10 September 2001

Today’s decision by the Government to launch one review and two inquiries into the Defence debacle smacks of classic divide and rule tactics, says New Zealand First Spokesman for Defence Ron Mark MP.

“The review into responsibilities and accountabilities will not result in the cancellation of what we now know to be an unaffordable and unsound decision to motorise the New Zealand Army and so we will still, at the end of the day, have wasted at least $700 million.

“The inquiry into standards of behaviour and document leaks, is designed to shoot those messengers who were justifiably disgusted with the actions of their senior officers, but who had no other way of bringing matters to the attention of the House of Representatives. Rather than being purged they should be receiving medals,” said Mr Mark.

“The inquiry into the now infamous Gordon letter, is deserving of a full Commission of Inquiry in order that government Ministers, academics and officers, both serving and past, might be cross examined on oath. Such is the level of public concern of the constitutional issues involved.

“This government knows that all of the issues raised are inter-related and the only way the full truth will ever be brought out into the public arena is if there is one formal, independent Commission of Inquiry, absolutely free of government control or the perceptions of government control.

“Anything less than this will be seen for what it is, that being a government orchestrated whitewash,” said Mr Mark.

ENDS

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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>>