How is it a National lie?

I'm not very happy with Ardern's statement on the Syrian strikes, when no case has been presented to justify the strikes apart from 'trust us' and no resolution enabling the strikes has emerged from the UNSC. We have had it conclusively demonstrated to us that we can't trust them.

I'm not very happy with Ardern's statement on the Syrian strikes, when no case has been presented to justify the strikes apart from 'trust us' and no resolution enabling the strikes has emerged from the UNSC. We have had it conclusively demonstrated to us that we can't trust them.

The UNSC won't issue a resolution on Syria... Russia will just veto any move and neuter it.

Would imagine she is on egg shells after the hash she made with the spy thing.

Out of her depth again

So what? We know we can't trust the members of the SC. How many times do we need it demonstrated conclusively? I don't like the way she rolled over for them.

edit...'them' in this case is those breaching the UN Charter - UK, US, France.

Would imagine she is on egg shells after the hash she made with the spy thing.

Out of her depth again

On one hand, you want a resolution from the UNSC, then on the other hand you're suggesting you can't trust the UNSC.

It's an interesting proposition you're making.

Did she "get some guts"?

I have lived and worked in the Hurunui district for most of my life, I grew up in Cheviot. I also have dealt with farmers on a day to day basis in my work, and have been on hundreds of farms during that time. The fact is farmers do not know how to farm this dry area properly. When you allow your stock to chew grass to the dirt you're always going to have issues. When you spray out large swathes of matagouri and other scrub, you're going to lose your top soil. There is one particular farmer who seems to spend 12 hours a day bulldozing his entire farm in to the Hurunui river. As far as I'm concerned, if you can't run your business and make a profit then let someone else take over who can. We don't prop up any other business community nearly as much as we do farming.

I want to stay within the bounds of the UN Charter. A UNSC resolution is required for use of force in most situations. If you want to abandon the UN Charter, for all its flaws, good luck to you. If you want to trust what the UK or the US says about events in the ME, you'll need more than luck.

Would imagine she is on egg shells after the hash she made with the spy thing.

Out of her depth again

I'd love to believe in the UN as a world authority but I think events of the last 10-15 years would suggest it's becoming a toothless irrelevance.

And Key would have said ?

If there was a gold medal for irrelevant whataboutery you'd have just streaked home by a lap or two.

Ardern will have had no option but to swallow several dead rats in terms of the Middle East, US / UK relations, defence and security policy, and so on. She's solid urban leftie and will personally be of the opinion that NZ has absolutely no business with troops in Iraq, or supporting one side or other in Syria, or keeping quiet when the IDF shoots dozens of civilians. But, she'll have had the Ministry of Defence, the spooks, MFAT, etc. explain to her that the effect of her doing what she thinks is the right thing is totally unthinkable. She said the bare minimum acceptable to the interests she needs to appease.

The green are predictably up in arms. They’re starting to annoy me a bit (context, they got my vote).

I'm wallowing in nostalgia for the days of a 'moral foreign policy'. Ardern and New Zealand will receive no return on following other countries' adventures, apart perhaps from the military being allowed to play with others' toys. We've had that demonstrated enough times, Shirley? That being the case she might as well tell them to fuck off with their Middle East tar babies.

If there was a gold medal for irrelevant whataboutery you'd have just streaked home by a lap or two.

Ardern will have had no option but to swallow several dead rats in terms of the Middle East, US / UK relations, defence and security policy, and so on. She's solid urban leftie and will personally be of the opinion that NZ has absolutely no business with troops in Iraq, or supporting one side or other in Syria, or keeping quiet when the IDF shoots dozens of civilians. But, she'll have had the Ministry of Defence, the spooks, MFAT, etc. explain to her that the effect of her doing what she thinks is the right thing is totally unthinkable. She said the bare minimum acceptable to the interests she needs to appease.

Won't ever happen because our grand policies include:

- to be reliant on the US etc. for defence
- reliant on Five Eyes for intelligence
- to want FTAs with Europe, the UK, and the US
- to use the US as a political balance as China expands its interests in the Pacific

The Greens can afford to pontificate and look superior but if they were that bothered they'd make it a C&S issue. I'll bet my arse they don't.

Should she GET SOME GUTS

She's done exactly what Key did, just dressed it up better. Which of course is a bit of a theme for her government.

She's done exactly what Key did, just dressed it up better. Which of course is a bit of a theme for her government.

We should only talk tough if we can back it up. We can't so we should just shut up and let the big kids fight it out.

No, Key sent in ground troops secretly.

oh.. so he was out of his depth too?

No, Key sent in ground troops secretly.

- to be reliant on the US etc. for defence
- reliant on Five Eyes for intelligence
- to want FTAs with Europe, the UK, and the US
- to use the US as a political balance as China expands its interests in the Pacific

The policy points you make may well be true but I can't see how not expelling Russian diplomats, pointing out the breach of the UN charter in the Syrian raids and bringing troops back from mission creep will alter any of that.

Because it annoys people we want things from? Ardern's in France right now trying to get them to shift more to the German position on agriculture trade. It doesn't help if five days earlier you've called them out for illegally attacking another country.

NZ still being in five eyes is quite astonishing given the country was suspended from ANZUS back in the 1980s.

Shows that an independent foreign policy doesn't exactly cut all the benefits of "being in the club". The US obviously still finds NZ useful despite not toeing the party line at every step of the way.

NZ still being in five eyes is quite astonishing given the country was suspended from ANZUS back in the 1980s.

Shows that an independent foreign policy doesn't exactly cut all the benefits of "being in the club". The US obviously still finds NZ useful despite not toeing the party line at every step of the way.

I've always wondered if we're really told everything.

Government looking at making wheel clamping illegal

Transport Minister Phil Twyford says wheel clamping needs to be illegal - and he is working on legislation to make that happen.

Twyford said on Monday he was working with Consumer Affairs Minister Kris Faafoi on legislation that would ban the controversial practice.

"It is time to change the law and either ban wheel clamping or regulate it."

"I regard the wheel clamping industry as predators and bottom feeders," he said.

Regine Du Villier, 86, was confronted by a wheel clamper demanding $200 cash after she parked her car for 15 minutes because she was too ill to drive.

"I don't believe National's voluntary code of conduct has made a blind bit of difference. This latest case shows it's just not on."

Twyford's comments followed the story of an ill 86-year-old woman who was clamped in Henderson while she sought help for her medical condition.

The $200 fine was eventually voided by the clamping company, but only after police were involved.

Gordon Ward, a spokesperson for the Elite Parking Services, said that the clamper only saw a car illegally parked and not the person.

He rejected calls for a ban.

"Banning would be foolish because you are taking a tool for enforcement on private property," Ward said.

He said the Government should not be involved in regulating behaviour on private property.

In response to Twyford's description of clampers as "bottom feeders", Ward said Twyford was just a politician and "we know how everyone feels about them".

Elite Parking Services would not sign up to the current code of practice as it was currently written, Ward said.

The code was written by groups who advocated for drivers without substantial consultation with property owners, he said.

Automobile Association (AA) principle advisor Mark Stockdale said the organisation was against the practice of clamping and advocated for it to be made illegal.

"The AA's position is still that we want to see wheel clamping banned."

Alternatively, AA would like to see the private parking sector legally regulated, with greater public education around the rules.

"You can't enforce the rules if people don't know what the rules are."

Stockdale said many people who were clamped accepted that they were wrong, however complained the fine was "extortionate".

"Anyone in the parking business, if they are serious and want to improve compliance, then they should be looking seriously at adopting the code," he said.

Twyford did not know when a proposed law banning clamping would make it to Parliament.

While in opposition, Twyford spoke out against clamping and called for it to be banned.

Stuff

They will not give us charity because we say nice things about them. We know that. Likewise they won't act against their interests because we point out they commit crimes against peace. I can't understand why you think they will.

Pretty much my take. Not sure how this shows she is out of her depth though.

The green are predictably up in arms. They’re starting to annoy me a bit (context, they got my vote).