New Zealand's support of the US

me | September 19, 2001 | Doug Loss

[Doug Loss]

A few days ago I posted an article from the New Zealand Press in which the NZ Prime Minister Helen Clark was quoted as saying NZ was withdrawing from the ANZUS pact and wouldn't support the US in its time of need. This engendered quite a response, mainly from outraged Americans.

However, I've also heard from Kiwis who said that the newspaper report wasn't accurate, the PM doesn't speak for them, and that the NZ people heartily support the US. Most of the Kiwis were polite in their messages :-), too.

Now that things have cooled down a bit I'd like to thank everyone from NZ who replied for their thoughts. We welcome your support, both moral and material. However, I hope you can soon put your house in order. Your PM is an international embarrassment to you.

[2ndMostConservativeBrdMember]

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[Steven W.]

Sorry ... but BS. We've had to put up with this kind of crap from NZ before - refusing to let our ships dock, etc., etc.. If the people feel differently then they better focus on making sure they let their government know because, as their leaders are being told, roll is being taken and it's only going to be called once. They're either for us or against us. And we'll remember forever & ever and particularly when foreign aid time rolls around again.

[Big Bunyip]

I think the correct pronunciation is Hulun Cluck. (antipodean humor).

[ScreamingFist]

LOL. Well done Doug. I was amazed, New Zealand counter FReeped FR. Lots of good comments. Perhaps you should link to the original thread.

[oyez]

The Kiwi's need reminding that if wasn't for America, they would be cleaning out toilts for the Japannese about now.

[Doug Loss]

It appears that that thread has been taken down; at least, I can't find it anymore.

[ScreamingFist]

"It appears that that thread has been taken down" You're right. What a pity.

[Free-minded New Zealander]

Excuse me? Cleaning toilets?

As I said before, those attacks have obviously narrowed some minds and turned some Americans into worse xenophobes.

[cajungirl]

We had great fun on a NZ thread the other nite.

[oyez]

OK, then you would fought the Nipponese to the last man. By calulation, if the USA had stayed out of WW2, NZ would have fallen to the Japs by 1946.

Welcome aboard.

[oyez]

I'm sorry.That should be; By my calulation, if the USA had stayed out of WW2, NZ would have fallen to the Japs by 1946.

[Dac]

Guys Guys, Perhaps if the postings were correct then there would be an informed debate......May I correct matters? 1 ... NZ does support the US in it's Tragedy 2.... NZ has offered it's military in support ( our SAS are on stand-by for any requests from the US)and our military will respond to requests in general to the best of our ability 3.... As far as cleaning toilets for Japan, may I remind those learned correspondants that New Zealand was engaged in a war of survival along with the Commonwealth and European countries against terrorism some 2 plus years before the US was FORCED into it by an attack on it's forces 4.... The US has designated mainland China as a more favoured friend than NZ.....? a great move....a good ally to have...I see that you are even able to use their airfeilds to land your P-3's on. 5 ....Get the facts right and have some informed comment.And by the way....our Prime Minister may be an embarrasment in your eyes, but she does not have a prediliction for cigars and staffers. I write this as an ex serviceman who spent 20 years in the service of his country, who has spent time in the US working alongside your servicemen and in other countries, and who is ready to stand in defence of his country again when and if required. So don't bag the little guys...look to your own faults and fix them first.

[KiwiGirl]

http://www.encyclopedia.com/articlesnew/31196.html

This states that back in 1985 we would not let nuclear ships in, so in 1986 you abolished your responsibilties to New Zealand under the ANZUS treaty.

You can boycott NZ products if you want but we were abolished from ANZUS and we are still willing to help, I can't see why we are being attacked for it.

[1rudeboy]

The pattern over the past few days has been to take a BBC or CNN quote, either poorly translated or taken out of context, usually made by the Assisant Deputy Minister of Western Schleswig-Holstein, and use it to provoke a slew of my-d***-is-bigger-than-yours comments.

Usually, a correction (or the truth) is posted a day or two later, but funny, no one ever apologizes. Carville would be proud.

[ziggy7]

Hi Doug, Your inaccurate reading of a N.Z. press release is offensive. As you know, our non participation in ANZUS is only due to not being included by the U.S. since 1986. Kiwi soldiers have fallen in Africa, WW1, WW2, Korea, Vietnam and more recently East Timor. We have all grieved for the loss in the U.S. and have offered intelligence and S.A.S. support. New Zealand Fireman are collecting for a fund for the New York Firemen. Public gatherings are being organised to show support for the New York victims. We are a most worthy ally.

[ziggy7]

Excuse me Steven: "Foreign Aid" - who do you think your talking about. New Zealand is not a third world nation. We've backed the West all Century and are currently helping East Timor get back on its feet. Read my reply to Doug and you may understand that he totally got the article wrong. The main point being Helen Clark was not withdrawing from ANZUS, just stating that we haven't been included in it since 1986. If it ever came down to it, you'd be lucky to have a Kiwi by your side. And we will be.

[Aaryn_015]

I think that the biggest problem here is that (some) Americans are being too hasty to see where the rest of the world stands on this. Like a school boy who knows he is coming up against a good fight, looking to see see who he can count on. I know this is serious stuff, And to any Americans, NZ is with you. My GreatGrand father was in WW1 and my Grand father in WW2, both along side Americans. It's pretty much the same for any guy my Age. I have a mate who has never meet his grand father because of this. No one has even talked about where the U.S's intrests were in regards to WW2 BEFORE Pearl Harbour. Also, either whoever read this article or whoever wrote it got it way wrong, considering America has excluded NZ in ANZUS since '86. We're not honoring it?? Learn some facts before you start dogging one of your most avid allies for the past 90 years and please stop disrespecting the blood we spilled for world causes. NZ is here and ready, It's just a shame that Americans believe too much of what they read without investigating the facts.

[yarddog]

As far as I am concerned, it was NZ who abrogated the treaty when they refuse U.S. Ships port.

A few years ago, I talked to a friend who had just got back from New Zealand. He told me about how beautiful the country was and that the people were friendly and intelligent. The only problem was he said he could barely stand the place because every person there was a flaming leftist.

I will say one thing. If all those girls on Hercules are really from NZ then it is primo girl country.

[yarddog]

If it had not been for America there would have been no battle of the Coral Sea, The Japanese would have easily taken over Australia then New Zealand, that is unless the huge NZ Navy had won the battle of the Tasman Sea.

The Kiwi's did fight well in WW II.