Paula Penfold has shown once again that investigative journalism can still be made in NZ with her latest Stuff Circuit expose on the truth of what our NZDF have really been doing in Afghanistan.
Sadly, the deeply competitive news market between duopolies means that one sides scoop is ignored by the other side so as to not give the opposition oxygen.
That’s wrong on every level of journalism because the shocking manner in which the SAS staged violent and purposefully provocative raids in Afghanistan demands an immediate Royal investigation and all the media attention that can be mustered.
Tying the dead of our enemies onto the front of tanks and unloading them in front of villagers in an attempt to shock them is desecrating corpses, and the desecration of the war dead is a war crime…
Stuff Circuit travelled to Afghanistan in April and interviewed villagers who wanted to tell their side of the story, “because we were afflicted, oppressed, and unjust things happened to us”.
The villagers describe how troopers arrived in their village bazaar, creating a lot of dust, so the villagers gathered around.
“They were probably offended so they kicked, slapped and punched us… They cursed and used abusive words towards the people. They said, ‘You guys are Taliban and we will come back again tomorrow’.”
They say the troopers left and set up camp on the side of a hill not far away. During the night, the villagers heard loud fighting.
It is believed this was the firefight in which Apiata earned his VC.
The villagers say the following morning what they describe as “tanks” rolled back into the village bazaar.
“Six tanks came. Each tank had a body…. They dropped the bodies down, they then tied our hands behind our backs.”
…this adds to the current focus on war crimes as exposed by Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson.
Not even Helen Clark had any idea of the manner in which the NZDF were operating within.
Tying the dead to your tanks and beating up locals in the hope to start a provocation is no way to win hearts and minds.
Add possible war crimes to that mix and the need for accountability over the serious questions raised against the NZDF must be investigated with the most objective and credible means possible.
At this stage, we simply can not believe anything the NZDF has to say.
Remember
- The NZDF co-ordinated a disinformation campaign against Jon Stephenson to discredit him after he published articles highlighting the SAS role in handing civilians over to known torture units. That smear attempt was the subject of Stephenson’s defamation case, sadly for Stephenson and journalism in NZ, the jury returned a hung decision allowing the NZDF to get away with it. They finally settled in secret afterwards.
- NZDF lied about allowing the CIA use their bases to hide in.
- NZDF lied about the quality of the infrastructure they built with locals describing the projects as “poorly planned” and “wildly exaggerated”.
For those who say only the Left have a problem with what the NZDF has been doing, here is Fran O’Sullivan…
Bluster won’t bury Hager’s revelations on military
The tsunami of flannel emanating from John Key, Phil Goff and the former Defence top dogs will not bury Nicky Hager’s latest exposure on New Zealand’s involvement in Afghanistan, Iran and the war on terror.Nor should it.
Whatever your position on New Zealand’s relationship with the United States – and I have been a long-time advocate for much closer political, trade and defence ties – Hager’s Other People’s Wars makes public plenty of new material about the origins of this country’s entry into the first wars of the 21st century.
…and John Armstrong…
‘Candyfloss’ PR exposed in all its cynicism
Those who think Nicky Hager is just another left-wing stirrer and dismiss his latest book accordingly should think again.Likewise, the country’s politicians should read Other People’s Wars before condemning it.
Whatever Hager’s motive for investigating New Zealand’s contribution over the past decade to the United States-led “war on terror”, it is pretty irrelevant when placed alongside the mountain of previously confidential and very disturbing information his assiduous research and inquiries have uncovered.
With the help of well-placed informants and thousands of leaked documents, Hager exposes the cynical manner in which the Defence Force has purposely misled the public by omission of pertinent facts and public relations flannel.
This is particularly the case with regard to the “candyfloss” image the military has built around the deployment of New Zealand soldiers in the Bamiyan province of Afghanistan.
That image is of our soldiers acting more like peacekeepers armed with nothing more dangerous than a shovel.
Defence Force staff responsible for the deployment of Orion aircraft and Anzac frigates to the Gulf in the “war against terror” ignored instructions from then prime minister Helen Clark to keep their operations separate from those being conducted by the United States against Iraq. The book quotes unidentified officials and former diplomats as agreeing that Clark – lacking a strong defence minister – fought a lone battle against never ending efforts by the Defence and Foreign Affairs ministries to rewrite Government policy and buy military equipment which would enable New Zealand to build bridges with the United States.
New Zealand diplomats resorted to underhand tricks when they did not get their way with the last Labour Government. For example, when Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials did not like a particular Government policy decision, New Zealand’s ambassadors in Washington and Canberra were told to sound out the views of the local bureaucrats. The ministry would then tell Government ministers that the Americans and Australians had made it known they were very concerned and there could be “relationship implications”.
So when we look over all the deceit, misinformation and anti-democratic tactics used by the NZDF to manipulate the mainstream media, why would we believe their claims of innocence in light of such compelling evidence of wrong doing by our military.
John Key personally signed off on the action that killed a dozen civilians plus children, isn’t it time we held our political leaders to account? If Helen Clark wasn’t informed that our SAS desecrated bodies of the dead to terrify locals, then why and who will be punished?
Why are we still in this flawed and immoral occupation?
I believe Obama called it pivoting to Asia from the Middle East. Afghanistan is essential to monitoring the Silk Road. 🙁
Here, here. The only reason NZ Defence Force is in Afghanistan is to give legitimacy to the US and NATO war criminals who invaded in the first place on the pretext of hunting terrorists who allegedly committed the 9/11 attack. This is of course total rubbish as is Trump’s reasons for staying there. If you lie down with dogs you will get fleas. Those in government and leading the military who support NZ’s role in Afghanistan should be at least publicly shamed.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/47667.htm
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/47661.htm
It is widely rumoured that the Afghan poppy production goes towards funding the CIA’s black ops.
http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/russia-warns-us-over-afghanistan/ri20720
Just what is NZ supporting here.
The 9/11 commision remains a pure pony show. If it had of been established in a court of law that Bin Laden was the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks. Then the natural course of action would have been to partition the local government for immediate extradition or face the consequences. As it turned out Saudi Citizens with Saudi money and Elite Saudi support were redacted from the 9/11 commision report with those same Elite Saudi money donating to Killary’s election campaign.
In away Bin Laden did win. He new the west would over react and just sat back. Those that donated to the U.S Democratic Party via The Clinton Foundation surely have exposed themselves to the continuing cover up.
IMO … NZ “Defence” Force supports the CIA which in turn keeps NZers well stocked with “pharmaceuticals” : https://www.rt.com/op-edge/400653-us-afghanistan-opium-surge-trump/
Why would our forces be there otherwise?
When Muslims first started arriving in Indonesia they went with commerce not the sword. Now they come with the sword (see link below) Indonesia is roughly 80% Muslim so over the last 50 odd years there has been a failure to integrate. The Muslim community is by and large peaceful but they will not tolerate homosexuality or western democracy and so on. And that is a problem for there closest neighbour Singapore which is a democracy that has succeeded in curing the melting pot. And if you think I’m crazy for pointing this out? Singapour currently has a frugal and stable government like our current government but Singapour still spends 5% GDP on defence, does any think they are crazy?
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/26/world/asia/indonesia-philippines-isis-jakarta-marawi.html
If Indonesia decide to put up trade barriers which would cut off New Zealand’s trade and communications corridor as well. Singaporeans response will be, Singapore Security Council + Domestic Capability + NZ, U.S defence arrangements. And New Zealand’s response will be a few cooks and diesel trucks (ridiculous + amazing)
The end game, is the end of the oil age, then the Muslim world will be faced with higher education, high speed technology and renewable energy, close the infrastructure gap, and a lot of chaos in between because religious fundamentalist monarchies in the Middle East are a brutal breed the the west created. So there can no combination of western forces that can quil the civil war currently raging in the Middle East. The only empire to quil a civil war in the Middle East was the Ottoman Empire, now modern day Turky and Erogn the stronk surely is eyeing moves in that direction. A western ground war with logistic lines stretching to continental US would certainly bankrupt the west and use a significant amount of oil that we don’t have and need ourselves to make the jump to renewables and close the infrastructure gap at home in New Zealand.
Also do I think globalisation is going to go away? My answer is no. Unless you can find away to de-invent trade and communications, the Internet and all that.
But America will move to protect its market share of the global economy because they don’t there to big to fail banks will explode worse than when mortgage lenders stopped trading in 2008. So NZDF reserves the right to act independently or be Merica’s bitch and carry there fuel for them.
If you want to add in more geographical locations and cuddles, the arguments against a competent NZDF funded at 2% GDP annually become even more absurd.
If we do nothing and scale down NZDF we will face the end game with a few cuddles and not much more. This is why focus on NZDF fundamentals, EEZ patrol, Ocean Tasking, Peace Keeping, Humanitarian and disaster relief is essential. Currently NZDF CAPEX is budgeted at 20 billion, more than enough to replenish NZDF with the tools needed.
EEZ patrol and Ocean Tasking and Peace Keeping may sound benign, it isn’t. When New Zealand’s trade and communications go through ASEAN, the most heavily militarised geographical area in the world. NZDF require certain capabilities. Future Air Combate Force Programe, Future Frigate Programe, Future Landing Platform Dock Program, Future Air Mobility Programe, Future Rotary Programme (helicopters), Future Land Mobility Program and all the rest. These capabilities can be accommodated with in current defence force funding arrangements over the next 35 years.
Funding NZDF at 2% GDP to recruit a work force that executes basic NZDF roles in conjunction with closing the infrastructure gap is essential.
The bullshit fed to the NZ public about a reconstruction team from NZ is shown to be baseless.
There is no reconstruction in Afghanistan.
But there are about 100,000 militarily equipped mercenaries working for US private interest stealing resources and murdering locals.
Most of NZers do not give a f… about this.
Perhaps they should. But having lived in this country for 12 years this is unlikely – Kiwis hate being seen to be in the wrong about anything, regardless how bad the issue is. Their general cold-bloodedness, brutality, and indifference to suffering is a shock to people expecting better.
you have had the privileged of lived here for 12 years and you choose to berate kiwis? No matter who is in power, left or right, NZ is a pretty good place as are most Kiwis
Maybe the melting pot is a cynical operation.
Kiwi’s have experienced 1%-3% economic growth year on year for as far back as any one wants to remember. In fact slaves in the American slave trade experienced 1% economic growth year on year. Obviously per person growth was short lived. None of this makes a very job argument for wage slavery. Governments don’t implement initiatives because they suddenly found poor people. They’ve known all this time as far back as any want to look or even mention, I suppose every one agrees things aren’t as bright as pre-PREFU analysis suggests. One minit Steven Joyce is saying everything awesome nek minit it’s not so great (Not the best execution of right wing conspiracy trap Mr Joyce. He is no John Key, I digress).
New Zealanders are just not aware of how vulnerable New Zealand actually is. And it’s a total failure of indoctrination. So I had a conversation with a New Zealander about Rogernomics and of course Roger Douglas name comes up. My response was David Lange triggered the neoliberal blitzkrieg. Poor guy just couldn’t compute any of it. So the education system has failed to indoctrinate New Zealanders, by not teaching history, civics and maori the education system is pushing us all apart. So it is a totally cyclical operation.
Ask any teacher executing school curriculum and they immediately come back with ways of making it better. So the system can function properly but the first step starts with acknowledging reality of New Zealand’s history.
And you know this because…?
I think you are wrong. If kiwis knew, they would care. But they don’t know.
But it’s all uphill trying to get traction. You are taking on the military machine. And then there is the blinkered smackdown of anybody who dares question the military. Have a look at all the “Sam-the-Eagle” types who post comments on stuff articles on this topic. Honestly, it’s just depressing.
You have answered your own question. Are you aware of the backlash and bullying that follows when NZers (I hate the term ‘Kiwi’ actually because it is so non-inclusive) are challenged about their views, behaviour and actions – particularly in the workplace? My wife could tell you some absolute horrors that have occurred many times since we had barely set foot in this country – in government departments of all places. Of course there are decent people here but the general “vibe” is exactly as I mentioned.
i respectfully disagree, most kiwis of what ever race, political view, sexuality etc are great people, I suggest it is you, for whatever reason, has the problem.
Sort of like how we feel about the USA at the moment.
And the war machine cranking up again.
Perhaps.
But that TV documentary (a bit too much about her instead of the background) also strongly suggested that the second “battle” in the valley was a monstrous f…k-up, the the NZers killing friendly Afghans and their own. Something else to be covered up!
@ Dave … well I do. I care deeply about this issue and like many Kiwis, absolutely horrified at the actions of NZDF in Afghanistan, which it seems are committing war crimes, atrocities in which accountability is called for!
You must be pretty cold and heartless, to not be concerned or disgusted over this and I suspect you are Dave!
You cannot stop terrorism with a cuddle Mary.
Many people do care about crimes committed in our names Dave
Because People care …….. the truth of war is hidden by our media.
Most parents and loved ones of NZ armed forces killed or injured while serving would also care …..and your comment is particularly offensive towards them.
Those who expose the realities of war get put down and attacked …. Like the criticism Sony Bill Williams received when he tried to spread the message of how barbaric and evil it is. http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/75527794/Unicef-condemns-Sonny-Bill-Williams-sharing-of-graphic-photos-of-dead-children
Or the smears and attacks from our PM and military top brass ……against world respected investigate journalist authors Jon stephenson & Nicky Hager https://fmacskasy.wordpress.com/tag/jon-stephenson/
New Zealand should withdraw and have nothing more to do with the illegal wars of false pretense in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria etc …..The results of which is millions dead,…. many more millions made refugees … and near complete destructing of their society.
We should pay reparations where due …
And the other thing New Zealand could do immediately towards supporting international peace and justice …..
Is Stop New Zealand being part of the tax haven/shadow banking network …….which facilitates Dictators, wars, weapons smuggling, drug running, and more….
Some simple law changes from the new incoming government would achieve this meaningful action ,…
When the U.sa first spent a Billion dollars bringing war and destabilisation to the people of Afghanistan in 1982 … along with movement of money in the Iran contra drug and weapon smuggling … it was done via the shadow banking network, shell companies etc.
Removing ourselves from the corruption and war funding network ….. also has the benefit of increasing internal tax revenues …..
Further reading in “the war on terror” http://johnpilger.com/articles/terror-in-britain-what-did-the-prime-minister-know
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/mosul-massacre-battle-isis-iraq-city-civilian-casualties-killed-deaths-fighting-forces-islamic-state-a7848781.html
http://www.truth-out.org/progressivepicks/item/33180-wikileaks-reveals-how-the-us-aggressively-pursued-regime-change-in-syria-igniting-a-bloodbath
http://www.globalresearch.ca/covering-up-the-massacre-of-mosul/5605392
If you put this on primetime tv at 7.00pm T.V. 1 for half an hour for a week instead of Seven Sharp, I think you’ll find that most of NZers would give a f… about this.
Instead, we are shown anything but humanity news.
If kiwis don’t care it is because they don’t know. A lot of people have worked really hard to keep stuff like this buried.
And if it does see the light of day, it’s all uphill to keep it afloat. You are up against the military machine.
Then there is the blinkered smackdown from all the “Sam-the-Eagle” types who inhabit the comments section on Stuff. Don’t question the military, or hold them to account, y’all. Honestly, it’s just depressing.
We need an inquiry.
With friends like these, who needs enemies : qt. “Since they were perfected in Vietnam, Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT’s) have been a primary means of gathering intelligence from informants and secret agents in enemy territory. Today, the PRT’s are a foundation stone of the CIA’s parallel government in Afghanistan, and have been a unilateral CIA operation since 2002 when the program started under the reign of US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad.” D. Valentine.”The CIA As Organized Crime.” pp.106.
Further to, and regarding Mr. Valentine’s long and profound research that USAMO/CIA is operating a PHOENIX program in Afghanistan : quote. “Russia has hinted in the past that the United States is covertly sponsoring the Islamic State in Afghanistan. On Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson raised the bar by alleging that “foreign fighters” who were transferred by “unknown helicopters” have perpetrated a massacre of Hazara Shias in the Sar-e-Pol province in northern Afghanistan. The spokesperson said: We can see attempts to stir up ethnic conflict in the country… Cases of unidentified helicopter flights to territory controlled by extremists in other northern provinces of Afghanistan are also recorded. For example, there is evidence that on August 8, four helicopters made flights from the airbase of the Afghan National Army’s 209th corps in Mazar-i-Sharif to the area captured by the militants in the Aqcha district of the Jowzjan province. It is noteworthy that witnesses of these flights began to fall off the radar of law enforcement agencies. It seems that the command of the NATO forces controlling the Afghan sky stubbornly refuses to notice these incidents.”
http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/russia-warns-us-over-afghanistan/ri20720?ct=t(Russia_Insider_Daily_Headlines11_21_2014)&mc_cid=df23e85045&mc_eid=8f34cbde48
And [MOSCOW, August 18. /TASS/. ] :
“The reluctance or inability of the US and NATO to provide effective assistance to the government of Afghanistan in fighting the production of drugs causes surprise, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
“We state with regret that the drug situation in Afghanistan keeps deteriorating. According to experts’ estimates 2017 will see an upsurge in the production of drugs,” the Foreign Ministry said. “The areas sown to drug-bearing plants in Afghanistan have already exceeded last year’s. About one-third of the population is involved in growing opium poppy.”
“Afghan drug smuggling shows no signs of reduction. The list of its destinations has expanded. It has spread to more African countries,” the Foreign Ministry said. “Traffic via the so-called Balkan route (Pakistan-Iran-Turkey-Europe) has gained intensity. Ever more drug-containing substances from Afghanistan are delivered to Europe through Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia and Ukraine.” In the meantime, the Foreign Ministry said, “tonnes of precursors for making drugs are smuggled into Afghanistan every year.”According to Afghan sources, Italy, France and the Netherlands are among the main sources,” the ministry added.””
http://tass.com/politics/960983
We are involved in as dirty dirty a war as ever existed. That ‘our people’ would cover their miserable arses upon discovery, can come as no surprise.
‘Why are we still in this flawed and immoral occupation?’
1. To ensure that poppies are grown in Afghanistan for the western drug market (the Taliban were successful in greatly reducing poppy growing, of course, and that did not go down well with the CIA).
2. To make Afghanistan safe for western corporations to operate….largely extracting minerals at minimal cost and getting the locals hooked on corporate-controlled products like tobacco and soft drinks.
3. To make sure that China cannot form friendly relations with the Afghans or expand its influence.
[…] In light of the compelling evidence that there are serious question marks over our involvement in war crimes, we should immediately call home our SAS from Iraq and launch an independent inquiry. […]
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