Kech, given the distance and interests New Zealand has in Afghanistan, compared with those of the USA and Europe, I have a hard time thinking why New Zealand should send any troops at all.
Given the history of how our "friends" the USA, Britain, France have treated New Zealand, I wonder why New Zealand even bothered with helping fight Nazis in WWII. Or course, in those days, NZ was part of the British Empire, the British Commonwealth and was integrated through monarchy, legal system, financial and commercial interests, family ties and whatnot. So it was understandable.
Given the history of the last 20 or 30 years, when France conducted the first and only state-backed terrorist act in New Zealand and the indifference of Britain and the USA. Not to mention various other unfriendly acts, I wonder with friends like that, who needs enemies?
It is not surprising that New Zealand is cosying up to China as a major trading partner. They seem to be happy to buy stuff from New Zealand and don't go around rattling sabres at us, stopping us selling stuff, charging big tariffs and whatnot.
I'm not too worried about anyone attacking New Zealand and needing USA support. If it's in the interests of the USA to help defend NZ, we'll get defended, whether we like it or not. If it's not in the interests of the USA to help defend NZ, we won't get any help whether we beg or not, pay cash or not.
Fortunately, we have a big moat and there's not a lot of reason for other countries to attack NZ. Though the French came up with a good one and I dare say there were discussions in the USA higher-ups whether NZ should be taught a lesson or not. It was notable that USA intelligence didn't have a clue that the French were planning an attack in support of nuclear bomb testing down this way and the USA was quite sanguine about that. Afterwards, it was no big deal.
I note that while Britain was being bloodied by IRA bombs, including the Brighton bombing which nearly killed the British government, the USA was okay with USA citizens funding such "freedom fighters" and was hosting good old Gerry Adams at the White House or somewhere official. I am glad that some of those IRA funders were killed in the Twin Tower collapse. I am hoping that's what happened anyway. It would mean some more innocent people weren't killed.
Now, belatedly, the USA seems to have figured out that such terrorist acts are not always such a good thing. Some of us could be grateful for that conclusion. It's a shame so many innocent people died to force the conclusion on them.
I note too that the USA didn't join in the NATO action against Argentina by Britain. Presumably NATO wasn't quite one for all and all for one after all. Maybe the fine print said - "Only if it's the USSR". An attack on one wasn't considered an attack on all.
My father's cousin, a decorated hero of WWI, was imprisoned for speaking out against WWII and war in general, as a pacifist. So much for freedom of speech. That would be like gaoling all those who are questioning being in Iraq. While Ormond Burton was in prison, my father was in the desert fighting Rommel and co, away from home for 4 years, on behalf of people who were not going to show much appreciation at all, but were instead going to give him a kick in the bum as he left.
I would not now volunteer to go to Afghanistan and definitely not to Iraq.
<Afghanistan and have even lost a Kiwi or two in a jeep roll over but even on a per capita basis the contribution is probably behind the French. > See what I mean? Why bother going where even when you are busy doing it, those who you are helping couldn't care less? As they say, no good deed goes unpunished.
Given the numbers of Moslems in France, and England, from that region, not to mention gas and other interests, such as Iran over the fence, Pakistan next door, I think there is probably good cause for NATO to take a much greater interest in Afghanistan than NZ should. Russia is up the road too.
Mqurice |
