Media Release
04 September 2003

This Is A Joke

New Zealand First believes Kiwi engineers going to Iraq hoping that the kiwi logo they wear will be a protective shield are in for a rude shock.

“New Zealand’s defence force was once a proud peacemaker but with the erosion of our capabilities by ridiculous Government policies we are now peacekeepers who believe we are protected because we fly the Kiwi flag,” said New Zealand First associate defence spokesperson, Bill Gudgeon.

“We cannot send our troops into Iraq unless they are better equipped to defend themselves and certainly not with the instructions to ‘run away’.

“We will become the laughing stock of all the military personnel in Iraq. What kind of reputation are we trying to create for ourselves?

“Distinguishing ourselves from the US and British troops with a ‘Kiwi logo’ is not going to stop our troops from being attacked. They must be in a position to protect themselves,” said Mr Gudgeon.

ENDS

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