Written By: - Date published: 9:03 pm, July 31st, 2020 - 13 comments
A justified operation, no organised cover-up, but serious failures in senior defence personnel’s denial and misrepresentation, and serious failures by the intelligence agencies in handing over a suspect to torture. The Inquiry called for a review of Defence administration, an Inspector-General of Defence, a Defence Force order on dealing with allegations of civilian casualties, and an “effective detention policy.”
Written By: - Date published: 9:49 pm, July 28th, 2020 - 38 comments
According to our Prime Minister, today’s announcement that New Zealand is suspending extradition arrangements with Hong Kong is because of our principles. But it is not immediately clear what these principles are, other than falling into line with our Five Eyes spying partners. Some history is important.
Written By: - Date published: 7:26 am, March 4th, 2020 - 16 comments
I have really no idea who to cheer for about the Afghanistan peace
agreement. If the Taliban were the answer, it was a pretty fucking
stupid question.
Written By: - Date published: 10:28 pm, January 3rd, 2020 - 104 comments
President Trump personally ordered the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani, head of Iran’s elite military Quds force. He was killed by rockets fired from US drones over Baghdad Airport. This is unlawful by any standards, as well as an act of war. Iran has promised retaliation.The doomsday clock just moved closer to midnight.
Written By: - Date published: 7:01 am, September 11th, 2019 - 26 comments
This has been rumoured for some time now. It’s good news – peace now has a chance, as Trump has woken up to the fact that a shooting war would not be good for his re-election. Also Bolton’s hard-line strategy was failing everywhere.
Written By: - Date published: 9:48 pm, June 7th, 2019 - 11 comments
Australian Federal Police chief Neil Gaughan told media after raiding the ABC that “if police did not investigate the leaking of classified information, Australia would no longer be entrusted by FiveEyes partners with intelligence that saves lives.” FiveEyes didn’t save Muslim lives in Christchurch.
Written By: - Date published: 9:03 am, July 16th, 2018 - 116 comments
Some things that President Trump won’t do as when meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki.
Written By: - Date published: 9:12 am, April 4th, 2018 - 46 comments
General Tim Keating’s resignation.
Written By: - Date published: 5:05 am, March 14th, 2018 - 24 comments
“I believe that the impulse to hide the NZDF’s mistakes led the Chief of Defence Force knowingly to mislead the media and the public.”
Written By: - Date published: 1:58 pm, August 27th, 2017 - 70 comments
If there is a change of Government what should Labour do about requests for military assistance in the Middle East?
Written By: - Date published: 8:40 am, August 19th, 2017 - 10 comments
Lawyers for the villagers in the area allegedly hit in Operation Burnham are taking the Government to court over its refusal to hold an independent inquiry. English responds with some particularly vile spin.
Written By: - Date published: 2:18 pm, August 15th, 2017 - 8 comments
A short video looking at the major issues in the Hager/Stephenson book ‘Hit and Run’
Written By: - Date published: 8:11 am, July 9th, 2017 - 14 comments
David Fisher in The Herald exposes yet another NZDF “error” on Operation Burnham. Intelligence analyst Dr Paul Buchanan: “I’m absolutely certain that what we’re seeing is part of the ongoing cover-up.”
Written By: - Date published: 6:36 am, June 12th, 2017 - 18 comments
The UN called for an investigation into Operation Burnham. Very inconvenient for the Nats who would rather sweep any dead civilians under the carpet and forget them. So naturally Gerry Brownlee responds with a lie.
Written By: - Date published: 1:59 pm, June 9th, 2017 - 23 comments
Well well. What will you do now Bill?
Written By: - Date published: 8:23 pm, June 5th, 2017 - 13 comments
Nicky Hager will talk about his book Hit and Run, and the issues it raises about New Zealand’s values and role in the world at 5:30pm on Wednesday 7th June at Connolly Hall, Guildford Terrace, Wellington. The book is about important events and the incoherence of New Zealand fighting it’s longest ever war in Central Asia. This talk is particularly timely in view of this week’s visit of the American Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson.
Written By: - Date published: 12:57 pm, May 13th, 2017 - 10 comments
Why did the NZDF wrongly claim that there were no photographs of the mission? Intelligence analyst Dr Paul Buchanan has a suggestion.
Written By: - Date published: 7:23 am, April 23rd, 2017 - 18 comments
According to David Fisher (Herald) the NZDF never investigated allegations of civilian deaths at the time of Operation Burnham. They received only a summary of the whitewash ISAF report. They refuse to look further. This is the behaviour of an organisation with plenty to hide. Hager and Stephenson have facts, the NZDF are hiding behind a transparent fig leaf of deliberate ignorance.
Written By: - Date published: 9:00 am, April 16th, 2017 - 89 comments
Donald Trump is engaged in some over the top brinkmanship with North Korea which is increasing the prospects of at least a limited exchange of nuclear weapons.
Written By: - Date published: 3:40 pm, April 14th, 2017 - 81 comments
Firstly, remember how you’re meant to feel about even the mere accusation of the use of barrel bombs. Now put those feelings aside.
Written By: - Date published: 9:17 am, April 10th, 2017 - 77 comments
“Has the meaning of book Hit and Run been obscured by all the claims and counter-claims in the media?” – Yes of course it has, and that is a deliberate strategy on the part of people who are desperate to avoid an inquiry.
Written By: - Date published: 7:53 am, April 6th, 2017 - 24 comments
Vernon Small thinks the B Team is missing Key.
Written By: - Date published: 9:07 am, April 5th, 2017 - 93 comments
English can squirm and deny, but according to Stephenson there is more Hit and Run to come.
Written By: - Date published: 7:03 am, April 4th, 2017 - 89 comments
In ruling out an inquiry Bill English insults both our intelligence and our integrity. Next stop the International Criminal Court? (Alas the title is not mine, take a bow Finlay MacDonald.)
Written By: - Date published: 7:03 am, April 3rd, 2017 - 154 comments
It’s likely that some time this week Bill English will announce that there will be no inquiry into operation Burnham. The NZDF will lose any opportunity to clear its name. Fronting up to the truth, whatever it may be, is better than the perception of a shabby coverup.
Update: And there it is – no inquiry.
Written By: - Date published: 7:44 am, March 31st, 2017 - 57 comments
Worst piece of “journalism” on Hit and Run so far.
Update: To their credit, as of 11am this piece of nonsense seems to have vanished from The Herald website.
Written By: - Date published: 12:26 pm, March 30th, 2017 - 45 comments
Mapp: “Part of protecting their reputation is also finding out what happened, particularly if there is an allegation that civilian casualties may have been accidentally caused. In that way we both honour the soldiers, and also demonstrate to the Afghans that we hold ourselves to the highest ideals of respect of life, even in circumstances of military conflict.”
Written By: - Date published: 1:19 pm, March 29th, 2017 - 36 comments
It appears that the questioned NZDF attack took place at the location claimed by the force, but hit the villages named by the book (coordinates used by various parties are off by 2km).
Written By: - Date published: 8:11 am, March 27th, 2017 - 80 comments
There were several significant developments on Hit and Run and the NZDF over the weekend. Which version of the NZDF story is it that Bill English backs 100%?
Written By: - Date published: 12:55 pm, March 24th, 2017 - 67 comments
Bill English should stop being evasive and just get on with an inquiry into the fiasco outlined in Hit and Run. The latest developments make any other outcome ridiculous. The longer English delays the worse he looks.
Written By: - Date published: 5:33 pm, March 22nd, 2017 - 84 comments
Good on you Wayne. Hit just got real.
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