New Zealand Troops Carry "Body Bags" to Iraq

Global Peace and Justice Auckland has written to the Prime Minister asking the government to reverse its decision to send troops to Iraq.

If this decision follows through then many casualties can be expected and many of the body bags carried by our contingent may well return full.

New Zealand troops will be joining the invasion forces of the US/UK and they will be seen as part of the foreign occupation of Iraq by the growing Iraqi resistance movement.

The guerrilla war which began the day the US declared victory has already killed dozens of US/UK troops and it is growing in strength and boldness by the day.

The situation is no different from the French resistance fighting against German occupation of their country during the 1940's. Just as the German occupation force was a legitimate target for the French resistance, so the New Zealand troops will be in the firing line of the Iraqi resistance.

As well as reversing the decision we are also asking, under the Official Information Act, for the following information: Copies of the briefing papers upon which cabinet made its decision to deploy troops to Iraq. Copies of any assessments of the likelihood of New Zealand casualties from the Iraqi deployment Whether there has been any update on the likelihood of casualties in light of the guerrilla war which is growing in strength and boldness by the day How many body bags will accompany the New Zealand contingent to Iraq.

It is clear that since that decision to send New Zealand troops, the guerrilla war has grown in intensity with daily attacks on the occupation forces. A reassessment now is essential…

New Zealanders are walking into a war of liberation on the wrong side of the battlefield.

We are joining the war criminals…

It would take great moral courage for Helen Clark to reverse the unconscionable decision to join the invasion forces in Iraq, but we expect nothing less.

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