afghanistan

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Towards a metric for Prime Ministerial decision-making

Written By: - Date published: 10:37 am, August 21st, 2012 - 72 comments

So, a pre-planned trip to watch a son’s baseball and a week’s holiday in the States is more important than attending 2 soldiers’ funerals. But attending 3 soldiers’ funerals outranks attending the Pacific Island Forum attended by the region’s leaders. A question for the reader: how many Little League games beats a pull aside with Julia Gillard on boat people?

Another dark day for NZ in Afghanistan

Written By: - Date published: 7:48 am, August 20th, 2012 - 220 comments

3 New Zealand soldiers have been killed by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. 5 dead in a fortnight. That’s a big cost. All in the same area of Bamiyan Province. John Key has used American chickenhawk language saying “we won’t cut and run”. Actually, we’re leaving in 2013 anyway. The question is whether its worth the cost of hanging around another year.

Three more Kiwi deaths in Afghanistan

Written By: - Date published: 7:36 am, August 20th, 2012 - 84 comments

The media is reporting that three more Kiwi soldiers have been killed in a bomb attack in Afghanistan.

Our hearts go out to their family and friends.

NRT: Not worth it

Written By: - Date published: 2:45 pm, August 6th, 2012 - 133 comments

I/S at No Right Turn on the latest Kiwi deaths in Afghanistan.

NoRightTurn: Election choices

Written By: - Date published: 11:16 am, October 26th, 2011 - 6 comments

I/S looks at two dividing lines between left and right that may help your choice in a month’s time. The first is Afghanistan. Labour has promised to bring the SAS home within 90 days. National won’t commit to withdrawing. The second is water: National wants more subsidies to polluters; Labour and the Greens want businesses to pay for their use of public resources.

Cameron cancels Key photo-op

Written By: - Date published: 7:06 pm, October 24th, 2011 - 16 comments

David Cameron has cancelled his planned trip to Japan and New Zealand. He is facing a backbench revolt over European Union membership at the same time as he is trying to intervene in the crucial financial summit trying to sort out problems in the Euro zone on Wednesday. Oh well, one less photo op for John Key – perhaps its just as well as Britain’s future isn’t getting brighter.

Amnesty International: Arrest Bush for war crimes

Written By: - Date published: 10:30 am, October 13th, 2011 - 22 comments

Perhaps Mr Key’s staff might like to explain to him what the implications of this development, in conjunction with the recent UN Report on NZ SAS rendering prisoners in Afghanistan and the housing of CIA operations at NZDF bases, might mean for the PM. Amnesty International (London) has issued a call to Canadian authorities to arrest […]

NoRightTurn: SAS prisoners tortured?

Written By: - Date published: 11:30 am, October 12th, 2011 - 5 comments

When an armed force takes prisoners in a war, they have a responsibility to ensure that the prisoners are treated according to international law – eg they aren’t tortured. Are the prisoners our SAS takes being tortured? The Defence Minister says ‘dunno’. Not good enough. If our soldiers are delivering prisoners to torturers, that’s a war-crime.

Key’s ‘Honour’

Written By: - Date published: 11:59 am, September 30th, 2011 - 41 comments

John Key says we must stay in Afghanistan to honour the dead, leaving us to wonder who’ll be the last to die for a mistake. But he’s shown before that war is not about principles, or people’s lives to him – he’s quite happy to exchange (other people’s) blood for money: It’s not what’s right, […]

Their deaths, Key’s PR

Written By: - Date published: 8:22 pm, September 29th, 2011 - 22 comments

Key says we have to leave men in Afghanistan, killing and dying, to “honour” the ones we’ve lost. Typical chickenhawk bullshit. This isn’t about ‘tearism’ or ‘Afghanistanians’ or ‘honour’. It’s all about PR. All about politics. Before Smith’s even in the ground, this arsehole Key is spinning his death for PR. Just like Pike River. Just like the earthquake dead.

Key’s lies getting our soldiers killed

Written By: - Date published: 2:35 pm, September 29th, 2011 - 12 comments

We have been lied to by our Prime Minister. He told us the SAS was going to Afghanistan to train government soldiers. 10% casualties (2 deaths, 2 injuries) in 3 months makes it clear we’re fighting on the frontline for one side in a civil war. Trying to justify our losses and that the SAS wants to be there are not reasons to stay. The Jackel takes up the story.

Dying for a mistake

Written By: - Date published: 6:56 pm, September 28th, 2011 - 14 comments

John Kerry, when he was spokesperson for Vietnam Veterans against the War, asked a Senate Committee: “How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?” That question confronts us now, as we learn another New Zealand soldier has been killed in Afghanistan. I/S at NoRightTurn says it all on this waste of life.

Another Kiwi death in Afghanistan

Written By: - Date published: 6:38 pm, September 28th, 2011 - 18 comments

Time to bring all Kiwi soldiers in Afghanistan home.

Khan: Afghanistan War can’t build peace

Written By: - Date published: 12:21 pm, September 26th, 2011 - 22 comments

Guyon Espiner interviewed Imran Khan, whose party is poised for victory in the Pakistani elections next year. He had stark words on how the Pakistani allegiance with the US during the war in Afghanistan has fueled radicalism and resistance. His message to New Zealand is: your soldiers are only making things worse. Will John Key listen?

Dulce et decorum est pro PR mori?

Written By: - Date published: 8:55 am, September 7th, 2011 - 13 comments

This post by I/S at NoRightTurn will upset some but I think it makes an important point. It’s natural to soothe the pain of a death by labeling the cause heroic. The danger is that this understandable emotional reaction becomes hijacked to justify continuing an SAS deployment that is all about currying favour with the US and was never worth a soldier’s life in the first place.

Need to know

Written By: - Date published: 11:40 am, September 3rd, 2011 - 24 comments

See Small on Hager yesterday? He’s all like “of course I knew we’re working with US intelligence but I
didn’t tell you because, duh, it’s not important”. It was the same story with the Hollow Men and the secret tape revelations. Wonder what other “unimportant” stuff journos don’t tell us in the interests of maintaining access and being part of the elite.

Hager: Other People’s Wars

Written By: - Date published: 7:15 am, September 2nd, 2011 - 73 comments

With echoes of 2002, Nicky Hager has delivered a potentially explosive book in the run up to a general election.

SAS soldier killed in Kabul

Written By: - Date published: 10:42 pm, August 19th, 2011 - 63 comments

A New Zealand SAS soldier has been killed in a suicide attack on the British Council Offices in Kabul. The reports confirm what has become apparent in recent months: the SAS aren’t training Afghanis, they’re leading the combat response to Taliban attacks in Kabul. Our sympathies with the soldier’s family. It’s past time they came home.

Key’s sickening opportunism over Norway attacks

Written By: - Date published: 12:55 pm, July 23rd, 2011 - 263 comments

The bombing and shootings in Norway overshadowed Key’s meeting with Obama. But he was quick to exploit Norway’s tragedy for political gain saying: “I think what it shows is no country large or small is immune from risk [of ‘global’ terrorism] and that’s why New Zealand plays its part in Afghanistan.” Truth is, the attacker was a rightwing Norwegian.

[Update: more than 80 dead at the camp]

Bring the SAS home

Written By: - Date published: 12:16 pm, July 5th, 2011 - 49 comments

First, Key denies the SAS were in the Kabul hotel gunfight. Then, media reveals they were there and were injured. Key admits that but denies it was friendly fire. Now, media says SAS got an apology. Key ‘can’t rule out’ friendly fire and is launching an investigation. Goff says its time for the SAS to leave Afghanistan. He’s right.

Jon Stephenson replies to critics

Written By: - Date published: 11:49 am, May 12th, 2011 - 12 comments

PM John Key attacked journalist Jon Stephenson, calling him not credible over his claims on SAS links to the torture of prisoners in Afghanistan.  Now Stephenson has replied to his critics, in detail.

Key attacks another journalist

Written By: - Date published: 8:54 am, May 5th, 2011 - 24 comments

The Nats are obviously worried about public reaction to the recent revelations on the role of the SAS in Afghanistan.  And as is usually the case when they feel threatened by a story, the Nats are striking out, trying to discredit or intimidate the source.

War Nerd on Al Qaeda

Written By: - Date published: 11:10 am, May 3rd, 2011 - 13 comments

The best US blog is eXiledonline. They’ve done huge work to expose the Tea Party and its shady backers. Their insight into the class issues underlying economic crisis both raw and diamond-sharp. And one of their writers, Gary Brecher aka the War Nerd, covers conflicts with eyes wide open. Here’s his take on Al Qaeda, coincidentally written last week:

The Guantanamo files

Written By: - Date published: 10:17 am, April 28th, 2011 - 9 comments

The Guardian has obtained a mass of files relating to detainees at America’s infamous Guantánamo Bay.  It’s an indictment of America.  But because of our SAS involvement in Afghanistan, New Zealand doesn’t exactly come out smelling of roses either.

Anzacs and Afghans

Written By: - Date published: 6:05 am, April 25th, 2011 - 43 comments

Today is the day that we remember our old soldiers.  But perhaps it should also be a day when we consider our current soldiers, and how they are being used.

SAS: torturers’ henchmen?

Written By: - Date published: 4:30 pm, April 22nd, 2011 - 113 comments

The Herald has summarised a report in the new Metro on the New Zealand SAS’s role in arresting Afghanis and handing them over for torture. Delivering prisoners for torture is as culpable an act as torture itself. It is a war crime. Everyone who wants our defence forces to be respected must demand it is purged of people who have committed these acts.

Sickening

Written By: - Date published: 11:21 am, February 21st, 2011 - 74 comments

Key has blamed a soldier being killed in Afghanistan for the limo affair. This is just an attempt by Key to protect himself from criticism by hiding behind a soldier’s death. This is just sickening. The very worst kind of politics from a man who can’t take responsibility for his actions and is happy to take advantage of others’ tragedy.

Killing in the name of

Written By: - Date published: 9:57 am, December 30th, 2010 - 79 comments

On Christmas Eve, our SAS soldiers in Afghanistan killed two security guards, wounded two others, and arrested 15. None of these people was involved in any terrorist activity. Did the SAS act negligently or was it an unfortunate accident? The Kabul Police want to investigate but, in Afghanistan, our troops are above the law.

No Medal of Honour for Wayne Mapp

Written By: - Date published: 10:27 pm, August 27th, 2010 - 24 comments

Defence Minister Wayne Mapp must be desperate for publicity. He’s attacked the latest version of the Medal of Honour game set in Afghanistan. According to Mr Mapp, Medal of Honour “undermines the values of our nation, and the dedicated service of our men and women in uniform”. Okaaay…….

Some good reasons for New Zealand to stay in Afghanistan

Written By: - Date published: 10:29 pm, August 25th, 2010 - 67 comments

The recent death in Afghanistan of Lieutenant Timothy O’Donnell was a tragedy for his family and a blow to his army colleagues. It was also a missed opportunity, a chance to debate why our Government continues to send troops to a violent and intractable war, and what national strategic interests this deployment serves. In On […]

SAS collecting Afghanis for torture

Written By: - Date published: 8:50 am, August 16th, 2010 - 12 comments

Wayne Mapp has confirmed that the SAS has been involved in handing prisoners over to the NDS – a Afghan government body that tortures prisoners. Mapp indicated he didn’t give a damn what happens to the prisoners, calling them an “Afghan responsibility”. Sorry, Mapp, but you’ve got to take responsibility. Handing someone over to people you can reasonably expect will torture them is illegal.

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