Scoop's Election 05: Foreign Policy

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Video: Intelligence Officer Warns Of Rising Threat

Greens - NZ support of global intelligence system dangerous

What Is Really Behind This US/NZ Thaw In Security Relations? - Security Expert and Auckland University lecturer Paul Buchanan writes that election year politics has thrown new light on US-New Zealand relations: "Outgoing US ambassador Charles Swindell reiterated his concerns that recent years have seen a decline in the relationship, officially noted in the US shift from viewing New Zealand as an ally to (rather) that of close friend, and felt practically in the termination of the ANZUS military alliance." What has this thawing of US/NZ relations got to do with the elections and trade? See... Military Exercise + Spurious Trade Relationship

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Greens - Cosying up to US will increase terrorist threat

Image of Lockwood Smith courtesy of www.national.org.nz

National Releases MFAT Notes on Lockwood Smith - Scoop's Kevin List writes that yesterday National Party Deputy Leader Gerry Brownlee released the notes held by Dr Lockwood Smith in relation to an informal meeting Dr Smith had with US Senators 18 months ago. Dr Smith and National Party leader Dr Brash were in the United States meeting with a United States Congressional Delegation at the time the notes were taken. The details of the meeting were transcribed by an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and cabled back to Wellington. See... National Releases Notes On Nuclear Policy
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Scoop Transcript - MFAT Cable Regarding Dr Lockwood Smith

National - National releases notes from US meeting

Scoop Report: Goff Alleges National Sought US Help

Smith disgusted by cheap political shot

Questions & Answers for Oral Answer 2 August 2005

Damaged Goods? - National Releases MFAT Notes on Lockwood SmithScoop's Kevin List writes that yesterday National Party Deputy Leader Gerry Brownlee released the notes held by Dr Lockwood Smith in relation to an informal meeting Dr Smith had with US Senators 18 months ago. Dr Smith and National Party leader Dr Brash were in the United States meeting with a United States Congressional Delegation at the time the notes were taken. The details of the meeting were transcribed by an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and cabled back to Wellington. See... National Releases Notes On Nuclear Policy

Goff Picks Up Mallard's 'Knocked On' Foreign Policy Attack

Today during the final question time for this Parliament Labour Whip Jill Pettis asked Mr Goff a question related to Dr Smith's United States sojourn last year. Mr Goff then read out, under parliamentary privilege, the guts of a conversation Dr Smith had supposedly had with United States officials last year. "Dr Smith, quote, asked whether it would be worthwhile for a United States think-tank to assist with a public campaign in New Zealand following the National Party's study review. See... Goff Alleges National Sought US Help With Policy
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Scoop Transcript: - MFAT Cable Regarding Dr Lockwood Smith

Smith disgusted by cheap political shot

Questions & Answers for Oral Answer 2 August 2005

Scoop Image: National Party leader Don Brash.

TV3 Video: Brash Indecisive Over Iraq/U.S. Position - Attached is a clip of a TV3 news bulletin item which led the Tuesday night 6pm TV3 News bulletin. Subsequently Don Brash is reported to have been urged by his advisors to take a clearer position on the matter. The issue of Don Brash's views on Iraq has been lead news for the remainder of the week. See TV3 Clip: Don Brash Struggles With His Iraq Policy

ENDS

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Hunger For Freedom: Julie Webb Pullman On Reaction To Hunger Strike Deal In Gaza

Despite repeatedly stating that a key demand was an end to administrative detention, and that no partial offer would be accepted, an Israeli offer was yesterday accepted by the Higher Committee for the Hunger Strikers on behalf of the prisoners. Although Israel has agreed to release 19 prisoners from solitary confinement - several of whom have been in isolation for more than ten years - and to lift the ban on family visits for prisoners from Gaza, the agreement states only that administrative detention will not be ‘renewed’ automatically and that after six months, the prisoner must be released, or charged. Current administrative detainees will be released, or charged, at the end of their current sentence. (video by Julie Webb-Pullman - Nakba Vox-pops with Gazans)More>>

The gay marriage debate in New Jersey has gone national, with President Obama throwing his own hat in the ring with resounding approval for same-sex unions. Evangelicals are shuddering, and various pro-Obama supporters are shaking their heads. More>>

The Afghan Peace Volunteers: An Afghan Okinawa

There is no U.S. troop withdrawal in 2014. We are ordinary Afghans wishing for peace, and we have eyes and ears and feelings of love and despair, so please read on.

The Washington Post, in reporting the recent signing of the "U.S. Afghan Enduring Strategic Partnership Agreement", stated that U.S. trainers and Special Operations troops that remain beyond 2014 will live on Afghan bases.” More>>

David Swanson and Leah Bolger: "We Did Not Choose This War" And Other Hypocrisies

"We did not choose this war. This war came to us on 9/11. We don't go looking for a fight. But when we see our homeland violated, when we see our fellow citizens killed, then we understand what we have to do."

These are the words that President Obama used on Tuesday to describe the Afghanistan war, but they would have been more appropriately said by any Afghan citizen. More>>

Gordon Campbell: On The Government’s Self-Defeating Plans For Universities

Steven Joyce happens to hold a set of portfolios central to the country’s economic planning and future direction. Joyce is the Minister of Economic Development, the Tertiary Education Minister and the Minister of Science and Technology. Theoretically, this should allow him to co-ordinate the government’s efforts in those three vital areas. Yet in his recent announcements on student loans, Joyce’s left hand did not appear to know what his right hand was doing. More>>

Jens Christian Lund: Why Should We Care About Fate Of Iranian Dissidents In Iraq?

The fate of a group of Iranian dissidents in Iraq may seem trivial compared to the big issues on stage in the Middle East and other areas of the world. Since I became member of the Danish Parliament, I have tried to follow the situation in Iran and ... More>>

Chris Hedges: The Implosion Of Capitalism

When civilizations start to die they go insane. Let the ice sheets in the Arctic melt. Let the temperatures rise. Let the air, soil and water be poisoned. Let the forests die. Let the seas be emptied of life. Let one useless war after another be ... More>>

Franklin Lamb: Egypt Just Annulled Mubarak’s Natural Gas Giveaway

The Egyptian people are demanding the return of their sovereignty. According to recent opinion surveys they believe it was partially ceded to Israel by the two post-Nasser dictators, Anwar Sadat and Hosni Mubarak, at the behest of American administrations, ... More>>

David Swanson: The Global War on Terror, in the original German

Have we killed as many people as Hitler did? No, not in the same manner. But by sins of both commission (Iraqis bombed and shot, for example) and omission (children starving and suffering from preventable illness, for example) of course we have. And we have the potential to quite easily kill many more.