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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 22, 2005 17:02:01 GMT 12
Am I right in thinking the new minister of defence is Phil Goff? Or did I hear that wrong?
If so, what do you think? Will he be better/worse than previous incumbants?
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Post by corsair67 on Oct 22, 2005 18:25:02 GMT 12
It doesn't matter: if they've got Helen as their boss then they haven't got an ice cube's hope in hell of being any good for the NZDF. Too much left-wing ideology and political correctness in the current Labour Party, and it's blinkering their vision.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 22, 2005 18:37:17 GMT 12
At least the Greens and the Maori Party have been excluded. Those radical idiots would have been worse (if that's possible).
At least it's not George Hawkins. That guy must have been the most incompetent minister ever, and every time he ucked up Helen told the media pff for harrassing him because he'd had a stroke. She's truly a nut if she thinks he was competent in his job. He was awful.
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Post by corsair67 on Oct 22, 2005 18:59:10 GMT 12
Yes, the poor old Greens have been left out in the cold! I wonder why???
The Maori Party, well who knows with them. Maybe if they thought they could make money out of defence, or been told that fighter-bombers, soldiers and warships could be used to protect the foreshores and Maori Mana (the 21 Century's flintlock?) then maybe they would have been okay?!
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 22, 2005 19:46:42 GMT 12
I am in no way anti-Maori race. But their political leaders are often highly suspect (as are most!), and especially the radicals in the Maori Party, I wouldn't trust them an inch. After seeing what some of their political and tribal leaders have done with the likes of former defence bases at Te Rapa, Wigram and Hopu Hopu (as well as many other once important or profitable assets gifted to them) I wouldn't want that lot anywhere near the political decisions regarding defence. If they'd gotten into power Whenuapai would have been turned over to them quick as anything. I can just see it, No. 40 Sqn's hangar would become The Warehouse, the airfield covered in gorse and ragwort and KFC in the control tower! I''m an environmentally friendly person, I recycle and cycle and all manner of things good for the environment. And some of The Greens ideas are reasonably sound. It's not the ideas though, it's the wierdo hippy drugged out jippos that are implementing them, in their organic way, and the fact that the other coalition partners always water down the good bits as they're opposed to them. I think we'll be better off with the mix of wallies we now have. At least with Winston as Foreign Minister we might get into some international incidents and it may be realised we NEED to defend ourselves against those he upsets!! Pity he didn't get the immigration portfolio too, that'd shake some things up! ;D
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Post by Bruce on Oct 22, 2005 19:49:05 GMT 12
Out of the odd mix of Polys we now have as a "Government" (anyone still want MMP?) there is one who would prove about the best of the whole lot. Unfortunately for him Winston doesnt want to be in Cabinet, because Ron Mark would be a reasonable minister of Defence I reckon. Someone who actually knows about defence! Politicians make strange bedfellows.....
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Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 22, 2005 20:42:02 GMT 12
I never wanted MMP, the system is a dog's breakfast. Italy and Germany could have told us that, and did...
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Post by steve on Oct 30, 2005 21:29:43 GMT 12
Dave and Bruce...your thoughts are right on the mark...couldn't agree more..and by the way Ron Marks ...good guy and would be an excellent minister of defence...NZ first defence policy talks about a marine corps component...interesting... Back to Phil Goff...I attended a course at akl university studying USA/NZ realations ww1 onwards... Prof Steve Hoadley an american himself had the highest respect for Phil Goff...he is very smart guy and is infact i understand quite pro US working behind the scenes with the very Anti american labour party. I am hopeful that with his assoc Tresuary role and his higher ranking in cabinet ...that defence might be able to get more of the pie...who knows...Maybe Winston will make some ground with US state dept next year...heres hoping..
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