Violence should spark a debate

Peace Action Wellington

'The violence and brutal repression by occupation forces in Iraq is a compelling reason for the New Zealand Government to reconsider its deployment of Defence Force troops in the south of the country.' said Peace Action Wellington member Valerie Morse

'We invited Prime Minister Helen Clark, Minister of Foreign Affairs Phil Goff and Minister of Defence Mark Burton to a formal debate chaired by CTU President Ross Wilson on the committment of New Zealand troops to Iraq. They all refused the invitation. Clearly, they do not want to face up to the reality that New Zealanders may be involved in a blood bath over there.'

'If a situation develops in Basra like that which has occured in Falluja, the NZDF will not be protecting Iraqi people, they will be protecting coalition troops, contractors and their property.'

'How many more dead Iraqi people and coalition soldiers will it take before Helen Clark realises that the war on Iraq is still going on and that New Zealand is contributing to an illegal and immoral occupation?'

'We must demand that the Government withdrawal all support for the US-led occupation. We will not tolerate having the blood of innocent people on our hands for George W. Bush's crusade.'

Peace Action Wellington calls for an immediate and unconditional end to all New Zealand support for the so-called 'War on Terrorism'

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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>>