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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (118684)	11/5/2003 8:22:45 PM
From: GST	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

The US is still calling the shots in Iraq. And so long as this is the case in both the political and economic spheres, then we won't get any meaningful support in the military sphere. We got a resolution that serves as a fig leaf for the US. Right now our troops need more than a fig leaf -- they a hundred thousand troops from other countries to come in and help stabilize Iraq and we are not going to get it because we were not prepared to give up control. Our companies will get their contracts and a handful of people in the White House can continue to play ideological-god in the middle east -- but our troops are paying for this hubris with their lives.

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (118684)	11/6/2003 4:04:13 PM
From: Maurice Winn	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

Kiwis lending a hand in Iraq although Helen Clark didn't support the invasion. stuff.co.nz <Prime Minister Helen Clark has defended the secrecy surrounding her covert trip to Afghanistan and Iraq, saying the Defence Force did not even want her to tell the public she was leaving the country. Ms Clark flew back from the Middle East on a Defence Force Boeing 757 yesterday, going straight into Cabinet on her return. The Prime Minister gave just three hours' notice of her visit to Kiwi soldiers serving in the region's trouble spots last week, and for security reasons gave no advance details of her itinerary. The Press revealed on Saturday that Ms Clark was in Iraq, where she visited New Zealand army engineers working in Basra, amidst intense concerns for her personal safety. The trip raised questions in New Zealand about whether it was worth the risk, and whether Ms Clark was attempting to curry favour with the United States by undertaking the mission. But Ms Clark said yesterday the trip had been invaluable as it had allowed her to see first-hand what Kiwi soldiers were up to. "It was worth every minute of time invested in it." The upsurge in violence in Iraq had not increased the security threat, which remained high, she said. "High means casualties are likely." But she said despite calls from peace groups to withdraw Kiwi troops and the ongoing high security risks that existed in Iraq, she would not be bringing New Zealand military serving there home early. "I wouldn't forsee now circumstance that would cause us to withdraw. There is a path ahead, and I'm not saying it won't be painful. It will be painful. I think that many more forces will suffer casualties before this is over." Ms Clark said the engineers there were largely engaged in potable water projects, which were much appreciated by the local population. Ms Clark said she had noticed the UN and non-governmental organisations were "largely absent" from Iraq, preferring to conduct their operations from nearby Kuwait. "There has been a tremendous withdrawal of civilian agencies in recent months." Ms Clark said very great care was taken over her security during the visit and she regretted not being able to tell the public more. "Frankly if Defence had been able to not say anything until I got back it would have been their preference. "Fortunately we live in a small and intimate democracy where in the middle of the working week it's not possible for the prime minister to go off the radar screen for five days," Ms Clark said. She said it was clear that while two-thirds of Afghanistan was subject to the rule of law, at least one third was not. She described Afghan Prime Minister Hamid Kazi as "an optimistic man" who believed his country was moving ahead. She had also met with representatives of the UN assistance mission to Afghanistan, the International Security Assistance Force, and with the coalition taskforce. New Zealanders were serving at all the posts. She also met two New Zealand soldiers helping train the Afghan national army in Kabul. In Iraq, Ms Clark met the head of the British military operation located at Basra Airport, the British civilian administrator, and with the appointed governor of the Basra province. > New Zealand supporting the UN. Of course, the real answer is to drain the swamp, which means reconstitute the UN to be a democratic body which reflects the wishes of We the Sheeple rather than the current absurd WWII Victors' Club structure with Fiji's vote equal to India's or Germany's. With Syria's vote equal to Japan's. It's nuts as designed. I prefer Pax Americana, for all its warts. Empire and colonialism have got unjustifiably bad reputations. Kumara for example is so lucky that he became a British subject. I bet he gives thanks each day to the British Empire which freed India from its medieval roots with maharajah rule. <Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, (Hawk's Note: binding resolution that ALL UN members are COMPELLED to uphold) 1. Reaffirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq, and underscores, in that context, the temporary nature of the exercise by the Coalition Provisional Authority (Authority) of the specific responsibilities, authorities, and obligations under applicable international law recognized and set forth in resolution 1483 (2003) which will cease when an internationally recognized representative government established by the people of Iraq is sworn in and assumes the responsibilities of the Authority, inter alia through steps envisaged in paragraphs 4 through 7 and 10 below: 2. Welcomes the positive response of the international community, in form, such as the Arab League, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the United Nations General Assembly, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, to the establishment of the broadly representative Governing Council as all important step towards an internationally recognized, representative government; 3. Supports the Governing Council's efforts to mobilize the people of Iraq, including by the appointment of a cabinet of ministers and a preparatory constitutional committee to lead a process in which the Iraqi people will progressively take control of their own affairs;... > Mqurice