Written By:
Mike Smith - Date published:
12:27 pm, January 22nd, 2020 - 21 comments
Categories: Iran, iraq, military, us politics, war -
Tags:
Join people from across the globe for this international day of action to show our opposition to any new US war on the people of Iran or Iraq. Our message is simple:
* No war on Iran
* No war on Iraq
* Troops out
More information on Facebook here.
Bring your family and friends along with your own messages of peace and justice. We will be Rallying at Midland Park & aiming to march to the Ministry of Defence.
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Are you including Syria in this or would that not be anti-American enough?
I think you got your flippant dismissal of global efforts for peace around the wrong way – surely you meant to suggest including Syria to the list on the grounds that only opposing new US wars on Iraq and Iran was not adequately anti-American (because everyone knows that any desire for world peace has its roots in an irrational hatred of the USA /sarc)?
It is a valid point though.
There are armed conflicts going on all over the globe and it is disappointing to see this protest is only focused on one area.
There are other armed conflicts going on.
How many are likely to involve a request for NZ troops?
How many are being steered towards by governments with some sensitivity to popular opinion and heading into an election year?
This one we can do something about, as part of a global effort but also to influence our own government's participation in it.
Anyone know if there's a Dunedin event?
How many are likely to involve a request for NZ troops?
Again, it is disappointing that this is the criteria by which we protest against a war.
The criteria is our ability to create change.
Doing a general peace protest will be less effective across all conflicts and do nothing about this conflict.
Protesting this conflict explicitly, right now, might actually affect it.
I doubt that very much
But good luck any way
The odds of having an effect are significantly larger than just protesting war in general, no?
I mean, why protest at all? If we can't affect something our own government does, why even bother protesting against Myanmar's treatment of the Karen, or whatever's happening in Burkina Faso?
I skip a lot of protests, but I try to turn up to the ones that might have at least a snowball's chance in hell of doing something. If there's zero chance of achieving change, why bother?
I never said don't bother – I repeat good luck
I didn't take it as discouragement.
But your first comment indicated that the protest should be about something much wider, and yet your later comments indicate that you don't believe the protest will even be a consideration for our own government, let alone all the warmongering parties of the world.
For me, the purpose of most protests is to try and change things great or small. What other purpose can they have?
McFlock wins by miles. Backsliding is not a good tactic, EiE.
Wins what?
We are unlikely to be asked to supply troops to any conflict with Iran. We didn't supply troops to the initial invasion of Iraq either. It was only after the UN became involved that we sent some troops and combat troops were sent after the Iraqi government requested them. The recent training mission was again requested by the Iraqi government. Given the fact the Iraqis were fighting a brutal Islamist terror group which had the potential to destabilise the entire region if they toppled the Iraqi State completely then providing combat trainers was actually in line with the NZ desire to keep the peace wherever possible.
yes, because we had a somewhat sane PM at the time, but had it been The double dipper from Dipton – Housing Welfare Fraud Bill English we would have provided troops for the most excellent adventure in Iraq that is currently no more finished then the most excellent adventure in Afghanistan, or the most excellent adventure in Syria……..
but don't believe me, believe your the words of Helen Clark and the not quite that honorable Bill English and others.
https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/47HansD_20030318_00000052/debate-on-iraq
And the Iraqi Government has invited all foreign troops to leave, surely we will respect that, unlike USA who are there for devious financial and murderous purposes.
Quite right. It is now our patriotic duty to respect the wishes of the Iraqi and withdraw our troops, and call upon the USA to man up and do the same.
Incorrect. The Iraqi government has not requested all foreign troops leave.
Please. The yanks are not going to evade Iran after the mess that was Iraq. We have far more important things we can spend our time rallying and supporting like ihumatao and the various climate change movements. What a shambolic waste of time this rally is.
Oh I don't know. It will keep the various anti-American peaceniks happy for a while. Nothing like a good old fashioned anti-American "peace" march.
are you a child of the 60s Gosman?
A decade too soon for me Weka.