afghanistan Archive

• 

  Afghanistan v United States of America

  
  
  
  This is not the War of Terror! It is a friendly sport competition played last Thursday between Afghanistan and the United States of America. Afghanistan won! read more
  February 14, 2010 7:53 pm - 8 Comments
• 

  At long last, a bit more openness about the SAS

  
  
  
  I’ve welcomed the government’s move to let us know something about what the SAS is doing in Afghanistan. For eight years we’ve had to rely totally on leaks in the foreign media, or what Kiwi journalists like Jon Stephenson have been able to dig up. For eight years I’ve peppered New Zealand ministers and Defence [...] read more
  January 28, 2010 2:33 pm - 4 Comments
• 

  Bearded Apiata on NZ Army website

  
  
  
  There are two (related) debates raging following the decision of the Herald and other newpapers to publish the photo of VC winner Willie Apiata on active duty in Kabul following a Taliban attack. The Christchurch Press argues this morning that it was just sharing a photo ‘that anyone could see on the internet’. The Press denies [...] read more
  January 25, 2010 12:04 pm - 14 Comments
• 

  Bring SAS troops home from Afghanistan!

  
  
  
  It’s good that New Zealand won’t be sending any more troops to Afghanistan. However, that’s not because John Key has just seen the light. With its existing troop commitments – in Afghanistan, the Solomons and East Timor – the NZ Defence Force simply doesn’t have any troops to spare. I’m asking John Key to look at [...] read more
  December 3, 2009 9:58 am - 16 Comments
• 

  Afghanistan’s Agony: What in the world to do?

  
  
  
  Afghanistan gets progressively worse.  The US President is caught in a vice-like grip between personal judgment and political constraint.  Having characterised Afghanistan as a war of necessity to escape a war of choice (Iraq), he cannot exit early.  Yet a late exit becomes a quagmire.  He thus equivocates over the military’s request for another surge, [...] read more
  November 6, 2009 12:25 pm - 29 Comments
• 

  Open Letter to President Barack Obama

  
  
  
  Dear Mr President, Congratulations on the award of the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009. Many around the world will welcome the award and be inspired by the tribute accorded to you. read more
  October 12, 2009 4:39 pm - 31 Comments
• 

  Secret agreement for SAS on Afghan prisoners?

  
  
  
  According to Jon Stephenson in this morning’s Sunday Star-Times the SAS soldiers realise they are in for a tougher time in Afghanistan this time around. However, it is still not entirely clear what will happen to any prisoners our SAS hands over to the Afghan authorities. Jon Stephenson says Afghanistan has now promised, in writing, that [...] read more
  September 27, 2009 8:35 pm - 2 Comments
• 

  “No Limits” to civilian suffering in US bombing

  
  
  
  Images courtesy of Radio Live ***** The three Kiwi soldiers in Afghanistan might have seen it as a bit of harmless fun. To help a drink promotion they slapped a Demon sticker reading “No Limits, No Laws” on a 2000 lb bomb attached to the undercarriage of a [presumably] American plane at [presumably] Bagram airbase. The NZ [...] read more
  September 4, 2009 6:22 pm - 112 Comments
• 

  General Debate, August 12, 2009

  
  
  
  Bonn, Afghanistan, and now sea lions.  Whatever next from this government? Update: and now sheep – speaks for itself really. read more
  August 12, 2009 6:44 am - 35 Comments
• 

  Make peace not war

  
  
  
  And here’s more policy announcements.  Keith Locke and Kennedy Graham launched a 22 page foreign affairs policy tonight at the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Institute for International Affairs that: Introduces into our trading framework with other countries values like human rights, labour and environmental standards, ecologically-sustainable practices, local values and cultures, the right of [...] read more
  September 17, 2008 8:55 pm - 102 Comments