Kiwi Troops Redundant In Iraq

New Zealand First defence spokesperson Ron Mark says he understands the Government’s decision to bring New Zealand troops home from Iraq.

The Defence Force is withdrawing its military engineering contingent this week as a result of escalating violence and increased security risk.

“This is a sensible decision, given that the soldiers have been unable to carry out the work they were sent to Basra to do because of the spread in violent attacks,” Mr Mark said.

“With the shortages in manpower the New Zealand Defence Force is facing back home, it is highly unlikely that we could have continued the commitment of the 60-strong contingent in Basra for much longer anyhow.

“The deteriorating security situation in Iraq has meant that our troops have been virtually redundant over there for the last five weeks and there is little point remaining there.

“It is obvious that the tragic situation created in Iraq will continue for a long time,” said Mr Mark.

© Scoop Media

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>>