Troops to Iraq

On Friday the 26th of September, 5 Peace Action Wellington activists traveled to Ohakea base to draw attention to the fact that Helen Clark has lied, and is supporting George Bush's war on Iraq.

Peace Action Wellington opposes the sending of armed engineers to Iraq.

Firstly, because it helps legitimise the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq by US and UK forces.

The deployment is in danger of being attacked by the Iraqi people, as it is under the command of British forces, who have been told in no uncertain terms that they are not welcome there. There has also not been enough education about the risks of depleted uranium. Depleted uranium, used by invading troops, has been associated with the premature deaths of Iraqi people and of troops returning from the first Gulf War.

The $10 million dollars used for this contribution to Bush's war effort could instead be used for medical equipment, or to aid the huge pool of Iraqi engineers who could rebuild their own country, given the resources. However, this commonsense approach would not give Helen Clark the political pointscoring that she needs. New Zealand troops are being placed at risk for the pipe dream of a US free trade deal.

It is also important to draw attention to the fact that the infrastructure that Clark claims NZDF troops will be rebuilding has just been opened to radical privatisation by the unelected Iraqi Governing Council. New Zealand troops are mending infrastructure that will be sold to the highest bidder, with no consultation of the Iraqi people.

We demand that the Labour Party recalls the troops, tells the occupying forces to leave Iraq, and works towards helping the Iraqi people rebuild their country, without aiding in national theft.

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