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| Iraq | |
| NZ troops in Iraq by mid-year, says PM | |
| 2003-05-05 | |
| New Zealand troops could be in Iraq by mid-winter that's summer in Iraq as part of a stabilisation force, possibly under Nato command, if the United Nations approves such a force. Prime Minister Helen Clark said resolutions were being drafted and could be before the Security Council within four weeks. She said yesterday after her return from Europe and Britain that New Zealand would be an enthusiastic participant in the post-war effort, beyond the mine-clearing and humanitarian aid already offered. "We are not being passive. We're being very active in discussion with a lot of people. It is understood by the UK and by the US that a lot of nations are willing to help, but they are looking for some kind of multilateral cover."
Sounds good as long as Kofi is not involved. The can-do attitude is a contrast to earlier Government views, which not only disapproved of the war but would not endorse anything but a United Nations-led peacekeeping force. The softening began soon after Helen Clark apologised to US President George W. Bush for suggesting the war would not have happened under a Democrat presidency. We've had plenty of differences with NZ in the past, particularly on nukes. But they're still helping out just as they did in Afghanistan. This leaves Canada as the only one of the great English speaking nations not involved. Not coincidentally, they elected a French speaking PM. | |
| Posted by:JAB |
| #5 And they did help w/spiriting those NK scientists out. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-05-05 23:42:23 |
| #4 Among other forces, NZ has an SAS like the Aussies. I believe that some of their people in Afghanistan were integrated with the Aussie units that went over there. Supposedly these forces, though small in number, made a significant contribution to the success of Enduring Freedom. |
| Posted by: JAB 2003-05-05 19:14:47 |
| #3 I didn't think New Zealand still had an army. Didn't they dissolve their air force awhile back? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-05-05 16:59:50 |
| #2 Sorry, first I missed that the Canadians were coming. Second, for some reason I thought that an earlier lefty NZ government had pulled out of the ANZUS treaty because it obligated them to let nuclear armed ships dock in its ports. It turns out it is still in force on paper though we have abrogated our obligations towards NZ because of their no-nukes stance. |
| Posted by: JAB 2003-05-05 15:08:34 |
| #1 Actually, Canada has offered to send troops and legal experts to Iraq at our request. The PM was hesitant at first, but after the continuous nagging by the Deputy PM and the Defense Minister (as well as the constant objections by the Foreign Minister, who is a complete nimrod), he gave in. A little known fact is that Canada had 31 troops actively participate in this war (due to a troop exchange with the US and UK militaries), even though Chretien vehemently opposed it. Frankly, I can’t count enough days until that clown leaves office. Unfortunately, his successor doesn’t seem to be that much better. |
| Posted by: SL 2003-05-05 14:38:40 |