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Because he only has the support of one MP outside the ruling National Party (and would have lost the vote) this is going through with Cabinet support. Neve mind democratic oversight when it comes to pleasing one's superiors.
Journalist, Jon Stephenson says NZ SAS troops are ALREADY in Iraq.
Journalist, Jon Stephenson says NZ SAS troops are ALREADY in Iraq.
NZ deployment to Iraq confirmed
New Zealand will send a deployment of about 140 soldiers to Iraq, to help train Iraqi security forces, Prime Minister John Key announced this afternoon.
23
February, 2014
The
deployment will start in May and be for a maximum of two years.
The
training troops will be based in Taji, about 30km north of Baghdad,
and will work alongside Australian Defence Force personnel.
However
Mr Key said they would not be part of a badged ANZAC force and the
New Zealand Government would remain in control of any operational
decisions.
John
Key - Photo: RNZ
/ Alexander Robertson
Mr
Key said that regular New Zealand soldiers would provide protection
to the training troops, not special forces.
But
he said the SAS might be deployed to Iraq for short periods to advise
on force protection and special visits.
The
legal protection for the soldiers had not yet been settled, and that
would be worked through with the Iraqi government in the coming
weeks, to give them the best protection possible, he said.
The
Chief of the Defence Force Tim Keating said force protection would be
an element of the deployment to Iraq, and those troops would be armed
and retain the right to self-defence.
He
said the programme was yet to be finalised, but the defence force was
now formally in pre-deployment training.
The
base in Taji was seven kilometres by six kilometres, and had an
airfield inside it.
Mr
Keating said New Zealand troops would remain within that zone and
reiterated their role was not to confront Islamic State militants.
Opposition parties criticise deployment plan
The
Labour Party said the Government had to answer what New Zealand
personnel would be able to achieve, that others had not been able to,
after several years and billions of dollars.
Andrew
Little - Photo: RNZ
/ Alexander Robertson
Leader
Andrew Little said the party opposed the deployment to Iraq.
Mr
Little told Parliament the Iraqi Army was demoralised and riven with
corruption, and had been for 10 years.
He
said New Zealand could not fix the Iraqi Army, saying it was
disorganised, broken, treacherous and corrupt.
New
Zealand could help to build a functioning government, that could be
assisted by advice from this country and help with reconstruction.
He
said New Zealand had a reputation as an honest broker, as shown by
its success in securing a seat on the UN Security Council, and it
should show leadership on this issue by helping create a true nation
state in Iraq.
Mr
Little also said that New Zealand was exposing its soldiers to even
greater risk if they were sent to Iraq without adequate legal
protections.
The
Green Party also opposed the deployment, saying the Government lacked
a mandate from the New Zealand Parliament and the public.
Russel
Norman - Photo: RNZ
/ Alexander Robertson
Co-leader
Russel Norman told Parliament the Prime Minister had refused to put
the vote to the House because he knew the public was reluctant to
enter another bloody conflict, and that he would not have the numbers
to win a vote.
He
also accused the Government of pandering to the United States, and
abandoning any pretence of independent foreign policy, saying Mr Key
was "acting like the Governor of the 51st state".
New
Zealand First leader Winston Peters told Parliament it was an affront
to New Zealand's democracy that Mr Key made the decision to go to
Iraq without the stamp of approval from Parliament.
Mr
Peters called for the Government to trust in the people's institution
of Parliament, like other countries had, when they made the decision
to commit troops.
Mr
Peters told the House that without the opportunity to have a vote the
National Party backbench was now cannon fodder for an executive that
was making unilateral decisions on everyone else's behalf.
Winston
Peters - Photo: RNZ
/ Alexander RobertsonNational's allies also voice opposition
Political
allies of the National Party also expressed their opposition to the
deployment.
Only
ACT with its one MP has committed its support.
Maori
Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell said that sending soldiers to train
Iraqi troops was effectively sending them to war.
He
said any military involvement from New Zealand would be regarded as
an act of war by Islamic State (IS).
Mr
Flavell said New Zealanders should be under no illusion that this
country was raising its head above the parapet and therefore
increasing the risk of becoming a target for IS attacks.
United
Future leader Peter Dunne said the issue was not whether New Zealand
should do anything, but what it could do to help those suffering
under the yoke of oppression, and to combat Islamic State.
He
said history showed that external intervention in the Middle East
inevitably ended in failure, and an ingrained and increasing sense of
bitterness, that resulted in the creation of groups like IS.
"
Let's be frank about this, NZ is going to war, we are going to be
part of the killing chain." Jon Stephenson.
Everyone
who voted for John Key voted for war, oil on our beaches as a result
of deep sea drilling for oil and the extinction of the Maui's
dolphin.
Key
lied again today saying that our troops will be in Iraq in an
advisory role only.
Mission
creep has begun and will get worse every day. All my NZ peeps get
ready for demo's at the airport as we welcome home our dead.
---Kevin
Hester
EXCLUSIVE:
NZ TROOPS ALREADY IN IRAQ - JON STEPHENSON
Freelance
kiwi war journalist Jon Stephenson claims NZ SAS troops are already
in Iraq and explains what John Key means when he says "and other
activities you wouldn’t call war" and "intelligence for
airstrikes".
Stephenson
reckons NZ will be involved in a very bloody long term war.
To
hear the podcast GO HERE
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