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Audio, Images & Video: Defence On Lance Corporal Smith
Defence Briefing On Death of Lance Corporal Leon Smith
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Defence Minister Wayne Mapp and Chief of the Defence Force Lieutenant General Rhys Jones held a press conference at Defence headquarters today on the death of NZSAS trooper Lance Corporal Leon Smith. They gave further details on the corporal, whose name was officially released this morning, and the circumstances of his death.
Leon Smith joined the SAS in 2008. He was the first medic on the scene when SAS Corporal Grant was fatally shot last month.
Lieutenant General Jones defended the intelligence process surrounding the operation after reports of Afghan authorities saying it was due to a false tipoff due to a family feud.
He and Dr Mapp also stood by the official portrayal of the SAS's "mentoring" role with the Afghan Crisis Response Unit, which includes being involved in actions and in some cases taking the lead role.
Dr Mapp stood by New Zealand's involvement in Afghanistan as an action to control international terrorism, noting that the Taliban had harbour Al Qaeda in defiance of the international community.
Lieutenant General Jones closed by emphasising that the military role was not the only part of the coalition plan for Afghanistan, but it was necessary if the others were to succeed.
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