5 November 2008 |

English to explain Iraq comments - Key

Defence Minister Phil Goff has welcomed John Key's promise this morning that Bill English will explain a recording aired on television last night of his derogatory comments about Barack Obama, who may be the next President of the United States.

"At the National Party conference in August, Bill English said: 'I'm a bit worried about this whole Obama thing because there's a limited effectiveness in being moralistic about international relations Bush should have put a different window dressing there still needs [to be] someone willing to pull the trigger'.

"Bill English last night refused to talk to media about his comments, but speaking on TV3's Sunrise programme this morning, John Key said media were 'welcome' to interview Bill English," Phil Goff said.

"It is important for reasons of honesty and transparency that Bill English should front the media. Bill English should tell the New Zealand public what he was saying about Barack Obama, and why he thinks the war in Iraq should have been sold to the public by applying the right 'window dressing'," Phil Goff said.

"National's mask keeps slipping. National Party leaders have been caught out time and time again telling the New Zealand public one thing and saying something else when they think the public is not listening.

"The whole episode shows again that the National Party cannot be trusted. In this morning's interview, John Key said: 'I've made it clear, I'm going to run an independent foreign policy for New Zealand'.

"This is the same John Key who would have sent New Zealand troops to fight in Iraq, when he told a local newspaper: 'Blood is thicker than water New Zealand should be alongside their British and United States allies as they continue their invasion of Iraq, and who accused Labour in Parliament of being 'missing in action' in the Iraq War."

ENDS

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