Pull the other one, it’s full of sarin

Written By: - Date published: 7:27 am, April 16th, 2013 - 90 comments
Categories: john key, making shit up, Spying - Tags:

New Zealand is, famously, a nuclear-free country. We’re also signatories to the Chemical Weapons and Biological Weapons Conventions, which outlaw them.

key researching wmdSo, if you’re looking to learn about weapons of mass destruction, New Zealand’s the wrong place to go (hint: start at Wikipedia).

It’s laughable that Key’s inventing WMD-seeking terrorists to justify legalising spying on Kiwis. Even if the foreign terrorist hacking existed, it wouldn’t justify spying on New Zealanders.

It’s even more laughable that some are repeating his lies straight-faced. Surely, any self-respecting member of the media knows by now that Key and the spooks will say whatever rubbish they need to say to cover their arses.

[Update: good on Andrea Vance for having the guts to straightup call Key out on this. Hmmm, that’s enough to convince me Key didn’t leak her the Kitteridge report after all]

90 comments on “Pull the other one, it’s full of sarin ”

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  1. Colonial Viper 1
    16 April 2013 at 8:12 am

    I hear that The Standard is a nest of terrorist vipers, it’s really important that this website is constantly monitored and tracked by the government intelligence services at tax payer expense. Hmm I wonder what the probability is that has been ordered and actually happens.

    On a fun note re: War on Terror

    It seems that US drone strikes in Afghanistan have mostly succeeded in killing civilians, suspicious non Al Qaeda persons and low level Al Qaeda suspects. Only a handful of “top level” Al Qaeda persons have been killed in these drone strikes.

    If you read the comments below it’s very interesting – some people say that the CIA is killing tribal enemies as favours to various regional leaders, in order to win sway and intelligence from those leaders.

    But its ok – the US offers up to US$7500 in “condolence money” to the family of those wrongly killed in a drone strike, to make things better again.

    http://www.dailytech.com/Docs+Show+CIAs+Mass+Drone+Death+Strikes+Killed+Few+alQaeda+Leaders/article30316.htm

    • King Kong 1.1
      16 April 2013 at 9:07 am

      You are right, they have done some spying on the Standard. I saw the file which has long since been closed.

      They came to the conclusion that the shear volume of inhalers and excema medicine you chaps would require to untertake any serious physical act made the threat levels incredibly low.

      • freedom 1.1.1
        16 April 2013 at 9:14 am

        genuinely amusing this morning fuzzymonkey 🙂
        though I would confidently wager that a Top Town event between Standardistas and Whalers would be a hands down victory for The Standard.

        • King Kong 1.1.1.1
          16 April 2013 at 9:32 am

          I wouldn’t be too sure of that. You can’t underestimate just how competitive gun loving depressives with tiny cocks can be.

          • johnm 1.1.1.1.1
            16 April 2013 at 1:09 pm

            Hi King Kong
            You’re sounding like one of those perverts who know gun loving types with tiny cocks which gives you a thrill? I suggest if you wish to make political comment you do something about your manifest pathology first, like get that spire out of your arse mate!

      • TightyRighty 1.1.2
        16 April 2013 at 9:19 am

        +1

  2. vto 2
    16 April 2013 at 8:18 am

    Given Key has shown himself to be a proud liar

    and given this issue concerns secret agents and spying and closed doors

    what are the chances that Key’s statements yesterday resemble even a small proportion of the truth?

    Key is a liar
    Key is a liar
    Key is a liar
    Key is a liar
    Key is a liar
    Key is a liar
    Key is a liar
    Key is a liar
    Key is a liar
    Key is a liar
    Key is a liar
    Key is a liar

  3. Ugly Truth 3
    16 April 2013 at 8:28 am

    “It’s laughable that Key’s inventing WMD-seeking terrorists to justify legalising spying on Kiwis.”

    It would be laughable if this strategy wasn’t part of larger pattern of false flag terrorism.

    • Pascal's bookie 3.1
      16 April 2013 at 8:43 am

      Oh piss off.

      The last thing this debate needs is daft moonbats talking shit about ‘false flags’. Nothing is more likely to make people dismiss civil liberty arguements than morons spouting that crap.

      • freedom 3.1.1
        16 April 2013 at 8:46 am

        PB are you seriously saying that ‘false flags’ do not exist?

        • Pascal's bookie 3.1.1.1
          16 April 2013 at 9:02 am

          No. I said what I said.

          • freedom 3.1.1.1.1
            16 April 2013 at 9:25 am

            I only ask because WMD’s were openly used to create one of the biggest flase flag events this World has seen, namely The War in Iraq. So there was some justification for its inclusion as a possible topic but i do agree it’s relevance to this dialogue is unlikely to say the least. Key is just doing what he has been told and the delivery of the info was unconvincing and he came off looking foolish and desperate. Yet the MSM has largely swallowed it according to script. (

            If we had effective opposition in the house I would say 2pm cannot come soon enough. Having a Speaker who is less than capable is bad enough. Having questions that deliver easy outs is all too common. The Greens will at least ask straight questions but I do worry how broken and segmented Labour’s questions will be. Of late they have been atrocious. Today is not a day for multi-part questions.

            • McFlock 3.1.1.1.1.1
              16 April 2013 at 1:32 pm

              The War in Iraq was a “false flag” event?

              Were the invading “US” soldiers actually north koreans in disguise?

              It was an event justified by outright lies (WMD, hitting/expressing Iraq-AQ connections), but that’s propaganda, not “false flag”.

              • Colonial Viper …
                16 April 2013 at 1:44 pm

                Possibly Freedom mispoke slightly. The War in Iraq against Saddam, nothing to do with 9/11, but that was the pretext for carrying out the invasion the US had long wanted.

                • freedom …
                  16 April 2013 at 2:05 pm

                  “Covert military or paramilitary operations designed to deceive in such a way that the operations appear as though they are being carried out by other entities”

                  I may have mispoken ever so slightly, (and my comment as CV pointed out had nothing but tangental connections that all things do, to the event I did not name)
                  The illegal pre-emptive attack on Iraq was sold as a War for regime change when all along it was really a War to control and restrict Oil, so a false flag of an idea rather than any single event. i.e: Corporate masquerading as Government.

                  Is that clear enough for you McFlock?

                  • McFlock …
                    16 April 2013 at 3:02 pm

                    False flag of an idea… they were pretending other people were having their thoughts?

                    Actually, in the probability that Cheney was an eminence gris behind Bush jr, you might be right. But ulterior motives for war are “ulterior motives” behind a “pretext for war”, not “false flag ideas”.

                    It might seem like pedantry, but the fact is that people dropping random jargon regardless of its actual meaning disrupts communication. These terms, when used in the conventional manner, clearly denote the agent of the sentence, their activities and passive subjects for those stages of the activities. Used randomly, who the fuck knows what anyone’s talking about?

                    “False flag terrorism” does exist. Suggestions are that the russians were particularly good at it in the 1990s. But using a probably unrelated event as a cause of war by alleging responsibility is pretty old hat, and significantly different to a false-flag op.

      • muzza 3.1.2
        16 April 2013 at 10:57 am

        PB, you are very foolish if you think otherwise – Of course this is part of an agenda.

        Argue against it, and try makes sense of what this is all about, and remember that Tuhoe was an attempt to beat up the local terrorism market, it failed, now its time for a change of approach!

        Remember that Key is told what to say, he did not make this one up on the fly!

        Off you go!

        • felix 3.1.2.1
          16 April 2013 at 11:40 am

          Still not a false flag.

          • muzza 3.1.2.1.1
            16 April 2013 at 1:38 pm

            Agreed Felix, I was not implying it was.

            My contention, was simply that there is an agenda at play, and keys words should be seen as being part of it!

  4. irascible 4
    16 April 2013 at 8:29 am

    The Bush/ Blair WMD scare tactic matches well with the swarms of rickety boats filled with asylum seekers scare module taken from the Australian play book. It looks like the favorite spinners of the tory administrators the world over – Crosby-Textor have been reactivated by an increasingly brain fade afflicted KeY.
    Incidentally I note that Crosby Textor have been contracted by the Cameron-Clegg group to advise the Tories how to cope with the fallout over the bedroom tax and other mismanaged governance.

  5. Rosie 5
    16 April 2013 at 8:36 am

    It truly IS laughable Eddie. I did actually Laugh Out Loud when I heard the WMD line. I think this will have to go down in history as one of Key’s top 20 goofiest things to say. There’s so many though and where would you start? Its George Dubya all over again.

    Not for the first time do I seriously wonder about his inability to place reality and fiction in two completely separate spaces.

    Is the unraveling of his reign of lies and deceit beginning?

  6. mickysavage 6
    16 April 2013 at 8:39 am

    Get the feeling this is one collosal diversion attempt?

    GCSB’s public problems started off because they spied on Dotcom but made a mistake thinking that he was not a permanent resident. The mistake was a simple mistake of fact, not one due to complex law.

    Dotcom has since then hinted that Key knew what was happening all along and the evidence that has been dripped out gradually by him makes you think that he has a piece of incontrovertable proof that will at some stage emerge into daylight.

    Following its usual behaviour (think legal aid for instance) the Government has called for a report and then claimed the report to justify the extreme actions that it proposes. But the Kitteridge report says no such thing. The report is full of recommendations for organisational change including an increase in the availablility and storage in legal advice but she makes no specific recommendations for changes to the law. All that she says is that “legislative clarification would be desirable.”

    The only two specific areas she raised were the testing of new equipment within New Zealand and the analysis of a Government Department’s network in case of a malware attack. I would have thought the first example was simple and the second would be fine as the information could be collected by the department itself. The GCSB Act onpy prevents the GCSB from intercepting communications from a New Zealander, not subsequently analysing it.

    Key is putting up a desperate smokescreen trying to divert attention away from his failure to do anything when these problems were identified and to try and divert attention from the Dotcom silver bullet which we can hopefully expect any time soon.

    • TightyRighty 6.1
      16 April 2013 at 11:15 am

      Yep, Any minute now. keep holding your breath. Please, for society.

      • framu 6.1.1
        16 April 2013 at 12:30 pm

        good to see you have no actual points to refute there – can we take it that you agree

    • Jackal 6.2
      16 April 2013 at 11:19 am

      +1 Just like the SkyCity report, Key is misrepresenting what the Kitteridge report actually says… He’s relying on the fact that most National supporters don’t bother reading things like reports. Instead, they prefer to receive their information extensively filtered through and twisted by propagandists like David Farrar and Cameron Slater. In other words only the ignorant vote National.

  7. Paul Campbell 7
    16 April 2013 at 8:41 am

    well you know they never did find those WMD in Iraq, maybe Key thinks they’re here somewhere

    • The Pink Postman 7.1
      16 April 2013 at 3:55 pm

      Well makes one wonder if Key is going a bit bonkers ,Paul C.
      And I have seriously considered this when one looks at the way he is carrying on . The memory lapses , the word mumbling and the manic laughter and giggling , However the other consideration is that he wants to be able to spy on his enemies which would include Labour and other opposition parties. Don’t forget the protesters who he wants to throw in prison,.That is scary and is reminiscent
      of the 1951 lock-out. This lot are looking more Fascist like every day .And I do not use the word Fascist lightly.Scary!

  8. ianmac 8
    16 April 2013 at 8:43 am

    I would like to think that WMD is really stupid. But it is certainly a calculated action. If so why?
    Maybe it is a red flag to us but to the general population?
    “Good old John is on the ball. Boy he was quick to produce this plan. And there is a serious threat which he is covering to keep us safe.”
    So what to do about it? Might have been outflanked.

  9. Pete 9
    16 April 2013 at 8:45 am

    What are the odds he’s going to try and capitalise on today’s events in Boston?

    • Colonial Viper 9.1
      16 April 2013 at 8:56 am

      Is the Pope a Jesuit?

    • karol 9.2
      16 April 2013 at 9:38 am

      Maybe someone should point out to Key that explosive devices left in rubbish bins, causing localised destruction, injuries and deaths, though terrible, don’t rate as WMDs?

      • Colonial Viper 9.2.1
        16 April 2013 at 9:45 am

        The weird thing is that checking and sealing rubbish bins, manhole covers, post boxes etc are amongst the first things locked down in preparation for an event like this.

        Veteran NZ runners working in the news media over there reported seeing bomb sniffer dogs etc all along the route as part of the routine preparation for the event.

        Also, the one photo of a blast that I saw doesn’t convince me it was necessarily high explosives – lacked the high velocity trails you would expect from a supersonic pressure wave. We’ll see what the experts say.

  10. Doug 10
    16 April 2013 at 8:48 am

    There is one New Zealand Company I can think of that would be of interest to World Super Powers, they make Silicon Chips that are used in Missile guidance systems, Mobile Phones, GPS Systems and are a World Leader in its field.

    • mickysavage 10.1
      16 April 2013 at 9:05 am

      Terrorist attacks tend not to use smart weapons and missile guidance systems. They tend to use rusty old cars and carry cases. Any attempted espionage would probably be coming from overseas governments or competitors and there is no impediment to GCSB intercepting their communications.

      • Doug 10.1.1
        16 April 2013 at 9:16 am

        It’s laughable that Key’s inventing WMD-seeking terrorists to justify legalising spying on Kiwis. Even if the foreign terrorist hacking existed, it wouldn’t justify spying on New Zealanders.
        Really!!

  11. cricklewood 11
    16 April 2013 at 8:54 am

    If my memory serves me right one resourceful chap built a cruise missile in his garage somewhere in Auckland… cost less than $5000 us

    • Bill 11.1
      16 April 2013 at 9:51 am

      Well aye. But a homemade cruise missile, even if it was built and deployed, wouldn’t be a weapon of mass destruction – it’s ‘just’ a missile, ie an explosive device attached to a delivery system. As far as I see it, weapons of mass destruction are taken to be biological, chemical or nuclear that have effects both indiscriminate and widespread.

      The other link provided in comments was to an SIS pamphlet on WMD that has been taken down from their site. (It can still be found in google search by typing the full title.) It’s basically a ‘dob in your nieghbour’ piece of trash seeking to stir up fear and suspicion in Universities from what I can see.

      Are potential components for WMD manufactured in NZ? Most likely. But then , Gerald Bull who was assassinated by Mosad, developed a ‘Supergun’ for Saddam Husseins regime (Project Babylon) that meant UK engineering companies (Matrix Churchill) got in a bit of hot water. (The gun apparently had the potential to deliver nuclear, biological and chemical munitions over distances of 1000km and so might be seen as a component of a system of mass destruction )

      Anyway. My point was that conventional explosives and delivery systems are not in and of themselves WMD.

      • Colonial Viper 11.1.1
        16 April 2013 at 9:53 am

        it’s ‘just’ a missile, ie an explosive device attached to a delivery system.

        In fact, a missile could be considered just the delivery vehicle and doesn’t need an attached warhead…

        • Bill 11.1.1.1
          16 April 2013 at 10:04 am

          You being pedantic this morning CV? 😉 Point taken and the correction for the sake of clarity runs thus…”it’s ‘just a missile, ie, a delivery system that may or may not carry an explosive device”

      • karol 11.1.2
        16 April 2013 at 10:11 am

        The Dim Post explains about that SIS WMD pamphlet – along with providing a good piece of logic: ie if there is a threat from WMD makers/links in NZ, a full inquiry abbout it, and how to deal with it, would be the best way forward – not some quick panic/diversionary/democracy-damaging load of changes to GCSB legislation.

        Dimpost – “Scaremongering for Dummies”, with link to this NZ Herald 2009 story:

        The Security Intelligence Service has approached university lecturers asking for help to stop foreign states gathering information on “weapons of mass destruction”, says the union representing tertiary workers.

        Dr Ryan said the letter to universities alludes to a meeting between the spy agency and the New Zealand Vice Chancellor’s Committee.

        He said the SIS has also sent out a brochure called “A Guide to Weapons of Mass Destruction: Your role in preventing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction”.

        Dr Ryan said the brochure warns scientists and researchers to look out for people who could be trying to learn how to make “weapons of mass destruction”.

        He said the pamphlet has been distributed widely and includes fax, email, and web contacts for the SIS.

        Curiously also that this was at the time when Key started making moves to bring the SIS, GCSB, and police into one entity (see Trotter on this), and also when Key says he started to renew his connections with Ian Fletcher.

  12. Populuxe1 12
    16 April 2013 at 9:05 am

    Wow, you guys are out of touch – there are at least two New Zealand technology companies I can think of that produce electronic components used “but neither confirmed nor denied” in nuclear weapons.

    • felix 12.1
      16 April 2013 at 9:08 am

      And?

    • Doug 12.2
      16 April 2013 at 9:11 am

      All the more reason for World Super Powers to spy on these companies.

    • emergency mike 12.3
      16 April 2013 at 10:12 am

      ermagawd please give echelon more power to spy on me quick! do fill us in on New Zealand’s nuclear weapons industry pop.

      • Populuxe1 12.3.1
        16 April 2013 at 1:49 pm

        At a guess Key was referring to Rakon (head office in Auckland, specialises in radio frequency reciever crystals used as missile components in militaries throughout the west)
        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rakon

        And Palantir technologies, which is up to the eyebrows in top secret security stuff
        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palantir_Technologies

        • emergency mike 12.3.1.1
          16 April 2013 at 4:44 pm

          I took a look at your links.

          Palantir makes information mining software “…used by counter-terrorism analysts at offices of the FBI and CIA.” How you go ahead and link that to making nuclear weapons or any other WMD I’m not sure.

          Rakon is a more dodgy prospect, from what I read, they make a very specific part of the GPS guidance systems used on US smart bombs, which theoretically could be used on nuclear weapons. (Which is lovely considering I also read they have a history of lying to the US military about faults in their product, causing bombs in Afghanistan to go astray.) As I understand it this was custom made for the USA’s hardware, so it’s probably not much use to anyone else. Anyone else who wants their own Rakon temperature-compensated crystal oscillators can call them up and place an order I’m guessing. This is high tech stuff for militaries with big budgets, not terrorists. It’s a stretch to put it kindly.

          So you think John Key was referring to this when he said that he was worried about cyber attacks and covert attempts to use science and technology for projects involving weapons of mass destruction? Do you think that protecting the products of these two companies really requires and justifies changing the law to allow Echelon to spy on New Zealanders?

          • Populuxe1 12.3.1.1.1
            17 April 2013 at 12:15 pm

            “Do you think that protecting the products of these two companies really requires and justifies changing the law to allow Echelon to spy on New Zealanders?”

            No, I do not. However Key was not making stuff up about WMDs. But more to the point, prohibited countries like Iran and North Korea CAN’T “call them up and place an order” – which would make them attractive targets.

            • emergency mike 12.3.1.1.1.1
              17 April 2013 at 1:46 pm

              “No, I do not.”

              Good to hear.

              “However Key was not making stuff up about WMDs.”

              Oh please, all you’ve been able to come up with so far is Rakon’s special crystals for the guidance systems of US smart bombs. If that’s the extent our WMD industry then John Key was sure as shit ‘making stuff up’ about the need to protect it with broad changes to GCSB legislation. Which is the salient point here pop.

              “But more to the point, prohibited countries like Iran and North Korea CAN’T “call them up and place an order””

              Is China a prohibited country? I’d guess not since Key is such a big fan of tree trade with them. So how about China’s trade policy with Iran and North Korea?

              “– which would make them attractive targets.”

              And yet they’ve been managed to thwart the determined espionage efforts of those nations so far. I guess they must have awesome security.

              “Security, too, appears to have been a problem. Aside from the Herald’s obtaining sensitive company documents, a Rakon manager complained of one weekend finding the “main entry to building 3 completely open … free access available to anyone!””

              Ya real attractive targets these guys. Maybe the taxpayer should spot them an alarm system, but shedding civil liberties for all New Zealanders? Not so much.

        • Murray Olsen 12.3.1.2
          16 April 2013 at 5:33 pm

          I hope the terrorists don’t learn about Wikipedia.
          It’s stretching the truth beyond breaking point to suggest either of these companies’ products would be of much interest to anyone who can already make anything they would be used on. The Americans, who are arguably the biggest threat to our sovereignty and what’s left of our democracy, already get handed this stuff on a plate.
          The GCSB needs to be dismantled. They were formed to spy on foreigners, for foreigners, but were probably so bloody useless at it that they just sat around twiddling their thumbs. They shouldn’t be given more powers; they should be sent on one of Paula Benefit’s ready for work schemes.

          • Populuxe1 12.3.1.2.1
            17 April 2013 at 12:19 pm

            You are really stuck on the whole “all terrorists live in desert caves in Middle Eastern third world hell holes” aren’t you. Foreign agents can be terrorists too – in case you’ve forgotten, the last non-cyber terrorist act in this country was committed by France.

    • Jackal 12.4
      16 April 2013 at 12:56 pm

      What you claim Populuxe1 is against the law under the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act 1987 (PDF), which states:

      Prohibition on acquisition of nuclear explosive devices

      (2) No person, who is a New Zealand citizen or a person ordinarily resident in New Zealand, and who is a servant or agent of the Crown, shall, beyond the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone,—
      (a) manufacture, acquire, or possess, or have control over, any nuclear explosive device; or
      (b) aid, abet, or procure any person to manufacture, acquire, possess, or have control over any nuclear explosive device.

      New Zealanders aren’t allowed to provide electronic components used in nuclear weapons… Therefore I very much doubt you’re telling the truth Populuxe1.

      • Populuxe1 12.4.1
        16 April 2013 at 1:45 pm

        Are you deliberately obtuse or naturally thick, Jackass – that only applies to the warhead payload, not the missile delivery system.

        • Te Reo Putake 12.4.1.1
          16 April 2013 at 1:58 pm

          Just a guess, but I’d say the key word is ‘control’, Pop. And a delivery mechanism forms part of the control system, so I think the legislation may very well apply. Or at least, given how slap dash our spooks and cops are with the English language, it could be seen to be applicable to the point where plod kicks in your door at dawn.

          • Tim 12.4.1.1.1
            16 April 2013 at 2:27 pm

            “Or at least, given how slap dash our spooks and cops are with the English language…”
            They’ve been taking lessons from WonderBoy, and after 4 1/2 years, they’ve now got it down to a fine art.
            Anybody else listening to Key in Parly-r-mint today? The guy sounds drunk!

          • Populuxe1 12.4.1.1.2
            16 April 2013 at 2:29 pm

            What? Suddenly at the last minute Standardistas have developed faith in the obedience of corporations and governments to obey the law? How quaint. Don’t put your back out doing that u-turn.

            And no, contol only applies to the warhead because the missile itself could be used to launch everything from conventional explosives to atmospheric probes and small satellites – none of which is prohibited by the law.

            • Pascal's bookie 12.4.1.1.2.1
              16 April 2013 at 3:56 pm

              So you reckon guidance systematic for smart bombs and the like would be high priorities for terrorists?

              • Populuxe1 …
                17 April 2013 at 12:22 pm

                Again, why do you assume “terrorist” means some third world religious fanatic who lives in a cave?

                • Pascal's bookie …
                  17 April 2013 at 12:26 pm

                  I don’t. But the context of this discussion, the GCSB law changes and Key’s comments, is clearly around non-state actors.

                  • Populuxe1 …
                    17 April 2013 at 1:14 pm

                    How exactly, because I didn’t get that at all. Foreign agents are quite capable of perpetrating terrorist acts. France and the Rainbow Warrior comes to mind.

                    • Pascal's bookie …
                      17 April 2013 at 1:27 pm

                      Read what he said.

                      In terms of terrorism, he talks about people with links to terrorist groups.

                      But where have I suggested ‘Foreign agents’ are not capable of ‘perpertrating terrorist acts’?

                      Quote please.

                      Perhaps you think dropping a precision guided bomb from a plane would fit under the general definition of terrorism? Is that what you are getting at?

  13. freedom 13
    16 April 2013 at 9:06 am

    Lprent:
    sidebar comment links to this page are intermittently jumping to this address
    http://thestandard.org.nz/why-does-key-want-to-sell-air-nz/#comment-619388

    • prism 13.1
      17 April 2013 at 1:55 pm

      freedom
      It may be a system error, but the link worked and item was still interesting.

  14. Pete 14
    16 April 2013 at 9:10 am

    Key is probably referring to this kind of stuff:

    As an expert in your field, you may recognise if there is a potential WMD application for your export or technology. The NZ Strategic Goods List (NZSGL) administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) is a list of export-controlled military and dual-use goods based on international regimes. A permit can sometimes be required for electronic export, such as by email or fax.

    Dual-use goods include items, technology and expertise, and plans or designs related to the following NZSGL categories:
    • Materials, Chemicals, Micro-organisms and Toxins
    • Electronics
    • Aerospace and Propulsion
    • Computers
    • Navigation and Avionics
    • Marine
    • Materials Processing
    • Nuclear Materials
    • Telecommunications and Information Security
    • Sensors and Lasers

    Export of items not listed on the NZSGL may still be controlled by an end-use “catch-all” provision. This extends controls to cover the export of unlisted goods and technologies, that have a WMD or military application, to a country subject to United Nations Security Council arms embargoes. MFAT’s Export Controls Team can advise whether a permit to export is required.

    MFAT’s Strategic Goods List is here (PDF)

    • Colonial Viper 14.1
      16 April 2013 at 7:22 pm

      Basically every fucking thing is dual use. A .303 round is dual use. A spray milk powder factory is dual use. An A4 piece of paper is dual use (if you draw plans for WMD on it). This is stupid.

  15. Maggie May 15
    16 April 2013 at 9:13 am

    Just another step on the way to a police state run by a Neo Conservative Regime.

    • One Anonymous Knucklehead 15.1
      16 April 2013 at 11:13 am

      Police states are so last century! We’re going to be a dinimic funshul servisconmy.

      • Tim 15.1.1
        16 April 2013 at 2:29 pm

        = dynamic financial service economy huh?
        There’s a job for us both in the government’s translation service me thinks.

    • The Pink Postman 15.2
      16 April 2013 at 2:37 pm

      Its happened before Mag May. Holland.1951 and Muldoon. Remember that Norman Kirk was also covertly investigated by the then secret service.
      However as Heinrich Himmler said in the 1920/30″ If you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear ” . the result the Holocaust.

  16. marty mars 16
    16 April 2013 at 9:35 am

    It is pathetic but some bad shit will result – remember the last time terrorists were mentioned

    They (middleNZ) won’t remember the last time the terrorism word was used in anger and the devastation to community, to peoples lives, to the innocent charged and dragged before the court system and to the political prisoners who did their time as a protest against the system that wrongfully imprisoned them. They forget but we don’t forget,…

    http://mars2earth.blogspot.co.nz/2013/04/the-headlights-get-bigger.html

  17. Possion 17
    16 April 2013 at 10:59 am

    Weapons of mass destruction are clearly dangerous in the wrong hands ,especially when they do not no how dangerous they are.in 2002 Warren Buffet called derivatives weapons of mass destruction (time bombs awaiting a single spark) which have since exploded.

    That the same risk is still present,and little has been done to preclude further implosions suggest that Governments cannot constrain even simple problems.

    http://www.fintools.com/docs/Warren%20Buffet%20on%20Derivatives.pdf

  18. Skinny 18
    16 April 2013 at 11:10 am

    If Key phrased ‘a war on drugs’ to try justify law changes to spying I doubt Kiwi’s would mind as much. But to use that old chestnut catch phrase of GW Bush ” WMD” shows a terrible lack of judgement. Appears to be more lying to the NZ public to cover the Dotcom saga. 

  19. yeshe 19
    16 April 2013 at 11:43 am

    Where is Peter Sellars when you need him ?? Beyond a joke … and it is even more laughable when remembering that Huawei ( Chinese gubmint) have the job for all our cells and ‘internetnesses’ etc while US has banned them in such contracts.

    And did you see the joke that Banks is on the House ‘oversight’ intelligence ctte ? Really Banks — you don’t remember the helicopter ride ? Yeah, right.

    I can’t wait for more from Kim Dotcom — here’s hoping he truly has the proof about Key that will nail him for the liar he is.

    Thank goodness the country is free of any serious issues like child poverty and mining disasters and we have time for this meandering dissembling fool as prime minister.

    • prism 19.1
      17 April 2013 at 1:59 pm

      Trouble is while you’re watching and exclaiming at the clowns tumbling in the circus ring, pick pockets are emptying out your wallet.

  20. muzza 20
    16 April 2013 at 1:51 pm

    We’re also signatories to the Chemical Weapons and Biological Weapons Conventions, which outlaw them.

    Really, so what part does the below play in relation to the claim above about being a signatory, yet the government voted down *The Depleted Uranium Prohibition Bill*!

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10815942

    A ban on dealing with depleted uranium weapons has been rejected by MPs because the Maori Party was one MP down.

    The Depleted Uranium Prohibition Bill would have meant New Zealand joined an international campaign to protect civilians and our troops fighting overseas.

    The bill would make it illegal to possess, use, sell, manufacture, test and transport depleted uranium in all conventional munitions and armour within New Zealand and by agents of the New Zealand Government.

  21. The Pink Postman 21
    16 April 2013 at 2:28 pm

    The Russians are coming The Russians are coming.!!!

  22. CraigM 22
    16 April 2013 at 3:05 pm

    John Key is liked !!!
    This is sounding like a nasty party
    Is this a labour or greens site ???

    [lprent: Read the about and the policy and answer your own question without being such an ignorant dipshit who is too lazy to look for material that is clearly visible. ]

  23. CraigM 23
    16 April 2013 at 3:07 pm

    I must come here more !! i forgot hope spitefull this site had become , By the way John Key is very liked by New Zealanders , Policy labour policy !!!! where is it ?????? could it be in a secret bank account at the UN !

    [lprent: Don’t just troll. You did one decent comment with some vague substance today and two moronic ones that were essentially meaningless. Do too many of the latter (whaleoil level) and I will get bored with reading them sooner rather than later. ]

    • Alanz 23.1
      16 April 2013 at 7:28 pm

      hello hello hello can you all please stop drawing attention to John Key’s lies. quick deflect and blame Labour for something.

      /sarc

  24. Emilio Zapata 24
    16 April 2013 at 4:44 pm

    Go away and learn how to communicate beyond the level of an excited child first.

  25. KhandallaViper 25
    16 April 2013 at 5:08 pm

    Boys and Girls

    You are all barking up the wrong tree.

    Look at Key at a more human level.

    It is a stressful job, you are making big decisions hourly, you need to unwind a bit, you are away from home a lot, first class hospitality is extended, everyone charms you, and you look for a space away from it all.

    You have a glass or two, you chat to nice people who make you feel good and relaxed, you burn the candle at both ends, you start making mistakes and the downward spiral commences.

    Those who might help Key are actually looking to the end game and accelerating the process. They feel they have this luxury because the opposition has not driven in a decent body blow despite numerous preceding gaffs.

    • Alanz 25.1
      16 April 2013 at 7:25 pm

      Ummm … please define “opposition”. The Greens have been great at holding the Natz to account and Winston Peters has been quick on his feet in the house and effective with press releases.

  26. Doug 26
    16 April 2013 at 5:25 pm

    Rakon get the all clear for expansion.
    http://www.royalsociety.org.nz/2006/06/15/rakon-2/

  27. harpooner 27
    16 April 2013 at 6:57 pm

    create bogeymen’ and then introduce draconian neocon ‘home security’ laws.

  28. AmaKiwi 28
    16 April 2013 at 7:09 pm

    Repeating what someone said on TS a few days ago:

    “Of the 85 people illegally spied on by GCSB, 55 were Nicky Hager.”

    John Key’s enemies are not across the seas. They are HERE. They are us.

  29. RedLogix 29
    16 April 2013 at 7:43 pm

    I’m wondering if the word “ricin” might not have some relevance here?

  30. BrucetheMoose 30
    16 April 2013 at 11:54 pm

    OK who found out about the giant death ray I have been researching and developing in my basement. Pisses me off after toiling away ten years constructing it out of obsolete space invader machines, car batteries and Dick Smith bits. Bloody typical. Key has to spoil everything he sets his focus on. Now what am I going to sell to the North Koreans and Australians

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