New Zealand Troops Secretly Leaving Iraq
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| Thu, 09-16-2004 - 12:44am |
Kiwi troops coming home
16 September 2004
By HANK SCHOUTEN
New Zealand's troops are pulling out of Iraq under a cloak of secrecy as security deteriorates in the battle to control the war-torn country.
Nearly 100 people have been killed in attacks in Baghdad and Baquba this week, while Australia has sent a "logistics team" to Iraq to determine whether two of its nationals are being held hostage.
The New Zealand Defence Force is refusing to give any details of the withdrawal of the 60-strong Kiwi military engineering contingent, which has been hunkered down in Basra for the past five weeks as violence escalates throughout Iraq.
"We do not discuss troop movements in circumstances like this where security is a factor," Defence spokeswoman Sandy McKie said. However, it is understood they are pulling out this week.
The engineers have been in Basra since last September, mainly to help in civil reconstruction around the southern Iraqi city. The contingent was rotated in March and the commitment was scheduled to end this month, with the proviso they would come out earlier if they were no longer able to do their work.
The lightly armed engineers have helped restore water treatment plants and fix municipal infrastructure including schools, police stations and bridges. That work all but stopped early last month when fighting spread south from Najaf. The New Zealanders were confined to Fortress Lines, the base they have shared for the past year with British forces.
The battle for control of Iraq has seen a succession of bombings and attacks on a range of military and civilian targets.
Former defence chief Air Marshal Carey Adamson said "everyone will be pleased to see our troops come home in one piece".
The situation in Iraq was very different from a year ago.
Our troops were sent in a non-combatant role "but what's happening now is that everyone's a combatant whether they want to be one or not. As time has gone on the situation has become much more lethal and no one can guarantee their absolute safety."
He said if there was to be any further New Zealand military commitment to Iraq, things would have to change – they would need to be combat-ready forces and probably well-equipped special forces who could be useful in this war with no front line.
"Obviously it is going to be a much more warlike situation for some time to come so any military involvement has got to be with force of arms."
Two New Zealand officers have been wounded in Iraq in the past 13 months.

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Hi dablacksox!
I would like to thank you very much for your awesome participation on this board.
Miffy - Co-CL For The Politics Today Board
I also think that the War on Terror and the War in Iraq are the two most important political events of today (for both Americans and those from other countries) and they have an absolute place on a board claiming to be a debate about Politics Today. If we want to get picky about naming the boards we can rename this one to "Petty American Partisan Bickering, Mud Slinging and the Art of Character Assasination." To be fair, mifskie herself keeps a good level of objectivity and does not stoop to the usual bickering found here lately. I'm sure her attempt to steer this conversation to the other board was a genuine attempt to breathe some new life into it.
For a Political debate board this one is pretty much bereft of any mention of international politics (certainly at a higher level) so I find this post about New Zealand on this board both welcome and refreshing (though the very fact that the title of the thread contains the name of another "inconsequential" country means that this thread may get very little attention). It might spark a debate over the present and future roles of American allies, which ties directly into the American election race going on right now and will then open the doors to more partisan bickering and name calling which will in turn make the regulars on this board happy and feel right at home.
Just my two cents.
;o)
Edited 9/16/2004 2:09 pm ET ET by suemox
The engineers have been in Basra since last September, mainly to help in civil reconstruction around the southern Iraqi city. The contingent was rotated in March and the commitment was scheduled to end this month, with the proviso they would come out earlier if they were no longer able to do their work.>>
Well, I like a conspiracy theory just as much as the next guy but the title of this thread "New Zealand Troops SECRETLY Leaving Iraq" might be going overboard.
It was no secret that the troops were scheduled to leave at the end of the month (earlier if it wasn't possible to do the work they came to do). It is also no secret (except to the Bush administration) that the situation in Iraq is deteriorating, making it virtually impossible to rebuild the infrastructure. Short of publishing maps of the troops return flight plans and the exact times of their departure, how much less secret can you get? Is this article an attempt to crtisize the New Zealand govt. using the same tactics this electoral campaign is using to divert attention away from real issues and onto the more fun but less important task of dragging reputations through the mud?
The states are losing more and more support from allies for Iraq as the political climate continues to deteriorate. The Bush administration's diplomatic shortcomings has burnt most of it's bridges internationally. Very few nations want to throw their hat in with them in Iraq, especially when you consider that a great many other nations warned at the outset that what is going on today WAS going to happen (but they were unwisely and rudely dismissed by this administration).
This should make cl-mifskie happy cause I'm now tying this into larger American political questions:
Do you think Kerry would have a better chance than Bush in rebuilding ties with allies?
Do you think it's important to do so (and how important)?
What role do you think allies should be asked to play in trying to help the US improve the situation in Iraq and do you think that role is reasonable (given the fact that the US started this long drawn out war at the expense of dealing with other larger issues that directly impact terrorism worldwide)?
Edited 9/16/2004 2:08 pm ET ET by suemox
<>
Thanks!
Miffy - Co-CL For The Politics Today Board
Really? It must have been removed; I just went over there and there were only 3 folders: General Discussion, Election 2004 and Explore iVillage. Oh, well .....
Bev
Do you think it's important to do so (and how important)?
What role do you think allies should be asked to play in trying to help the US improve the situation in Iraq and do you think that role is reasonable (given the fact that the US started this long drawn out war at the expense of dealing with other larger issues that directly impact terrorism worldwide)? >
I think Kerry has at least a shot to get our allies back since he'd be a new face. I'm sure it'd be a difficult task.
I think it's important if our troops ever want to get out of Iraq. I think the more people there the more people can have a chance to try to leave without having Iraq go into some kind of chaos.
The allies can help the troops with strength and staying strong and not falling asleep while fighting. I'm sure they're all probably tired from all the fighting. I also think the allies could help get some troops there to help get some of ours out so they can take a break and recouporate.
Wow!
Miffy - Co-CL For The Politics Today Board
Gettingahandle
Ignorance is Nature's most abundant fuel for decision making.
Well, in fairness to Miki (and I say this without knowing her or having spent any time on that particular board), it's also difficult for the CL when weeks pass without anyone else posting. I currently CL several boards like that, and it can get a little tough to stay motivated. I know it's at least partially the CL's responsibility to keep the discussion flowing, but there's only so much you can do, especially when you keep posting questions and topics to which no one responds.
Bev
I understand, that is why I was trying to defer the Iraq related posts to her board to help
Miffy - Co-CL For The Politics Today Board
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