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Afghan war docs leak shows NZ in good light

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Mon, 26 Jul 2010 6:06p.m.

By Patrick Gower

The war in Afghanistan has been hit by a massive leak of more than 90,000 secret military documents to the website Wikileaks, which show the ugly side of the US-led invasion.

The leak has been condemned by the White House, but references to New Zealand show our troops in a good light.

The war has been raging for a almost a decade, and today the military invasion led by the US was blown wide open.

The documents reveal unreported killings of Afghan civilians and details of secret missions to kill Taliban and al-Qaeda leaders.

"It will show the true nature of this war, and the public from Afghanistan and other nations can see what's going on and take steps to address the problems," says Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks.

Wikileaks is an international whistleblowing organisation, best-known for showing a graphic video of US forces opening fire on a group of men and children in Iraq.

This time it's opened up over 90,000 files documenting incidents from the Afghanistan with a handful relating to New Zealand's involvement.

They show:

  • New Zealand soldiers defused a live IED, or roadside bomb;
  • Attended an explosion where the bomb was carried by bicycle;
  • Some - but not all - army vehicles have radio-jamming equipment to protect against Taliban bombs;
  • Defence Minister Wayne Mapp's Hercules received a missile warning on its way into Kabul and had to let off anti-heat-seeking flares;
  • And details are given of a meeting with the commanding general of the war, where concerns where raised about the "negative influence" of Iran in Bamiyan, where New Zealand is posted - all of which seemed news to Prime Minister John Key.

The leaks relating to New Zealand appear relatively inconsequential. Mr Key will be pleased to learn New Zealand has not been caught doing anything nasty, but will not like the reminder of the kind of war the Government is supporting.

3 News

Read 3news.co.nz editor James Murray's blog on the latest Wikileaks leak here.

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Comments [6]

dale
27 Jul 2010 1:59p.m.

Its time to get out Afghanistan

Samantha
27 Jul 2010 11:00a.m.

No one is innocent in war but the civilians we all know that, it's sad that these things are happening, the taliban want members so they look to kids, tell them that being a martyr in the name of their god is the best thing they could ever do, it's brainwashing and it's wrong. That all said the US and Brits are not innocent either granted they don't brainwash kids into picking up arms or bombs and dying in the name of god but sure are willing to kill any civilians that may be picked up by taliban and used as cannon fodder in the religious war. The whole way this has been approached is very sad, these civilians are the ones who need protecting from the US, England and from terrors in their own country. They don't have a choice where they live or where they were born and it is wrong to be punished just for existing. The intolerance of everyone involved makes me sad to say I am human, if you want to believe in your religion do that but don't force it on others, Yes some people need to be educated on how human beings should treat others, women are not toys or possessions for men to own there are ways to solve differences rather then then blow each other to bits.

John
27 Jul 2010 8:28a.m.

Hey Rocky - The Taliban executed a seven year old boy for allegedly being a spy, in addition to this, a young boy was initiated into the Taliban's good graces by beheading a man accused of the same thing. Imagine what would be done to you if you were living in Afghanistan and criticizing the Taliban? The Yanks "n" Brits aint squeaky clean but their demoralising and destruction of the Taliban is a good thing, and utterly necessary.

munky_sapiens
26 Jul 2010 8:36p.m.

The reporter Patrick Gower must be extremely pleased with himself. At around 32 seconds into the clip, he announces that the 'military invasion led by the United States was blown wide open' at the same time as a HMMV is engulfed in an explosion. Top marks for sensitivity there, Patrick, and your editors of course - that'll be good for a giggle down the pub one night, eh? Pity about the poor sods in the truck. Pity about the poor sods who have to live in a country that's being used for a war.

V
26 Jul 2010 7:32p.m.

Yeah might is rite, they maybe warmongering criminals but they have all the deadly weapons. the choice is obvious.

rocky
26 Jul 2010 6:55p.m.

Good on you,se Wiki Leak show the world how Murderouse the US and British Military are. reminds me opf the Vietnam war atrocitie commited by the Yanks. George Bush and Tony Blair still need to be tried in a court of law for War Crimes, as well as Baarak abarma. the Americans wage war on civilians purposly to create a sense of terror in these war Zones

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