John Key what were you thing? Know because of your mistake we have to pay for the damage, why would you send our troops in there for "DORK'
Now that its public knowledge he's operating there, we have brought unwanted attention to his unit and to the man himself. The comments made by the edotor of the Dominion after publishing the photograph showing his face are absolute rubbish, As an ex soldier with the NZDF I fail to believe soldiers currently serving or otherwise who have an understanding of Spec Operations would want Special ops covered openly.
Mr Key said "it was a poor editorial decision by the Herald". And I say it was a very poor Prime Ministerial decision to actually confirm Cpl Apiata's identity when up until John Key named him he was actually just an anonymous solider in a photo. Good job Don Key!Now the latest from Don Key is that he was briefed by his press secretary that it was Cpl Apiata and when asked by the media if it was him, he confirmed it was because he "didn't want to lie". Now that is a lie if ever I heard one. The truth is our PM stuffed up big time and is now scuttling around trying not to ridiculous having blown a hole through our military security. He is a fool.
Selection is an operational/command issue, Anrath.
Anrath mate, you've been watching too much Rambo.If you believe the Govt picks out the troops, do you also believe they pick out the staff in our hospitals? and teachers in our schools?You are one deluded fool.
I have never written on these comment sections before but I am so disgusted in the attitude of the NZ Herald to the response they have received to their publishing of images showing the faces of elite forces in a combat zone. No photograph of any of these SAS troops should be shown. Their considered decision not only unduly compromises the safety of the individuals in the immediate actions they are involved with but can compromise their use in future actions. British SBS troops were photographed during their deployment to East Timor and were show in the British media. This had immediate and far reaching impact for the individuals shown. “The acting editor of the Herald wouldn't be interviewed on camera, but told 3 News the photograph was published because it was in a public place, and the only reason the paper hadn't already published identifiable pictures of the SAS in action was because it had never before had the opportunity.” It was in a public place! Not only was it in a public place, it was in one of the most dangerous public places in the world right now. Their ‘choice’ (while they sat here in their safe comfortable office) to print that image has just made it more dangerous for those individuals not there by ‘choice’ but by a brave and honourable sense of duty. Their decision has no honour and no defence. The decision makers can surely not deny, they knew publishing this image would make these SAS members individually identifiable and therefore more of a target. To say that they made that decision because “they never had the opportunity before” is one of the most disgusting comments I have heard. I hope they learn from the response of the country that we as the consumers of their product do not want to see this irresponsible use of ‘opportunity’ again.
Time to change your medication, Anrath.
Anrath you couldnt be further from the truth. I have had the privilage of serving my country on three different operational deployments. Two of them under the Labour Government and I bet Helen Clarke or the then Minister of Defence didnt have a clue what my name was.Willie Apiata is part of a team that lives, eats and breaths New Zealand. Everything they do, they do at 110% and when the chips are down they will put their bodies on the line for their team mates and their country. Willie Apiata has already proven this. Their shroud of secrecy is one of the main tools they have that allows them to operate at the level they do. This newspaper has just opened the door for this shroud to be pushed aside.The fact that an independant photographer took photos of a team of soldiers is irrelevant, all war zones are crawling with independants. The fact that a New Zealand newspaper has those photos is also irrelevant. The fact that they chose to publish those photos knowing full well that those soldiers were NZSAS troopers and that those troopers are still standing on the front line was totally irresponsible. So as for your comment on me not knowing much about war and reconisance, I beg to differ and as for corupt politicians, after the 2005 Boxing day Tsunami I spent a year in Indonesia working as a logistics coordinator for a major aid agency. I assure you I learnt alot about corupt politicains there.
I'm pleased to see that for a change, everyone who has posted a comment is actually on the same page. Condemnation to the Herald editor who went with publishing this photo without blurring our guys' faces. I don't care that the item & photo were so news-worthy. These guys need discretion & it was blown by the Herald. Mind you, the PM naming him didn't help either, unless the PM was pre-empting something by id'g him now. But still, very disappointing to see NZ media/PR being so naive. The NZ SAS are the guys.. I wish you safety & good health.