Comments on: Putting country ahead of party

By: Stuart Mackey

Stuart Mackey — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:40:36 +0000

Dont see why there would be much hoopla over this, not that I am complaining, but given Labour and Nationals track record on defence, this and the proposed ANZAC regional battalion group, will simply be seen as yet another reason to not invest further in NZ’s own defence capacity because someone else is doing the heavy lifting.

By: Clint Heine

Clint Heine — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:07:08 +0000

Not at all convinced on the benefits as we still have that stupid cold war anti nuclear policy. It’s like us saying to the Yanks – “we want the benefits but we don’t really trust you”.

If we cooperated fully with the Americans on defence it would bring a remarkable investment for our armed forces.

I’m with Richard on this, I want an FTA as well… and a removal of the anti nuclear policy. Then we will be back in the first world again

By: Richard Hurst

Richard Hurst — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 07:43:36 +0000

“Readers will have seen the reports that the United States has lifted the ban on full intelligence sharing with New Zealand. The ban on joint exercises is almost all but gone. After almost 25 long years, the relationship is almost restored.”

Well gee….um, hooray?

Affect of this on the average punter on the street? Bugger all.

When we have an FTA with the US then I’ll dance and sing.

By: Hurf Durf

Hurf Durf — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:45:22 +0000

Who’d have thought a socialistic anti-nuke luddite President would be so entranced by a socialistic anti-nuke luddite political class?

By: Tassman

Tassman — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 01:27:52 +0000

There are 11 people in our complex flats, 6 of them belong to any of the nationalist’s vigilant groups. HNZC has three of them, one nationalist, and two Maoris. But the only reason the local gang has left them alone is because I am here. Honestly, I am not a fighter or anything, they just think I’m cool and they don’t come near. The HNZC one gets special treatments for his flat, the other ones get to travel around the world while living in HNZC flats. The Maoris get to drink and smoke anytime as they wish. It’s amazing!

By: John Ansell

John Ansell — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:57:20 +0000

I don’t think anyone, let alone the USA, would believe the word of the New Zealand Labour Party.

What would convince them is the fact that National now has a socialist leader.

By: John Ansell

John Ansell — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:20:59 +0000

Sorry, I don’t get it…

Why do Labour deserve our thanks for sticking with their own anti-nuclear (read anti-US) policy? Is it because you’re saying Goff is further to the right than Key?

If not, shouldn’t you be ‘thanking’ National for adopting Labour’s policy?

[DPF: No I thanking Labour for saying privately to the US that National is not going to change the law, despite saying publicly before the election that you couldn't trust National and that they would change the law]

By: Herman Poole

Herman Poole — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:08:00 +0000

George, having friends and values does not preclude you working and trading with people with different friends and values. Don’t be such a coward.

By: george

george — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:05:20 +0000

When georgedarroch says “independent foreign policy” what he really means is one controlled by the United Nations.

By: georgedarroch

georgedarroch — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:55:23 +0000

If you think that closer relations with the United States in intelligence is good for the country, you’ll celebrate this.

I’d prefer that New Zealand had an independent foreign policy, and was seen as a neutral player by our Malaysian, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Indian, Chinese, Russian, and other regional neighbours.

[DPF: Our foreign policy is independent but not blind. I fully expect us to work co-operatively with other democratic countries in preference to those that are not democratic]

By: wreck1080

wreck1080 — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:52:30 +0000

What does ‘full intelligence’ mean?

I imagine the US has a lot of intelligence they would not wish to share. Especially where economic advantage is gained through such intelligence.

By: Razork

Razork — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:16:30 +0000

Lefties getting on better with Lefties.
That’s all.

By: TripeWryter

TripeWryter — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:13:01 +0000

KiwiGreg: No, I did not misunderstand anything. They also praised him for the budget increase.

We’re a small country at the bottom of the world — one that is among the most geographically isolated — it helps if we have our diplomatic faces where the rest of the world lives.

By: KiwiGreg

KiwiGreg — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:51:01 +0000

“I know it’s fashionable to loathe him …
but credit for a lot of this should also go to Winston Peters, who many people at MFAT credit (some even through gritted teeth) with being the best Foreign Affairs Minister this country has had in decades.”

I think you misunderstand – MFAT staffers think Winnie was a great Minister FOR THEM. Recall the budget increase.

By: TripeWryter

TripeWryter — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:30:40 +0000

I know it’s fashionable to loathe him …
but credit for a lot of this should also go to Winston Peters, who many people at MFAT credit (some even through gritted teeth) with being the best Foreign Affairs Minister this country has had in decades.

Disclaimer: no, I’m not a Peters supporter. I voted once for one of his people, and her behaviour led me to swear ‘never again’.

But credit where it’s due, eh?

By: malcolm

malcolm — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:06:25 +0000

..the ban on joint exercises is almost all but gone.

Joint exercises between the US and NZ? The Afghan National Army is probably better equipped than the NZ Defence Force.

By: george

george — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:04:03 +0000

Goff deserves to recover in the polls from this. Yes, his being away in the US for much of this month will have contributed to Labour falling so dramatically in the Roy Morgan poll, but hopefully the public gives him some reward for working constructively with McCully so that Labour goes up a point or two.

By: cha

cha — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:03:19 +0000

In the Faux news ocean of insanity Charles Krauthammer stands out as the only pundit that makes any sense at all. Decline Is a Choice The New Liberalism and the end of American ascendancy.

By: davidp

davidp — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:01:05 +0000

The policies pursued by Labour in 1984 and 1985 had the ironic result of making NZ’s foreign policy less independent. Before that time, NZ cooperated with and exercised with a number of friendly countries. While NZ never really had the option of taking unilateral action, it did have the option of entering a coalition with any number of other countries in order to advance our foreign policy objectives.

Labour caused most of our traditional allies to turn their backs on us. Except for Australia, which (at great cost to itself) took pity on NZ and continued with military cooperation. So in the last 25 years, we’ve needed to ally ourselves with Australia (and only Australia) in order to pursue foreign policy that required any military aspect. Labour shamefully gave Australia a veto over a big chunk of NZ’s foreign policy.

So I’m quite pleased that 25 years of dependency on Australia is being replaced by an independent foreign policy. Well done John Key and those who have abandoned their previous positions to support him.

By: Simon

Simon — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:45:19 +0000

NZ became a better place when Key ruled out working with Peters last election. Key’s stand to put NZ ahead of party interests in the middle of an election was an amazing and inspiring decision.

New higher standards have been set by Key which the opposition is slowly picking up on. It has been a learning experience for Goff and Street but the dark sinister years of the Clark Peters partnership are behind us.