Daily review 04/08/2023

20 comments on “Daily review 04/08/2023 ”

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1. aj 1

   4 August 2023 at 7:13 pm

   This paragraph in the linked article is so relevant in terms of the propaganda methods used in democratic political campaigns. EG NZ right now.

   Purposefully, our analysis focused solely on headlines. While the full stories may bring greater context to the reporting, headlines are particularly important for three reasons: They frame the story in a way that affects how it is read and remembered; reflect the publication’s ideological stance on an issue; and, for many news consumers, are the only part of the story that is read at all.

   https://theconversation.com/headlines-and-front-lines-how-us-news-coverage-of-wars-in-yemen-and-ukraine-reveals-a-bias-in-recording-civilian-harm-209652
   • Patricia Bremner 1.1

     6 August 2023 at 8:09 am

     Yes, and the not so hidden messages are increasing and are often Govt negative.
2. joe90 2

   4 August 2023 at 8:20 pm

   Prohibited by the ICC and considered a war crime but neither Russia nor Ukraine are signatories to the ICC treaty. The argument will be that partisans did this on their own and Ukraine isn't responsible.

   Two Russian soldiers have died and 28 are seriously ill after being given poisoned pastries by Ukrainian civilians, Ukraine’s intelligence agency has claimed.

   The troops from Russia’s 3rd Motor Rifle Division died immediately after eating the food in Izium, Kharkiv, the country’s Main Directorate of Intelligence announced in a Facebook post on Saturday.

   A further 28 soldiers are in intensive care following the poisoning, while about 500 more are in hospital suffering from heavy alcohol poisoning, according to the post.

   https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russian-soldiers-poisoned-civilians-izium-b2049955.html
   • adam 2.1

     4 August 2023 at 9:22 pm

     War crime is a war crime.

     One side we don't like did a war crime, they bad.

     Other side we do like did a war crime, nothing to see here.
3. Anne 3

   4 August 2023 at 9:03 pm

   I'm with Defence Minister, Andrew Little on this one.

   We have the possibility of a war breaking out in the Indo Chino region. There are some tensions in the South Pacific. We have Climate Change and the ever increasing frequency of disasters that go with it. And we have disinformation spreading that has the potential to cause major disruptions to the normal pattern of life.

   Our Defence Force is currently not up to the tasks they may be called upon to carry out in the future. This became apparent following Cyclone Gabrielle. I saw first hand the hugely important role the Defence Force played in the aftermath of Cyclone Bola.

   We need a fit and capable Defence Force more than ever.

   But a peace activist – living (imo) in a bygone era – is convinced its all about cosy-ing up to the USA. That is rubbish! It is commonsense to have Defence Units fit and ready to discharge any urgent duty required of it.

   https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/08/04/nz-defence-force-not-in-a-fit-state-for-the-future-govt-report/
   • adam 3.1

     4 August 2023 at 9:50 pm

     Global Boiling is here, I'm not convinced a jingoistic response is the answer. Guns kill people when they are in the hands of those who direct them to kill. The state will do that for their corporate masters as it stands.

     So I'm really unwilling for our teenagers to be thrown into a meat grinder so some prick can make money. Who gives a shit if it's Yanks or Han who are fighting – not my lama. And quite frankly to ask the next generation to die for this normal pattern of life, seems a bit much.

     The song is Squeeze "Anne get your gun". Off the 1990 of the live album A Round and a Bout
     • aj 3.1.1

       4 August 2023 at 10:41 pm

       In the video below is former Australian Foreign Affairs minister Bob Carr under the government led by Prime Minister Julia Gillard. He asks, Is the US Sleepwalking into War?

       This a an interesting discussion, where he largely backs the views of Paul Keating but without the sharp barbs against the current leaders of the USA or Aussie.

       Most interesting was his (wildly optimistic, imho) presumption that in the coming war – which he rates as 50% likely – each side would resort to nuclear weapons and only take out a relatively small number of cities in each country. He then thought that this would bring both the USA and China to their knees and out of the global power game, a space which would then be filled by India, Iran, and Russia.

       I don't think that's the case – once a button is pushed and the first nuclear explosion takes place the world will turn to into a hell, because each side will use the opportunity to totally destroy the other, AND allies who also have nuclear weapons.

       Against this insanity I stand with those who want to fight for peace. Our kids and their kids deserve nothing less.

       Because a nuclear war means total annihilation.
       • adam 3.1.1.1

         5 August 2023 at 12:05 am

         The frightening things is all the war games of a war against China, lead China to be crushed and backed right into a corner. Bad bad bad.

         Lawrence Wilkerson spells it well on theanalysis news

         https://theanalysis.news/u-s-policy-on-taiwan-is-dangerous-wilkerson/
     • Anne 3.1.2

       4 August 2023 at 11:35 pm

       You didn't read my comments did you Adam. Just the bit that fitted in with your jaundiced viewpoint. No real comprehension of what sort of future is in store for NZ and the Pacific community which is so much part of our world.
       • adam 3.1.2.1

         4 August 2023 at 11:56 pm

         jaundiced viewpoint

         No I read you comment and disagreed with it. That the way it goes. As for future predictions, most of the models I've see are pretty dire. As I said, I'm convinced a jingoistic response is not the answer. Sorry that does not fit your world view, but it's going to be a awful world if people think the solutions are all violence based. Which an expansion of the military is, a violent response.
         • Anne 3.1.2.1.1

           5 August 2023 at 10:51 am

           "…going to be a awful world if people think the solutions are all violence based…"

           Except I never said that. You interpreted what I did say incorrectly.

           Okay I will withdraw the adjective "jaundiced" which was in response to the "Annie get your gun" quote… a very wrong assessment if you knew my background.

           The reason for the need to have an upgrade of Defence Force equipment and personnel is because NZ and the South Pacific nations have an unstable future ahead of them, most of which are linked to Climate Change. This also includes increasing tensions that could lead to outbreaks of violence at any time. Such violence could also be linked to global events and, as primarily a trading nation, we need to be ready to assist in the defence of trading routes where we can. Lets hope it never comes to that.

           NZ is a nation of peace keepers – a role that suits us well – but we also have to be ready to defend these future challenges when they arise.

           Simple stuff really.
     • Phillip ure 3.1.3

       5 August 2023 at 11:16 am

       Squeeze are a most excellent band…

       Great lyrics…and so much more…
   • Ad 3.2

     4 August 2023 at 10:48 pm

     New Zealand won't be ready for the future if all it concentrates on is buying different kinds of weapons to be even more interoperable with Australia.

     We need an NZDF capable of servicing a combination of specific requirements few others have:

     – A territory to service spanning from the equator to the Antarctic.

     – Realm states that are distant, isolated, and have no armed forces to contribute themselves but nevertheless require operating multi-use airfields and ports

     – Small corrupt island nations all around us that regularly fall apart into chaos

     – A multi-decade commitment to multilateral UN mandates for peace patrolling in multiple sites

     – A domestic threat level that has increased over 5 years, including massacres and threats to Parliament itself

     – A huge fishing patrol territory extending thousands of kilometres both north-south and hundreds of kilometres east-west

     – A North Island increasingly requiring fast and large disaster response

     We need to focus on equipping for our own domestic and territorial needs before the Raytheon, Lockheed and Thalys sales teams touch down in Wellington again.
     • SPC 3.2.1

       5 August 2023 at 11:06 am

       Sure.

       We do need some inter-operability with Oz, even plans for assisting the defence of Oz via bases there. Because of our alliance with them.

       But we should make it clear to China, we will not be part of any defence of Taiwan*, and would rather broker a diplomatic settlement to that issue – of course if they launch attacks on the territory of Australia this impacts on us because of our security partnership. How we do this with Pacific Island nations would be a little more complicated (depending on our relationship with each island).

       Successful investing in a diplomatic resolution* would have huge gains for the region and make available resources to meet global challenges.
       • Ad 3.2.1.1

         5 August 2023 at 11:17 am

         NZ has nothing to gain going to war with China and nor do Australia or the USA or Japan. China has even more to lose, starting with oli and then comes famine in 4 months after that.

         In fact a multi-decade US-China carbon pact is the only way this world will now be saved.

         CPTPP entry is the obvious first step.

         Thankfully US State Dept and Treasury are treating this diplomatic relationship seriously now.
         • SPC 3.2.1.1.1

           5 August 2023 at 11:38 am

           Background

           There is the regional FTA (trade focus) including China.

           https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regional_Comprehensive_Economic_Partnership

           The CPTPP (is more comprehensive than just trade) has some American nations – Canada, Mexico and Chile and others wanting to join (but not all of ASEAN, nor South Korea – though they and Thailand are looking at it) and recently the UK.

           Sure one of the few economic leverages left with China is membership of the group. Personally I would look at rules based organisation mentioning the international tribunal decision on territorial legitimacy in the South China Seas (China may see militarisation of the atolls into islands as leverage in their claim to Taiwan).
   • SPC 3.3

     5 August 2023 at 11:17 am

     But a peace activist – living (imo) in a bygone era – is convinced its all about cosy-ing up to the USA.

     No, peace activists have a place in every era. Our South Pacific nuclear free zone led the way for the removal of American and Russian nukes from Europe. They are right to expect us to use diplomacy first and resort to military alliances second. We and other nations are more secure via that course.

     If they had listened to why we did not support the aggression in Iraq the world would be a better place.

     It is cozying up to the Americans to sign up to a military alliance to defend Taiwan – though fortunately the defence and security plan does not do this.
     • Anne 3.3.1

       5 August 2023 at 5:02 pm

       I based my original comment @ 3 on the TV interview with Andrew Little. I also take cognizance of Chris Hipkins' statement in my linked article:

       The Prime Minister said the Government would now be focusing its efforts on several national security and defence priorities, including:

       • Investing in a combat-capable defence force and the wider national security system.
       • Building and sustaining a public conversation on national security, by being more upfront about what we are observing as well as listening to New Zealanders, in order to grow and maintain social licence for efforts to protect our security.
       • Tackling emerging issues like disinformation, and undertaking more concerted efforts in areas where threats are growing, like economic security.
       • Supporting Pacific resilience, providing development assistance, and continuing work to bolster the security capacity of Pacific nations.
       • Strengthening security cooperation and ties in the broader Indo-Pacific region and working to maintain and strengthen the global system of rules and norms that have served New Zealand so well in the past.

       The new Defence Policy and Strategy Statement suggests the "two principal challenges" the country faced were strategic competition and the impacts of climate change.

       I have no quarrel with any of those points but accept there is always the chance that "national security issues" could be used as an instrument by which an allied country might try to drag us into a military combat situation that would serve us no useful purpose. It is up to NZ not to allow such a scenario to occur and since we have successfully prevented it from happening in the past (Vietnam War excepted), there is no reason why we can't be successful again.
4. adam 4

   5 August 2023 at 12:07 am

   Peace activists Boris Yulyevich Kagarlitsky arrested in Russia.

   Good analysis here.

   https://theanalysis.news/russian-anti-war-activist-boris-kagarlitsky-arrested/
   • joe90 4.1

     5 August 2023 at 1:22 pm

     Do keep up.

     /

     Two months ago dissadent Russian Marxist Boris Kagarlitsky wrote to the Western left. Yesterday he was arrested and imprisoned.

     And from the Western progressive public, we only need one thing – stop helping Putin with your conciliatory and ambiguous statements. The more often such statements are made, the greater will be the confidence of officials, deputies and policemen that the current order can continue to exist with the silent support or hypocritical grumbling of the West. Every conciliatory statement made by liberal intellectuals in America results in more arrests, fines, and searches of democratic activists and just plain people here in Russia.

     https://www.counterpunch.org/2023/05/29/a-plea-to-my-western-progressive-friends-stop-helping-putin-with-your-conciliatory-and-ambiguous-statements/

     https://thestandard.org.nz/daily-review-27-07-2023/#comment-1961956

     btw, this;

     We in Russia also do not want to live like this.

     We resist or at least try to preserve our beliefs and principles based on the humanistic tradition of Russian culture. And when we read on the Internet about another call to “understand Putin” or “to meet him halfway,” this is perceived inside Russia as complicity with criminals who oppress and ruin our own country.

     Such appeals are based on a deep, almost racist contempt for the people of Russia, for whom, according to Western liberal pacifists, it is perfectly natural and acceptable to live under the rule of a corrupt dictatorship.

     https://www.counterpunch.org/2023/05/29/a-plea-to-my-western-progressive-friends-stop-helping-putin-with-your-conciliatory-and-ambiguous-statements/

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