Posts Tagged ‘afghanistan’

The US withdraws from Afghanistan and the inevitable happened

Written By: - Date published: 9:57 pm, November 29th, 2021 - Comments Off on The US withdraws from Afghanistan and the inevitable happened

The withdrawal in August of US and allied troops from Afghanistan saw the return of the Taliban in control of that country. This sadly was always going to be the outcome once the US and its allies withdrew.

Still in Denial.

Written By: - Date published: 9:12 am, April 4th, 2018 - 46 comments

General Tim Keating’s resignation.

What are our SAS up to? An easy to digest guide!

Written By: - Date published: 2:18 pm, August 15th, 2017 - 8 comments

A short video looking at the major issues in the Hager/Stephenson book ‘Hit and Run’

NZDF credibility on the line

Written By: - Date published: 8:11 am, March 27th, 2017 - 80 comments

There were several significant developments on Hit and Run and the NZDF over the weekend. Which version of the NZDF story is it that Bill English backs 100%?

Afghanistan – a forgotten war

Written By: - Date published: 6:43 pm, February 15th, 2016 - 27 comments

More than a decade after the Taliban Government was ‘regime changed’ by the west, the Taliban are resurgent and Afghan civilian deaths are as high as ever.

Jon Stephenson vs NZDF retrial

Written By: - Date published: 11:20 am, July 11th, 2014 - 9 comments

The NZ Defense Force have been defending themselves in a defamation case against some grossly inaccurate claims that they made about reporter Jon Stephenson back in 2011 (and that John Key recklessly and foolishly chimed in on). They have been forced to concede that their claims were inaccurate. But a hung jury about how defamatory the claims were is causing it to proceeding to second trial. It looks like legal maneuvering by the NZDF has failed. My view is that the NZDF are being completely stupid about owning up to their screwup.

Malala Yousafzei Respect

Written By: - Date published: 7:06 pm, July 13th, 2013 - 44 comments

MalalaMalala Yousafzei must be one of the bravest young women in the world.  She was shot by the Taliban for advocating for education of young women but refuses to be silenced.  She recently had the opportunity to speak to the United Nations.

Hager: Uncomfortable truths

Written By: - Date published: 7:53 am, May 5th, 2013 - 7 comments

Phil Twyford on Nicky Hager’s Capt Jack Lyon Memorial Lecture Uncomfortable truths, NZ foreign policy in the ‘war on terror’. As Phil notes: “I think it is a cautionary tale for any future Labour-led government with a progressive, independent foreign policy”.

Yet another thing the PM is “not responsible” for

Written By: - Date published: 8:19 am, November 1st, 2012 - 26 comments

Yet another thing the PM is “not responsible” for – add it to the long list. This time it is his “oversight” of the SAS.  Or is Key seeking his Obama “gotcha” moment, and a political bounce from it?

Key owes the families an explanation

Written By: - Date published: 10:33 am, August 23rd, 2012 - 53 comments

Key owes it to the families to provide them with an explanation as to what purpose remaining in Afghanistan serves.

NRT: Not worth it

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

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

Jon Stephenson replies to critics

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

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

Key attacks another journalist

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

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

Anzacs and Afghans

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

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

Sickening

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

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

No Medal of Honour for Wayne Mapp

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

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

Obama – war president

Written By: - Date published: 7:03 am, December 3rd, 2009 - 41 comments

Well, any lingering hopes that Obama was something different can now be out of their misery. He’s just another American establishment politician after all. Drawing on the rhetoric of 9/11 Obama has committed to an escalation in Afghanistan: WASHINGTON – President Obama unveiled his plan Tuesday night to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan, declaring […]

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