Geneve, Suisse 09-02-01

MAJOR INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR NEW ZEALAND FOREIGN MINISTER

The Directors of the International Directory Intrigued Over Tautological Statements, based in Geneva, are pleased to announce that the winner of their 2001 Award is the Honourable Phil Goff, Minister of Foreign Affairs for New Zealand.

Mr Goff’s winning contribution was his statement that New Zealand Members of Parliament were welcome to attend the International Rugby Sevens Tournament in Wellington, provided they did not watch any games played by Fiji, because of his Government’s policy of “smart sanctions” against Fiji.

The Directors say in their citation that:

“Mr Goff’s statement was an outstanding example of the art of political doublespeak which deserves far greater recognition than just within his own country.

He is a true master of his art, and his efforts have a set an extremely high standard for future entrants to match.” Americans have dominated this competition in recent years, with former President Bill Clinton a frequent winner and the recipient of the International Directory’s first life-time achievement award last year .

Two of Mr Clinton’s more memorable winning entries were:

“I didn’t inhale” (regarding allegations of cannabis use while at university)

“I did not have sexual relations with that woman” (regarding the Monica Lewinsky affair)

“Mr Goff’s victory is a signal honour for New Zealand, and shows that in this particular art, he possesses a skill equivalent to Mr Clinton’s and his we will be watching his future pronouncements with considerable interest,” the Directors say.

Hon Peter Dunne MP, Leader United Future New Zealand Parliament Buildings, Wellington. Ph: (04) 471 9410. Fax. (04) 499 7266 Internet Address: http://www.united.org.nz

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>