Not Even An Apology?

New Zealand First Veterans’ Affairs spokesperson Bill Gudgeon says he’s bitterly disappointed that the Government is refusing to acknowledge the extent of harm caused to Vietnam Veterans by exposure to Agent Orange.

“The Government’s refusal to acknowledge irrefutable evidence that New Zealand troops were exposed to the aerial spraying of the defoliant, and that this exposure has been linked to a range of health problems, is insulting to the former soldiers,” said Mr Gudgeon.

“New Zealand First is adamant that an apology must be given to our former servicemen and compensation of some form be paid.

“The debate has gone on for far too long, and the after effects have not only affected veterans but also their families.

“The Government must take responsibility and accept officially once and for all that these Vietnam veterans deserve better treatment,” concluded Mr Gudgeon.

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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>>