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Blinken and Blind-Sided?

Written By: - Date published: 2:54 pm, January 16th, 2022 - 17 comments

Russian peacekeepers are already leaving Kazakhstan having nipped the ‘colour revolution’ in the bud. Blinken clearly didn’t have a clue when he said Russians never leave the house. Russian intelligence was superb. Now we wait for Russia’s response to US likely refusal to pull back from its borders. One thing I’d bet on – no invasion of Ukraine.

The US withdraws from Afghanistan and the inevitable happened

Written By: - Date published: 9:57 pm, November 29th, 2021 - Comments Off on The US withdraws from Afghanistan and the inevitable happened

The withdrawal in August of US and allied troops from Afghanistan saw the return of the Taliban in control of that country. This sadly was always going to be the outcome once the US and its allies withdrew.

The Top 20 Biggest U.S. Military Interventions, Best to Worst

Written By: - Date published: 10:39 am, August 31st, 2021 - 76 comments

With the last flights coming out of Kabul, it’s time to review whether this US attitude to the world is a good idea.

Women, the Taliban and sex based rights

Written By: - Date published: 10:38 am, August 16th, 2021 - 66 comments

What is being done to women in Afghanistan by the Taliban is sex-based oppression.

The United States Retreat from Afghanistan

Written By: - Date published: 6:30 am, August 16th, 2021 - 140 comments

President Biden is about to get a Jimmy Carter-scale shellacking with tv footage coming of Afghani Taleban going through Kabul and in short days rifling through the U.S. Embassy as they finally take over the entire country. You don’t win re-election with defeats and withdrawals, and you won’t be thanked for it in the mid-term Senatorial races either.

New Zealand Service in Afghanistan Concludes

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, March 17th, 2021 - 44 comments

Did New Zealand military forces do good in Afghanistan?

Operation Burnham: A disorganised cover-up?

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.”

Hong Kong principles

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.

Afghanistan pushes the US out

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.

That 1914 Feeling

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.

Trump sacks Bolton – oil price nosedives!

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.

Government under FiveEyes

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.

 

Trump meets Putin

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.

Still in Denial.

Written By: - Date published: 9:12 am, April 4th, 2018 - 46 comments

General Tim Keating’s resignation.

Nicky Hager: Defence admits raid was located in same area as described in Hit and Run

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.”

Middle East Changes

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?

Legal action on “Hit and Run” deaths

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.

What are our SAS up to? An easy to digest guide!

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’

“Ongoing cover-up” on Operation Burnham

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.”

Brownlee lying to the UN over Operation Burnham

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.

UN calls for investigation into Operation Burnham

Written By: - Date published: 1:59 pm, June 9th, 2017 - 23 comments

Well well. What will you do now Bill?

Hager Hit & Run and NZ’s Asian wars

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.

NZDF changes story on Operation Burnham photos

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.

The NZDF’s transparent fig leaf

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.

Duck and Cover

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.

Big Barrel Bomb

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.

Mediawatch on Hit and Run

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.

Small on the Nats’ Key deficit on Hit and Run

Written By: - Date published: 7:53 am, April 6th, 2017 - 24 comments

Vernon Small thinks the B Team is missing Key.

The truth will out

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.

Land of the long white wash

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.)

The NZDF will never clear its name – and neither will Bill English

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.

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