26 MAY 2015

Risk to Kiwi Troops Escalates as PM Dithers

The Prime Minister sent brave Kiwi soldiers to Iraq on mission impossible – and instead has landed them on the frontline, says New Zealand First.

“Mr Key promised New Zealanders the Kiwi mission was to train Iraqi troops, yet, as we pointed out at the time, the US had spent a decade trying to do that without success,” says Defence Spokesperson Ron Mark.

“Mr Key now has the evidence that the Kiwi training mission is pointless. The Iraqi army cannot be trained. It does not have the will to fight, as American joint chiefs of staff chair General Dempsey pointed out after the Iraqis were routed from the western city of Ramadi, despite outnumbering the enemy 10 to one.

“If Iraq hasn’t got the will to defend itself, then it is not worth one Kiwi soldier’s life.

“Now our troops are less than100 kilometres from ISIS and it’s probable ISIS already has advance elements in their area.

“Mr Key knows he made the wrong decision. He told Parliament today it’s a Defence decision whether the troops are brought home or not.

“What a turnaround, it was his decision to send them, as Defence said at the time. Defence was just doing its duty.”
Mr Key must now “show some guts”, make a decision and take control, says Mr Mark.

ENDS

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