Defence Minister rejects claims of poor training

[Dave Homewood]

Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman is rejecting claims an army contingent sent to Afghanistan, which lost five lives in combat, was not well enough trained.

Lance Corporals Rory Malone, Pralli Durrer and Jacinda Baker, Corporal Luke Tamatea and Private Richard Harris died in two separate incidents in Bamyan province in August last year.

The New Zealand Herald on Saturday carried a leaked army report it said strongly criticises the training given to members of the unit.

Mr Coleman said the report is only one of 23 evaluations made during pre-deployment training.

He says any gaps in training were filled when the troops arrived in Bamyan, before the contingent took operational control in the province.

The Defence Force says it was the first time that the author of those comments had observed pre-deployment training.

Copyright © 2013, Radio New Zealand

[ngatimozart]

Of course he does. He doesn't want to have to admit that his policies have caused problems. This is link to the original story.

[baronbeeza]

Saw who the reporter was and stopped reading. We have mentioned this guy here before...... The Herald said some time ago that he no longer worked there.

Mr Fisher is the reporter who tried telling the world that the Trislander engines were screaming in reverse during the aborted takeoff out of Pauanui.

The story has scared teenagers in the skateboard park running for their lives as the aircraft roared towards them.

Can't ever recall seeing a retraction or correction either.
Dreamt up, fiction or lies...... but not the truth that is for sure.

I would have to doubt the sincerity or correctness of any of his reporting.