been OK blokes and blokesses.

    • Well, yes, exactly. It’s a way of life fundamentally and utterly opposed to post-enlightenment western society, starting from its name “Submit” and working up from there all the way to predestination.

      How so? The society we actually live in rests on the idea that everyone has some sort of right to believe in whatever mindless nonsense they want to (climate denial, anti vaxxer BS, libertarianism). It’s a bit rich for a society that has abolished truth in this way to start lecturing other people about being unreasonable…

      • Psycho Milt 8.1.1

        What would be fundamentally opposed to a society that has “abolished truth,” as you put it? Well, one that mandated truth, for a start.

      • Colonial Rawshark 8.1.2

        Again with the “anti-vaxxer” descrimination.

        What are you going to do, have the government routinely force people to accept medical procedures without their consent?

        Think about it.

        • The Murphey 8.1.2.1

          Q. Do you believe there is much chance of thinking about it by those who make such statements ?

          Such statements are the antithesis of thought

          • Colonial Rawshark 8.1.2.1.1

            Not much to do with science or critical thinking at times; more to do with a moralistic belief on autopilot…after all, RESPONSIBLE parents ALWAYS vaccinate their kids, no valid questions can be asked…

            • The Murphey 8.1.2.1.1.1

              Despite the understood and accepted fraud and corruption of any and every industry sector for profit that could be named somehow the industry of science is free of fraudulent and corrupt activity

              Quite the blind spot in thought I would say

  9. Interesting Listener editorial this week: “Days of Shock“. It reminds us of some atrocities around the world crying out for intervention:

    Even in distant New Zealand, the argument that it’s not our fight starts to wear thin when the Pakistani Taliban is slaughtering schoolchildren, Boko Haram is on a murderous rampage in Nigeria and Islamic State jihadists are indulging in genocide in Iraq and Syria. Common humanity demands that when governments are incapable of defeating such malevolent forces on their own, other nations must do whatever they can to help.

    But then it admits that unilateral invasion is unlikely to work, where the conflicts are rooted in deep seated cultural problems

    There are no easy solutions. Arguments over freedom of speech and protest will never be satisfactorily resolved – although, as New Zealand forcefully stressed at the time of the fatal Rainbow Warrior attack, violence is never the right response.

    In the absence of any greater clarity, perhaps the world should draw hope from small things – such as the bravery of Muslim supermarket employee Lassana Bathily, who shepherded Jewish customers to a room safe from the Paris gunman. One human being risking his life to save others of another religion, later saying, “We are all brothers. It’s not a question of Jews, Christians or Muslims.” That should be the enduring and uplifting memory from three days that shocked the world.

  10. tracey 10

    Orwell knew how to cut through the BS.

    “War against a foreign country only happens when the moneyed classes think they are going to profit from it”

    • A couple more quotes:

      I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism.
      – Maj. Gen. Smedley Butler (highest ranking & most decorated US Marine) 1935.

      The enemy aggressor is always pursuing a course of larceny, murder, rapine and barbarism. We are always moving forward with high mission, a destiny imposed by the Deity to regenerate our victims, while “incidentally” capturing their markets; to civilise savage and senile and paranoid peoples, while blundering “accidentally” into their oil wells.
      – John T. Flynn, conservative American author, 1944.

      • Pascals bookie 10.1.1

        Here’s some on terrorism:

        “They turn young men into assassins. But what can one do… A Sect cannot be destroyed by cannonballs.” – Napoleon

        “We must spread our principles, not with words but with deeds, for this is the most popular, the most potent and the most irresistible form of propaganda” – Bukunin

        “One does not use a tank to catch field mice- a cat will do the job much better” – George Grivas-Doghenis, (a leader in the Cypriot nationalist EOKA)

        “Most revolutions are not caused by revolutionaries, but by the stupidity and brutality of the governments” – Sean MacStiofain (Provo IRA chief of staff)

        “Terrorism wins only if you respond to it in the way the terrorists want you to; which means that it’s fate is in your hands and not in theirs” – (Historian) David Fromkin

        “In order to get anywhere, you have to step over a lot of dead bodies” – Ilich Ramirez Sanchez (Carlos the Jackal)

        “Terrorists want a lot of people watching and a lot of people listening, not a lot of people dead” and “Terrorism is theater” – Brian Jenkins

        “Terrorism is not the work of madmen or devils, and to try to get to grips with it on those terms is to fight it with a very mistaken concept of who one’s enemies are and how and why they are supported.” – Andrew Silke (terrorism academic at University of East London)

        “Embracing the caricatures which often pass as explanations for the causes of terrorism facilitates only embracing the caricatures which pass for effective responses. Amid the carnage and rubble of atrocity, we must not allow ourselves the luxury of a simple and demonized foe. ” -Andrew Silke

      • tracey 10.1.2

        Thanks for these additions… others say stuff so much better than me.

    • In Vino 10.2

      +1

  11. A Voter 12

    It seems that historical justification for religious action is all too often sighted as reason and not an excuse or a perversion of the quite often complicated historical truth of how action taken now reflects to the past events which supposedly have led to the present outcomes
    That said the news media and govt departments directed by the governing party’s political policy boffins who sign this country up to the super powers by bypassing true democratic process in the house by ensuring that a conscience is of no value in deciding the overseas commitments of this country’s armed forces and diplomatic personnel but a process of tagging onto the US and Europe for economic stability and monetary favour that we supposedly need still
    The UN is sadly lacking in its ability to get the now great powers to make a firm commitment to world peace
    Nth Korea the islamic extremists ,the pirates of the worlds resources of which the whole of the worlds business community is responsible for and the powers of the US Europe China India Japan and UK to thwart most efforts made to control the madness that we accept as being progress .
    America still holds the worlds production to ransom by the power it has over copyright and patent of so much produced in other countries as does Europe and Britain . If you think not just look at fast foods and go from there
    We are small and insignificant country when looked at from overseas which democracy shows us by the govt we have, one that is like a sheep that will feel safe with its masters even up till it gets its throat cut
    So are we going to change or should our new flag just have a sheep on it

  12. Colonial Rawshark 13

    ISIS triples/quadruples territory in Syria since US airstrikes began

    What the hell…?

    http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2015-01-18/islamic-state-has-more-tripled-its-territory-syria-us-started-airstrikes

    • Clemgeopin 13.1

      That is quite astounding!

      It says,
      “More than three months of U.S. airstrikes in Syria have failed to prevent Islamic State militants from expanding their control in that country, according to U.S. and independent assessments, raising new concerns about President Barack Obama’s military strategy in the Middle East.

      While U.S. bombing runs and missile strikes have put Islamic State forces on the defensive in Iraq, they haven’t had the same kind of impact in Syria. Instead, jihadist fighters have enlarged their hold in Syria!

      The advancement of ISIS is in SYRIA, not Iraq.

      I wonder if the US has a deliberate strategy here to put Assad on the back foot some more!

      • @Clemgeopin: I wonder if the US has a deliberate strategy here

        Quite possibly:

        The chaos now enveloping the region might, in fact, be the desired aim of policy planners in Washington and Tel Aviv. One of the prime goals of every empire is to foment ongoing internecine conflict in the territories whose resources and/or strategic outposts they covet.

        • Clemgeopin 13.1.1.1

          The link you gave is very interesting reading!

        • Colonial Rawshark 13.1.1.2

          Assad going isolates Iran and Russia further. Pressure on the Russian economy and fomenting political disturbances in the Ukraine also serves to throw the Ruskies on the back foot. The US is not keen to see strong competitors emerge on the world stage.

          • ropata:rorschach 13.1.1.2.1

            Zerohedge can drop the odd clanger but their machiavellian interpretation of US foreign policy makes sense.

            • Colonial Rawshark 13.1.1.2.1.1

              I know nadis hates ZeroHedge, and sometimes there is some real neoliberal drivel, but some of their big picture stuff is really very good. And funny. Power, money and resources are to be taken seriously and they do, in their analysis.

  13. newsense 14

    Been trying to track down a clip of:

    Prince: Romeo slew Tybalt, he slew Mercutio
    Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?

  14. Clemgeopin 15

    After reading this article, I listened to this song as it was playing in my mind:

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

    “Imagine”

    Imagine there’s no heaven
    It’s easy if you try
    No hell below us
    Above us only sky
    Imagine all the people
    Living for today…

    Imagine there’s no countries
    It isn’t hard to do
    Nothing to kill or die for
    And no religion too
    Imagine all the people
    Living life in peace…

    You may say I’m a dreamer
    But I’m not the only one
    I hope someday you’ll join us
    And the world will be as one

    Imagine no possessions
    I wonder if you can
    No need for greed or hunger
    A brotherhood of man
    Imagine all the people
    Sharing all the world…

    You may say I’m a dreamer
    But I’m not the only one
    I hope someday you’ll join us
    And the world will live as one

    • Forgive my cynicism, but sadly Lennon failed to imagine a world free of famines, pestilence and sociopaths spreading misery far and wide.

      The song could be a manifesto for communism, anarchism, or even liberal Christianity. I guess like all great art there’s a lot of scope for interpretation.

  15. A Voter 16

    yeah play that alot

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    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    59 mins ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    5 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    7 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    8 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    10 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    21 hours ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    1 day ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    1 day ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    1 day ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    1 day ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    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
    3 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    4 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
    5 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
    5 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
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • AT Need To Lift Their Game
    Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
    6 days ago
  • Christopher's Whopper.
    Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days 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
    3 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
    5 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
    6 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
    19 hours 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
    23 hours 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 ...
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    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
    5 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
    7 days 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
  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
    This year’s Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity and the contribution of Pacific communities to New Zealand culture, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti.  Dr Reti announced dates for the 2024 Pacific Language Weeks during a visit to the Pasifika festival in Auckland today and says there’s so ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 week ago

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