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GOFF
Nov 12, 2007 16:57:32 GMT 12
Post by vgp on Nov 12, 2007 16:57:32 GMT 12
NBR news article
Goff's nephew killed in Afghanistan By Political Correspondent Marie McNicholas, newsroom.co.nz A nephew of Defence Minister Phil Goff has been killed in action in Afghanistan where he was serving as a lieutenant with the United States Army.
Matthew Ferrara, 24, is the US-born son of Mr Goff's sister Linda and had dual New Zealand-US citizenship.
Mr Goff said had been killed in an ambush along with five other soldiers from the international Security Assistance Force in East Afghanistan on Saturday.
Mr Ferrara had been in Afghanistan for about five months and Mr Goff had attended his graduation from West Point military college in 2005.
Prime Minister Helen Clark said the ambush happened after the soldiers had attended a village meeting with elders.
"It's a very tragic situation for the families of all involved and very, very distressing to Mr Goff and his family," Miss Clark said.
Radio nz news report.
Defence Minister Phil Goff's nephew has been killed in action in Afghanistan while serving with the United States army.
A graduate of West Point military academy, Lieutenant Matthew Ferrara, 24, was raised in the US and had dual citizenship.
Mr Goff says his nephew was killed in an ambush, along with five other soldiers from the Security Assistance Force in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday.
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GOFF
Nov 13, 2007 8:57:13 GMT 12
Post by flyjoe180 on Nov 13, 2007 8:57:13 GMT 12
Americans are dying every day in Afghanistan and Iraq. As sad as it is for anyone to lose a relative, hopefully it may jerk them out of their 'benign environment' mentality.
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GOFF
Nov 13, 2007 15:27:07 GMT 12
Post by flycookie on Nov 13, 2007 15:27:07 GMT 12
The New York Times runs a daily tab on the war dead in Iraq and Afghanistan. Last time I looked was a few weeks ago, and it was speeding to 4,000. The last figure I saw for grievous wounded (ie limbs lost, paralysed from neck or waist down, blinded, brain damage, irreparable damage to vital organs) was in the 25,000-plus area. Sometime early next year the one-millionth soldier/marine/airman/sailor will deploy.
I have it on the best authority that the US State Department is, more or less, hoping and waiting for Goff to become NZ Prime Minister. He's seen as the only realistic prospect for starting "normalization" of the relationship between DC and Wellington.
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GOFF
Nov 13, 2007 23:20:31 GMT 12
Post by smithy on Nov 13, 2007 23:20:31 GMT 12
I don't think that'll happen Cookie. Goff wouldn't be the best ticket for the Labour Party to succeed Uncle Helen. He's pissed too many people off back home to seriously be a big draw card for the voters - anybody still remember the song from the early 90s that that bunch of students did ;-)
Sorry to hear about his family's loss though, very sad.
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GOFF
Nov 14, 2007 6:53:12 GMT 12
Post by paddy on Nov 14, 2007 6:53:12 GMT 12
Sorry to sound brutal but at least you have a Defence Minister that now knows some of the impact that Politician's decisions can have on ordinary people.
That said, my condolences go to the family
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GOFF
Nov 14, 2007 12:15:09 GMT 12
Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 14, 2007 12:15:09 GMT 12
My condolences to Mr Goff's family, but I somewhat agree with your sentiments Paddy. Having said that I think he's been the best Minister of Defence for a while. It's a shame that sometimes politicians have to learn lessons the hard way, like the rest of us.
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