| Junior's Soapbox - Letters to
the Editor
†
October 2008
60 Kiwis KIA?
Where does Helen Clark get off saying that if New
Zealand had sent troops to Iraq, based off US casualties of all
things, we would have lost 60 soldiers by now?
Obviously the leader of the country doesn't realise
that we don't operate in the same ways as the Americans. Though,
that being said, it is doubly apparent that there are those who
wish that we did and are going to great lengths to ensure that we
do when you look at purchases like the NZLAV.
There are clear cut reasons for our ways of doing
things, not least of which are historical practices which has stood
us in good stead, and our inherent limitations which make a different
approach mandatory.
Second of all, had we lost that man soldiers it
would have been primarily due to inept government spending, ill
advice over the past two administration rounds, and not spending
enough in so many other areas. The PM makes no comments of the 2007-8
NZDF Annual Report.
Thirdly, since the Aussies have sent more troops
proportionally than we ever could, and have lost two* personnel
to date, I am at a loss once more as to how on earth our Prime Minister
comes to these conclusions. Her primary advisors in Defence, I fear,
must be quite Green indeed.
To cap it all off, her statement demonstrates how
much reality bites in relation to her, and her party, and how little
faith they collectively possess in NZDF personnel, to do their job,
despite difficult conditions, lack of essential equipment, critical
manning and having very stretched resources. Yet by the same government,
all the same, they are expected to do so much.
It’s really quite an appalling attitude.
Any lip service is exactly that, and particularly from your average
left wing politician.
Leon Harrison
* as of September 25, 2008, according to CNN casualty
figures.
April 2006
Why the SAS is Required
Who did columnist Graeme Davidson (Religion and
Ethics, April 1) think would rescue Harmeet Sooden - the Salvation
Army? Thinking that such a mission would not involve potential violence
is wishful thinking at best.
Being exposed to the conditions of a place like
Iraq should be enough to wake one up to the world’s realities.
Evidently not. Ironically such antics risk the
lives of those people Davidson holds in the highest disregard. Lack
of condemnation for terrorist groups is concerning indeed.
James Morris (Letters, March 31) can judge a world-renowned
military force - the SAS - on its questionable past, and I suppose,
were it his skin being saved, it would again get only a cursory
thanks.
Former prime minister David Lange learned rapidly
, by way of demonstration in the 1980s, why the SAS exists. Our
esteemed former prime minister stood in as a “hostage”.
Thoughts to disband the unit were quickly thwarted. Next time, it
might have been real.
Though the occupation of the SAS be somewhat less
than PC, it is no less required when the chips are down.
[Abridged version]
April 2006
Resins, Fibres, Plastics... and Petroleum
Resins, fibres, plastics, all primarily produced
via petroleum. So really, as purist as it may seem, unless you want
to discard all those things in day to day life you take for granted,
it might be worth looking at the bigger picture and the greater
implications. The masses actively protest the war in Iraq, while
passively condoning it. It goes far beyond electing not to drive
your car.
To look at the Global War on Terror, particularly
from a New Zealand standpoint, I find it amusing to reflect that
such a war has been waging for decades without public awareness,
but the minute a school bus packed with New Zealand kids is blown
apart by a terrorist, from say, the Philippines, perhaps the complaining
might stop.
When we are talking about extremists, you are not
talking about average everyday Muslims who life their lives much
as we do, but often with far more conviction of the faith they hold
to, but people who believe that anyone who does not believe in their
"form" of Islam is guilty. The reality is, this country
is not a Christian society, but extremists see it as a viable target,
whether we choose to ignore the threat or face up to it. If we face
up to it, we at least send a message.
No, they will not stay at home simply because we
are unwilling to act. This is not the nature of this kind of extremism.
We are deluded if we think we can change the face
of mankind as it has waged war for centuries. We must face up to
the facts. Yet we are equally deluded if we think we know them all.
April 2006
Perfectly Legal - No Fair Example of Justice
I would suggest the Nicholas case would have gone
quite differently had the accused been three youths.
Grown men who knew the letter of the law, yet knew
the art of coercion. Fear is enough to keep a woman bay for years
if not indefinitely. They knew this as well. Three men who are meant
to be fine upstanding examples for your young people.
It only demonstrates that the law is fundamentally
flawed. There are huge gaps between the morals and ethics which
provide us the reason to be construed as a civilised society, and
the laws with supposedly make it so. The acts of these three men
were morally reprehensible, committed against a woman who no doubt
feared much worse if she had protested, and now, the public can
not even bear witness to all the facts. Such issues are not trivia.
Further case of a system set up to protect the perpetrator
rather than serve the victim.
So there be no reason to question the average civilian's
disillusionment with the Police. Yes indeed, you could be next,
with not a leg to stand on.
Justice is often not justice at all.
December 2005
Kilts, Kids and Common Sense
So, Air New Zealand and Qantas are quite happy to
insight scare-mongering (30 November) upon children towards that
of adult males. How, in an already difficult world, is insinuating
that every adult male is a perverted criminal in the making going
to improve our society?
I was once refused an interview for a position based
on the fact I was male, simply because the employer wanted a woman.
Sexual discrimination in most peoples' book, but not Dr Cindy Kiro's
I expect. Offering to wear a kilt to work didn't get me anywhere.
I have been flying since I was six years old. How
the world has changed. I was once that child.
This idiotic policy must mean that a World War Two
veteran is not to be seated next to an unaccompanied child. Oh,
the tales that could be exchanged between two fair members of our
society. And the soldier who has served in East Timor, or Bosnia,
where many a child was kept safe by servicemen of our Armed Forces,
could they not be seated similarly, next to that same child?
October 2005
The Burden of Responsibility
Thanks to Michael Romanos for presenting a realistic
depiction of New Zealand's state of preparedness in case of civil
emergency. (Letters, October 1).
It is interesting to reflect that the government
can spend $650 million dollars on new LAV vehicles for the NZ Army,
while Civil Defence is relegated to personal responsibility despite
the very real dangers of, for example, earthquakes.
We can only hope that the new NH90 helicopters are
fully integrated to replace the absurdly rundown RNZAF Iroquois
fleet before disaster strikes.
For an island nation it is unacceptable that our
Coast Guard is not more capable of providing civil assistance in
the event of the unthinkable. As it stands, this expectation does
not even enter the realms of "hopeful".
No amount of personal dedication can counter the
horrendous practical shortcomings we face.
While mayor Prendergast may display her CD kit,
and such acquisitions have risen in recent times, it does not release
the state from its burden of responsibility to ensure an appropriate
level of infrastructure and logistical networking for the public
benefit, in the event such catastrophe should befall us.
The fact is we are not prepared. Even a Boy Scout
can tell you what that could well mean.
May 2005
No air cover for our LAVs
Professor Hugh White supports Prime Minister Helen
Clark's defence policy (Features, May 10) to the hilt, saying the
disbanding of the air force's air-combat wing was solely about economics
and that we could "simply not sustain a modern, operationally
meaningful front-line combat air force.
That's interesting, considering Australia said it
would not have gone to East Timor without our contribution. It considered
(note : past tense) the Skyhawks as 25 percent of regional air power.
I fail to see how this, coming from a so-called
expert, is deemed not meaningful. I fail to see how a dozen, even
first generation, F16s would not be meaningful. At least our LAVs
would have some air cover - New Zealand air cover from New Zealand
pilots.
Oh, I forgot - they're all in the RAAF, RAF and
Saudi now.
I think this Government is quite happy to ensure
the average New Zealander's complacency when it comes to the realities
of what even a single fighter aircraft could do to one of our LAVs,
thanks to it not having any air cover or some foreign air force
turning up late.
February 2003
LAV III and the realities of warfare
I have to thank P.J. Vucich 17th January 2003 for
comments on the LAVIII.
Probably never a more true word spoken on this overpriced
vehicles’ real intention as far as the government is concerned.
Coup prevention.
You would think that a nation completely surrounded
by water would invest in a vehicle which was amphibious capable.
Yes they travel at great speed on well prepared roads. Real combat
does not often allow for this.
Go to East Timor and look at your average roads
there. Whoever thought up this harebrained scheme to purchase such
a vehicle was living in the idealistic dream world suited to those
bureaucrats and spin doctors with whom they do the big money deals.
Hostile environments are a good example of how this
doesn’t work in the real world.
But there again, it was the Army's choice of vehicle.
So says Mark Burton. Please tell me exactly what choices they were
given to choose from. There is a long long road between an infantryman
on operations and policy makers in the beehive and much is lost
in between times.
One occupation deals with life and death, the other,
other peoples’ lives and deaths. |
