Clark dodges the questions again on Iraq

Bill English - National Leader

Helen Clark’s policy of playing dumb on the SAS troops looks more and more like a political convenience than a genuine concern for the safety of the troops, says National Leader Bill English.

“Her refusal to even take a question in the House about her policy on SAS troops means that the only way New Zealanders’ know what is happening with our troops is through informal websites.

“The Government argues it cannot trust New Zealanders and that we are a threat to our own troops.

“No other country with the troops in Afghanistan is operating on this ‘never need to know’ basis.

“New Zealanders have a right to know the Government policy on who commands our troops, what sort of operations they will and won’t do, and the Government’s plans for when the troops may come home. None of this information is a danger to the SAS.

“The real reason for the policy of total silence is that any discussion of New Zealand troops upsets the Labour Party,” Mr English said.

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