There is a great article by Gordon Campbell on the likelihood of an inquiry but more importantly what will or wont be covered and what will or wont be for the public eyes/ears
I agree it’s a great article. I also find it a little depressing. We have a chorus at present telling us what egregious liars the wicked Russians are (their autocratic regimes always have been, but apparently we must all be shocked as if it were a total novelty) and yet.. here we have a case where all our ‘open accountability’ may well turn out to be a smokescreen that gets swept under a carpet. How much better are we?
(Yes,I do like mixing metaphors.)
The Kremlin’s perfidy does indeed appear to be news to some. Francesca and Mikesh, for example. Of course, the Kremlin would simply have Nicky Hager and Jon Stevenson accidentally killed during a totally coincidental mugging.
Whereas John Key neutralises them by calling them unreliable (+ other stuff), the media comply, and the majority care more about cricket balls. A struggling individual can have more freedom of thought here if he is quiet about it, but overall I don’t see us as very far ahead. Just more deviously corrupt.
Labour or NZF or Greens ( but they get shouted down as looney conspiracists) should be turning the attention from Russia to this, to Finlayson. Turn it on the media. When they want to say more about Russia, ask the journo who asks the question why they areng asking finlayson about his appalling breach of the law or asking Bridges about the lying of the Defence Commander when he was in cabinet.
I suspect I might be guilty of mixing my metaphors but since I’ve never managed to fully understand what a mixed metaphor is… perhaps you could explain it to me In Vino. đ
Haven’t had a chance to read Campbell’s article yet but, having taken a very close interest in the subject and read the all important book by Hager and Stephenson, I will be watching and listening very carefully. If the prospective inquiry turns about to be a government whitewash, then my faith in Labour could take a permanent dive – as in resigning my decades long membership of the party.
Carolyn_Nth gave a very good example of a mixed metaphor.
In Vino I dont actually think thats a mixed metephor at all, just a series of conjoined metaphor…. IMHO
BTW, what then is the collective noun for metaphore
Under the name of national security, our state can kill all the civilians it wants. In the name of revenge, it can even cover it up.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Just to remind people, that in 1916 the state, to stop a Christian leader opposing young men going to war, invaded his land, killed his son, then sent him to prison.
Gotta love the monopoly on violence that the state holds.
Hi Adam, in regards to the monopoly the state has it isn’t restricted to violence.
Thompson and Clark are not allowed to snoop around us but the police are free to pry and be duplicitous amongst the public.
But they were allowed. And Key allowed illegal search of Dotcom, and the police illegal raid of Hager, and tge blocking of evidence for someone on tril and and and… there is a pattern
The terms of reference will be more of the same old same old. Like Anne above my confidence is not good. Fudging is the name of the game – and bear this in mind every inquiry that the Government holds is just costing more valuable tax payers hard earned wages. History doesn’t bode well for this inquiry.
If the Inquiry turns out to be a patsy, does Deborah Manning still have the option of taking the case to the Hague?
Anyone know?
The book Hit and Run really clinched for me that the military has far too much autonomy and has developed a “culture” that is far from most New Zealander’s norms
Shared operations with US troops has that American military culture spill over, with all its impunity and excessive love of might
I’d love to see our foreign policy reviewed and the prospects of a more neutral or at least non aligned stance explored.
Hanging on to the coat tails of an imploding empire doesn’t seem like a good idea to me.
And surely we should be looking in to our participation in the use of white phosphorous in Mosul last year?
So many war crimes for so long in the middle east …. Does Falluja even exist any more in Iraq ? …. they took and lost it at least three times, … in just one of the re-takings allegedly 70 % of the buildings were damaged … many flattened…. Phosphorous and depleted uranium used in a civilian habitat…. 5 or 6 million refugees from Iraq
Or the militant Zionists in Israel against the people of Palestine …100 tonnes of high explosive exploded in one day their corralled Gaza ghetto refugees … starting at a time of maximum children in the open
approx 42 minute mark
Thanks Tracey for bringing my attention to this article.
This issue really riles me for two reasons.
First if all, the injustice of the civilians killed.
The ensuing cover-up, lies and obfuscation from the prime minister, defence minister and chief of defence staff is arrogant and insulting.
Hager, Stephenson and Manning show courage and integrity, values that used to be paramount in our defence force.
Agree. Cover ups are supposed to be what damages but the Nats covered lots and when they have been uncovered, no damage. Key got fawning coverage for 2 days of golf as though he hadnt presided over all of the transgressions referred to above.
Hager Stephenson and Manning may be further vindicated by the Inquiry, and to quote another, the rest was “A litany of lies” paraphrased to “A litany of Liars” would be a suitable epitaph for Key and C/O.
Yes. The name of the village, if not tge position was always correct. The NZDF commander lied. And he was happy for Stephenson and Hager to be villified as conspiracy tgeorists. As looney socialists.
He needs to be gone, along with his pension and any perks. Courts martial and dishonourable discharge, not a contrived resignation and an insincere mea culpa
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New Zealand and Tuvalu have reaffirmed their close relationship, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says. âNew Zealand is committed to working with Tuvalu on a shared vision of resilience, prosperity and security, in close concert with Australia,â says Mr Peters, who last visited Tuvalu in 2019. âIt is my pleasure ...
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met today with Samoaâs O le Ao o le Malo, Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, who is making a State Visit to New Zealand. âHis Highness and I reflected on our two countriesâ extensive community links, with SamoanâNew Zealanders contributing to all areas of our national ...
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has announced that he has approved Waiheke Island ferry operator Island Direct to be eligible for SuperGold Card funding, paving the way for a commercial agreement to bring the operator into the scheme. âIsland Direct started operating in November 2023, offering an additional option for people ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters today announced further sanctions on 28 individuals and 14 entities providing military and strategic support for Russiaâs invasion of Ukraine. âRussia is directly supported by its military-industrial complex in its illegal aggression against Ukraine, attacking its sovereignty and territorial integrity. New Zealand condemns all entities and ...
A year on from the tragedy at Loafers Lodge, the Government is working hard to improve building fire safety, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. âI want to share my sincere condolences with the families and friends of the victims on the anniversary of the tragic fire at Loafers ...
Ka nui te mihi kia koutou. Kia ora and good afternoon, everyone. Thank you so much for having me here in the lead up to my Governmentâs first Budget. Before I get started can I acknowledge: Simon Bridges â Auckland Business Chamber CEO. Steve Jurkovich â Kiwibank CEO. Kids born ...
New Zealand and Vanuatu will enhance collaboration on issues of mutual interest, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.  âIt is important to return to Port Vila this week with a broad, high-level political delegation which demonstrates our deep commitment to New Zealandâs relationship with Vanuatu,â Mr Peters says.  âThis ...
Minister for Land Information, Chris Penk will travel to Peru this week to represent New Zealand at a meeting of trade ministers from the Asia-Pacific region on behalf of Trade Minister Todd McClay. The annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting will be held on 17-18 May ...
Minister of Education Erica Stanford will head to the United Kingdom this week to participate in the 22nd Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) and the 2024 Education World Forum (EWF). âI am looking forward to sharing this Governmentâs education priorities, such as introducing a knowledge-rich curriculum, implementing an evidence-based ...
Minister of Education Erica Stanford has today thanked outgoing New Zealand Qualifications Authority Chair, Hon Tracey Martin. âTracey Martin tendered her resignation late last month in order to take up a new role,â Ms Stanford says. Ms Martin will relinquish the role of Chair on 10 May and current Deputy ...
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and President Emmanuel Macron of France today announced a new non-governmental organisation, the Christchurch Call Foundation, to coordinate the Christchurch Callâs work to eliminate terrorist and violent extremist content online.  This change gives effect to the outcomes of the November 2023 Call Leadersâ Summit, ...
Distinguished public servant and former diplomat Sir Maarten Wevers will lead the independent review into the disability support services administered by the Ministry of Disabled People â Whaikaha. The review was announced by Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston a fortnight ago to examine what could be done to strengthen the ...
Todayâs announcement by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster of a National Gang Unit and district Gang Disruption Units will help deliver on the coalition Governmentâs pledge to restore law and order and crack down on criminal gangs, Police Minister Mark Mitchell says. âThe National Gang Unit and Gang Disruption Units will ...
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today expressed regret at North Koreaâs aggressive rhetoric towards New Zealand and its international partners. âNew Zealand proudly stands with the international community in upholding the rules-based order through its monitoring and surveillance deployments, which it has been regularly doing alongside partners since 2018,â Mr ...
Air Vice-Marshal Tony Davies MNZM is the new Chief of Defence Force, Defence Minister Judith Collins announced today. The Chief of Defence Force commands the Navy, Army and Air Force and is the principal military advisor to the Defence Minister and other Ministers with relevant portfolio responsibilities in the defence ...
Legislation to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act has been introduced to Parliament. The Billâs introduction reaffirms the Coalition Governmentâs commitment to the safety of children in care, says Minister for Children, Karen Chhour. âWhile section 7AA was introduced with good intentions, it creates a conflict for Oranga ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week travel to the UK and Italy to meet with her defence counterparts, and to attend Battles of Cassino commemorations. âI am humbled to be able to represent the New Zealand Government in Italy at the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of what was ...
The upcoming Budget will include funding for up to 50 charter schools to help lift declining educational performance, Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced today. $153 million in new funding will be provided over four years to establish and operate up to 15 new charter schools and convert 35 state ...
âThe results of the public consultation on the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into COVID-19 Lessons has now been received, with results indicating over 13,000 submissions were made from members of the public,â Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden says. âWe heard feedback about the extended lockdowns in ...
Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, other Members of Parliament Acting Chief of Defence Force, Secretary of Defence Distinguished Guests Defence and Diplomatic Colleagues Ladies and Gentlemen, Good afternoon, tÄna koutou, apinun tru  Itâs a pleasure to be back in Port Moresby today, and to speak here at the Kumul Leadership ...
Health, infrastructure, renewable energy, and stability are among the themes of the current visit to Papua New Guinea by a New Zealand political delegation, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says. Â âPapua New Guinea carries serious weight in the Pacific, and New Zealand deeply values our relationship with it,â Mr Peters ...
The coalition Government is launching Roads of Regional Significance to sit alongside Roads of National Significance as part of its plan to deliver priority roading projects across the country, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. âThe Roads of National Significance (RoNS) built by the previous National Government are some of New Zealandâs ...
A high-level New Zealand political delegation in Honiara today congratulated the new Government of Solomon Islands, led by Jeremiah Manele, on taking office.  âWe are privileged to meet the new Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet during his governmentâs first ten days in office,â Deputy Prime Minister and ...
New Zealand voted in favour of a resolution broadening Palestineâs participation at the United Nations General Assembly overnight, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.  âThe resolution enhances the rights of Palestine to participate in the work of the UN General Assembly while stopping short of admitting Palestine as a full ...
Introduction Good morning. Itâs a great privilege to be here at the 2024 Infrastructure Symposium. I was extremely happy when the Prime Minister asked me to be his Minister for Infrastructure. It is one of the great barriers holding the New Zealand economy back from achieving its potential. Building high ...
Defence Minister Judith Collins today announced the upcoming Budget will include new funding of $571 million for Defence Force pay and projects. âOur servicemen and women do New Zealand proud throughout the world and this funding will help ensure we retain their services and expertise as we navigate an increasingly ...
New Zealandâs ability to cope with climate change will be strengthened as part of the Governmentâs focus to build resilience as we rebuild the economy, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. âAn enduring and long-term approach is needed to provide New Zealanders and the economy with certainty as the climate ...
Jobseeker beneficiaries who have work obligations must now meet with MSD within two weeks of their benefit starting to determine their next step towards finding a job, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. âA key part of the coalition Governmentâs plan to have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker ...
A new standalone Social Investment Agency will power-up the social investment approach, driving positive change for our most vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis says. âDespite the Government currently investing more than $70 billion every year into social services, we are not seeing the outcomes we want for ...
Check against delivery Good morning. It is a pleasure to be with you to outline the Coalition Governmentâs approach to our first Budget. Thank you Mark Skelly, President of the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, together with your Board and team, for hosting me.  Iâd like to acknowledge His Worship ...
Your Excellency Ambassador Meredith, Â Members of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassadors from European Union Member States, Â Ministerial colleagues, Members of Parliament, and other distinguished guests, Thank you everyone for joining us. Â Ladies and gentlemen -Â Â In diplomacy, we often speak of âcloseâ and âlong-standingâ relations. Â ...
The Therapeutic Products Act (TPA) will be repealed this year so that a better regime can be put in place to provide New Zealanders safe and timely access to medicines, medical devices and health products, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello announced today. âThe medicines and products we are talking about ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lauren Ball, Professor of Community Health and Wellbeing, The University of Queensland Joyisjoyful/Shutterstock If you buy your olive oil in bulk, youâve likely been in for a shock in recent weeks. Major supermarkets have been selling olive oil for up to ...
The Haka Challenge invites anyone to learn and record the Ka Mate haka as performed by the All Blacks, to show their support for "the South Pacific's greatest truth teller". ...
At the Christchurch rally in support of Palestine, he started his hunger strike and vowed to continue until the government stops supporting Israelâs genocide in Gaza. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne A national Newspoll, conducted after the May 14 budget from a sample of over 1,200 people, gave Labor a 52â48% lead over ...
A New Zealander studying at the University of New Caledonia says students have been taught to use fire extinguishers as firefighters are unlikely to come help if there is an emergency. It comes as days of unrest followed a controversial proposed constitutional amendment which would allow more French residents of ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Gillespie, Professor of Law, University of Waikato Getty Images There have been so many submissions on the governmentâs proposed Fast-track Approvals Bill â 27,000 written, with 2,900 wanting to appear before the select committee in person â that a ballot ...
The LIVE Recording of A View from Afar podcast will begin today at 12:45pm May 20, 2024 (NZST) which is Sunday evening, 8:30pm (USEST). Today, political scientist Paul Buchanan and Selwyn Manning will examine:Â The United States and how the world is engaging with it geopolitically.Specifically, we will ...
After falling victim to a scam over the phone, Russell Brown spent the day with One NZâs cyber defence and fraud prevention teams to see the work they do to stop millions of scam attempts every year.The only windows in the Cyber Defence Centre at One NZâs Auckland headquarters ...
Treasury officials have outlined many ways in which the Fast Track Approvals Bill is deeply flawed, Labour environment spokesperson Rachel Brooking says. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marika Sosnowski, Postdoctoral research fellow, The University of Melbourne Ever since armed conflict has existed, ceasefires have been thought of as a bridge between war and peace. Consequently, their success has been measured by their ability to stop violence between warring parties ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Antonia Shand, Research Fellow, Obstetrician, University of Sydney Backgroundy/Shutterstock Oral retinoids are a type of medicine used to treat severe acne. Theyâre sold under the brand name Roaccutane, among others. While oral retinoids are very effective, they can have harmful effects ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alan Renwick, Professor of Agricultural Economics, Lincoln University, New Zealand This month the federal government announced a plan to ban live sheep exports, set to come into effect from May 1 2028. The announcement coincided with the release of a highly ...
Another technical answer: âno one really knows.â It smells like hot fat and fish. You hug the warm bundle of newspaper, translucent with grease, swaddling it like a newborn babe. Behind the counter is a small child doing her homework, and the grumpiest Chinese lady in the world. Above you, ...
New Zealanders are being called on to give Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones âthe fingerâ in a cheeky new campaign that aims to dramatically boost marine protection in Aotearoa. ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nic Rawlence, Senior Lecturer in Ancient DNA, University of Otago Auckland Island merganser. Artistic reconstruction by J. G. Keulemans from Bullers Birds of New Zealand (1888)Bullers Birds of New Zealand, Author provided Ask a bird lover if they have heard of ...
Leaders from three of the biggest political parties addressed party faithful over the weekend, writes Stewart Sowman-Lund in this extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. A weekend ...
Kia ora, welcome to Windbag, The Spinoffâs new Wellington issues column, written by me, Joel MacManus. In this first edition, I take a closer look at the first half of Tory Whanauâs term as mayor. If you want to understand Wellingtonâs local political landscape, you need to start in 2013 ...
A taonga going under the hammer at an Auckland auction house tonight is expected to fetch thousands. But concerns have been raised about its unclear provenance â and about the law thatâs meant to protect it. Eda Tang reports. When Tamatea* received the huia feather they bought from a licensed ...
Itâs the 38th birthday present Jo Aleh never expected to receive. Last Monday, Aleh and her sailing partner, Molly Meech, flew home to Auckland from Marseille, where theyâd been training for their Paris Olympics campaign in the 49erFX. Within a couple of hours of touching down, they were out on ...
“It might feel like the country is slogging it up the hill at the moment,” Finance Minister Nicola Willis tells party faithful in Palmerston North on Sunday, âBut we’re gonna get to the top of the hill, and it’s downhill on the other side. And the reason it’s downhill is ...
One issue that all the leaders of the coalition Government have agreed on is the expansion of the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme. Established in 2007, the scheme allows workers from participating Pacific countries to come to New Zealand to take up roles on a short-term basis. For the government, it’s ...
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The last person anyone expected to see at last week’s Ockham national book awards was Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. He was made to feel as welcome as a plague. He was mocked, and challenged. But good on him for coming. His presence gave the awards an edge, a tension, which ...
Sir Geoffrey Palmer, author of the seminal book Unbridled Power challenging Muldoon-era decision-making,says the Fast-Track Approvals Bill is a bigger threat to constitutional government The post A fast track to environmental degradation appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Uncertainty is an overwhelming theme for two seabed mining projects aiming to use the Governmentâs controversial fast-track regime The post Seabed miners: What we know and what we donât appeared first on Newsroom. ...
Asia Pacific Report Pacific civil society and solidarity groups today stepped up their pressure on the French government, accusing it of a âheavy-handedâ crackdown on indigenous Kanak protest in New Caledonia, comparing it to Indonesian security forces crushing West Papuan dissent. A state of emergency was declared last week, at ...
On May 18, the Taiwanese community in Christchurch came together for the "Health for All, Taiwan Can Help" march, urging the World Health Organization (WHO) to grant Taiwan participation. ...
The instability comes as the party tries to refresh its brand after six years of being part of a right-wing, pro-imperialist government with both the Labour Party and, from 2017-2020, the far-right NZ First Party. ...
Based on the latest Treasury forecasts, New Zealand Government debt will tick above $90,000 per household for the first time ever at 10pm today, Sunday 19 May 2024. The Taxpayersâ Union is calling it â$90k Debt Dayâ. Commenting on this, Taxpayersâ ...
Arawata Shane Arawata Shane had wandered long In the wild tangled hills of the West Coast. He came to a stop on the mighty range And looked down at the wide river flats. He breathed in the clean air, And he took in the shadows playing across The face of ...
SPECIAL REPORT:Islands Business in Suva Today is the 24th anniversary of renegade and failed businessman George Speightâs coup in 2000 Fiji. The elected coalition government headed by Mahendra Chaudhry, the first and only Indo-Fijian prime minister of Fiji, was held hostage at gunpoint for 56 days in the countryâs ...
Asia Pacific ReportThe global human rights watchdog Amnesty International has called on France to not âmisuseâ a crackdown in the ongoing unrest in the non-self-governing French Pacific territory of Kanaky New Caledonia in the wake of a controversial vote by the French Parliament to adopt a bill changing the territoryâs ...
A major provider of school lunches fears the government's new $3 limit for most students will see them eating more pre-packaged and processed food. ...
The star of Dark City: The Cleaner takes us through his life in TV, including the VHS revolution and the John Campbell impression that started it all. Best known for his comedic roles, Cohen Holloway says he struggled at times to maintain the stone cold facade of serial killer on ...
David Hill remembers an old friend, who youâve probably never heard of. My friend Doug never travelled; he had little interest in the world beyond his own tiny rural town. Iâve rarely known anyone who radiated such contentment. Doug (Iâll call him that) died in March. You wonât know him. ...
Some of the earliest photos of life in Aotearoa are on display at Auckland Museum right now â but the identities of some of the people in them are a mystery.What was it like to be one of the first people in New Zealand to have their photo taken? ...
Since its founding almost a decade ago, Featherston Booktown has grown into one of the countryâs most interesting and idiosyncratic literary events. Erin Banks reports from the audience. âCome in, have you had lunch? Iâm about to make a cheese toastie.â Mary Biggs, operations manager of Featherston Booktown Karukatea Festival, ...
After 33 years abroad, Loveni Enari recently returned to Aotearoa and Samoa in what a friend joked was an âexistential crisisâ. He learnt and re-learnt so much about his family, friends and both countries. Almost as an afterthought, he got a Samoan tatau. This is his story. (Accompanying it are ...
Nearly 30 years ago, two people told me theyâd killed a woman they knew. I thought the truth would come out, that others would tell it. In the end, I had to. The Sunday Essay is made possible thanks to the support of Creative New Zealand.Fact: in 1995, Angela Blackmoore ...
Editor Madeleine Chapman looks back at the week and shines a light on some increasingly rare longform journalism. MĆrena and welcome to The Weekend where there will sadly be no aurora to see. After a busy week last week of short, sharp pieces, this week we swung the other way, ...
ANALYSIS:By David Robie, editor of Asia Pacific Report Jean-Marie Tjibaou, a revered Kanak visionary, was inspirational to indigenous Pacific political activists across Oceania, just like Tongan anthropologist and writer Epeli Haoâofa was to cultural advocates. Tragically, he was assassinated in 1989 by an opponent within the independence movement during ...
Forget thin is in, apparently now bigger is better … or is it? After over a decade of body positivity, girls, teens and women are even more confused about what body positivity actually is. The movement began with women confronting unrealistic expectations of how their bodies should look. But sub-strands ...
Grace always sat at the bar at the back of The Cambridge, where she could watch who came in. A huge mirror ran the length of the pub, so you could sometimes watch people without them knowing. The mirror made the place seem a lot bigger than it really was. ...
MONDAY Sheriff Mark Mitchell rose at dawn. He had a long day’s ride ahead of him. He was headed for Waikeria. Waikeria! Even the name itself stirred his blood, and set root in his imagination. There was nothing and no one in Waikeria. But he would bend it to his ...
The first phase of the inquest into the death of Gore toddler Lachlan Jones finished this week, turning up plenty of revelations and few answers. But through all the confusion, heartbreak and antipathy on display, the simple fact at the heart of this case remains: if little Lachieâs body had ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Roger Benjamin, Professor in Art History, University of Sydney âSheâs no oil paintingâ. Those were the unkind words of a colleague commenting on the subject of Vincent Namatjiraâs acrylic painting, Gina. Every one of the prominent Australians and cultural heroes in Namatjiraâs ...
Government plans to require local councils hold a referendum on whether to have MÄori wards breaches the Treaty of Waitangi, a Waitangi Tribunal report has found. ...
I agree it’s a great article. I also find it a little depressing. We have a chorus at present telling us what egregious liars the wicked Russians are (their autocratic regimes always have been, but apparently we must all be shocked as if it were a total novelty) and yet.. here we have a case where all our ‘open accountability’ may well turn out to be a smokescreen that gets swept under a carpet. How much better are we?
(Yes,I do like mixing metaphors.)
The Kremlin’s perfidy does indeed appear to be news to some. Francesca and Mikesh, for example. Of course, the Kremlin would simply have Nicky Hager and Jon Stevenson accidentally killed during a totally coincidental mugging.
Whereas John Key neutralises them by calling them unreliable (+ other stuff), the media comply, and the majority care more about cricket balls. A struggling individual can have more freedom of thought here if he is quiet about it, but overall I don’t see us as very far ahead. Just more deviously corrupt.
As someone replied to me the other day
“We have outsourced outrage to the media”
The media decide what annoys us.
Labour or NZF or Greens ( but they get shouted down as looney conspiracists) should be turning the attention from Russia to this, to Finlayson. Turn it on the media. When they want to say more about Russia, ask the journo who asks the question why they areng asking finlayson about his appalling breach of the law or asking Bridges about the lying of the Defence Commander when he was in cabinet.
Change. The. Narrative.
I suspect I might be guilty of mixing my metaphors but since I’ve never managed to fully understand what a mixed metaphor is… perhaps you could explain it to me In Vino. đ
Haven’t had a chance to read Campbell’s article yet but, having taken a very close interest in the subject and read the all important book by Hager and Stephenson, I will be watching and listening very carefully. If the prospective inquiry turns about to be a government whitewash, then my faith in Labour could take a permanent dive – as in resigning my decades long membership of the party.
Try sweeping a smokescreen under a carpet – and that’s the mixed metaphor.
Yes… or ‘He slipped on the banana skin, put his foot in his mouth, and landed flat on his face.’ That is 3 mixed at once.
Getting the hang of it. Thanks both of you. đ
Carolyn_Nth gave a very good example of a mixed metaphor.
In Vino I dont actually think thats a mixed metephor at all, just a series of conjoined metaphor…. IMHO
BTW, what then is the collective noun for metaphore
Metaplethoraphor
National must not count their chickens before they come home to roost !
The review looks like it will be very narrow.
Under the name of national security, our state can kill all the civilians it wants. In the name of revenge, it can even cover it up.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Just to remind people, that in 1916 the state, to stop a Christian leader opposing young men going to war, invaded his land, killed his son, then sent him to prison.
Gotta love the monopoly on violence that the state holds.
They let the British shoot our shell shocked men as well, in World War 1.
Hi Adam, in regards to the monopoly the state has it isn’t restricted to violence.
Thompson and Clark are not allowed to snoop around us but the police are free to pry and be duplicitous amongst the public.
But they were allowed. And Key allowed illegal search of Dotcom, and the police illegal raid of Hager, and tge blocking of evidence for someone on tril and and and… there is a pattern
The terms of reference will be more of the same old same old. Like Anne above my confidence is not good. Fudging is the name of the game – and bear this in mind every inquiry that the Government holds is just costing more valuable tax payers hard earned wages. History doesn’t bode well for this inquiry.
If the Inquiry turns out to be a patsy, does Deborah Manning still have the option of taking the case to the Hague?
Anyone know?
The book Hit and Run really clinched for me that the military has far too much autonomy and has developed a “culture” that is far from most New Zealander’s norms
Shared operations with US troops has that American military culture spill over, with all its impunity and excessive love of might
I’d love to see our foreign policy reviewed and the prospects of a more neutral or at least non aligned stance explored.
Hanging on to the coat tails of an imploding empire doesn’t seem like a good idea to me.
And surely we should be looking in to our participation in the use of white phosphorous in Mosul last year?
So many war crimes for so long in the middle east …. Does Falluja even exist any more in Iraq ? …. they took and lost it at least three times, … in just one of the re-takings allegedly 70 % of the buildings were damaged … many flattened…. Phosphorous and depleted uranium used in a civilian habitat…. 5 or 6 million refugees from Iraq
Or the militant Zionists in Israel against the people of Palestine …100 tonnes of high explosive exploded in one day their corralled Gaza ghetto refugees … starting at a time of maximum children in the open
approx 42 minute mark
..100 tonnes of high explosive exploded in one day Against their corralled Gaza ghetto refugees.
Thanks Tracey for bringing my attention to this article.
This issue really riles me for two reasons.
First if all, the injustice of the civilians killed.
The ensuing cover-up, lies and obfuscation from the prime minister, defence minister and chief of defence staff is arrogant and insulting.
Hager, Stephenson and Manning show courage and integrity, values that used to be paramount in our defence force.
Agree. Cover ups are supposed to be what damages but the Nats covered lots and when they have been uncovered, no damage. Key got fawning coverage for 2 days of golf as though he hadnt presided over all of the transgressions referred to above.
Hager Stephenson and Manning may be further vindicated by the Inquiry, and to quote another, the rest was “A litany of lies” paraphrased to “A litany of Liars” would be a suitable epitaph for Key and C/O.
Yes. The name of the village, if not tge position was always correct. The NZDF commander lied. And he was happy for Stephenson and Hager to be villified as conspiracy tgeorists. As looney socialists.
He needs to be gone, along with his pension and any perks. Courts martial and dishonourable discharge, not a contrived resignation and an insincere mea culpa