US ticks off Clark over war remarks (New Zealand PM Helen Clark)

Yahoo! News ^ | 4/2/03 | Audrey Young - New Zealand News

[NormsRevenge]

The Prime Minister's comments over the Iraq war have drawn a sharp rebuke from the United States Embassy, which last night described them as "regrettable".

That is strong criticism in diplomatic language.

The offending statements were Helen Clark's expressed view at the weekend that the war would not have happened had Democrat Al Gore been elected president.

In a subsequent press conference about the comments, she said the war did not appear to be going to plan.

Political opponents have accused her of being anti-American, of further jeopardising a free-trade deal, and of making inappropriate comments about President's Bush's unsuccessful rival.

Neither the Prime Minister nor the embassy would say whether the United States had conveyed disappointment or disapproval to her or the Government over her comments.

Helen Clark's response, through a spokesman, was: "We often receive follow-up inquiries after sensational news reports and we cheerfully respond to them."

But the United States embassy public affairs officer, Bill Millman, said simply: "The Prime Minister's statement was regrettable," a comment which almost certainly would have been approved by senior diplomats.

Asked if "the statement" referred to Mr Gore or to the war not going to plan, he indicated both.

Earlier, under questioning in Parliament, Helen Clark had dismissed the impact of the Gore comments as "neither here nor there".

She continued to find herself on the back foot yesterday over remarks on the Iraq war - which were reported in sections of the Arab press.

Act leader Richard Prebble suggested her comments were more in line with promoting a free-trade agreement with Syria rather than the United States.

Her comments on plans coming unstuck were reported in at least the Arab News, an English-language news service in Saudi Arabia and possibly on Iranian radio. Another comment, that Saddam Hussein might never be caught, was reported in the Khaleej Times, in the United Arab Emirates.

National leader Bill English said the Prime Minister discussed the war, "as if she is some kind of foreign correspondent", in ways that offended New Zealand's friends and allies.

Helen Clark said Australian Prime Minister John Howard was reported as saying that the US hopes for a popular uprising against Saddam were misguided.

"The fact is Mr Howard is in negotiation for a free trade agreement [with the United States]. That does not stop him telling the truth as he sees it about what is happening."

To accusations that she was damaging New Zealand's relationship with the United States, she said she had been stating only "the bleedingly obvious".

But she added that New Zealand valued its relationship with the US.

Earlier she had told reporters: "Let's be clear for the record. Saddam Hussein has an appalling regime. No one is going to be distressed about that going. It has all been about how this issue should have been handled from the outset.

"We hung in there for a diplomatic solution which was possible and, having seen everything that has happened since, I am convinced we hung out for the right objective."

[El Sordo]

Any thoughts?

[netmilsmom]

And of course the Australians look for an excuse to bash NZ. It's like OSU/MSU rivalry. The people they love to hate. I love Australia myself, even before the war support.
Remember in Desert storm? They left late, arrived late, but they brought the Fosters!
But here is a note to this lady.
You are the PM of a country. It would be a good idea if you read up on the subject before you openned your mouth. Otherwise you look stupid.

[muawiyah]

No doubt Algore would still be negotiating with Mullah Omar regarding the shape of any future negotiating table.

[ThomasMore]

LIBERAL SOCIALISTS

They are all mustering together echoing the same ole claptrap.

Socialism is a huge failure.  This war is yet another nail in its coffin.  That's why France, Germany, Russia, New Zealand, Canada and all the rest of the Socialist / semi-socialist countries are having kittens over this war.

[KellyAdmirer]

Australia has standing to comment on the war, being an active supporter of the US through thick and thin. New Zealand socialists, on the other hand, always benefitting from US protection (otherwise they would be speaking Japanese right now) but never helping out, should keep their big fat mouths shut.

[Fireone]

Also, the U.S. military would be totally under U.N.(and Sec.General Clinton) command, and probably helping Saddam and Arafat fight off the "imperialists" who would wish to depose them.

[PfromHoGro]

"But she added that New Zealand valued its relationship with the US"

Yeah, right, like back during the ANZUS breakup, I was living there, watching Soviet ships come & go- Nukes? Of course nyet. Unfortunately for such a stalwart people, their elected officials sure don't mind seeing others live on their knees. Personally, I'll take dying on my feet any day.

[fuzzy122]

Whooo-raaah!!!

MEGA-

Stay Strong
Fuzzy

[ZULU]

"The offending statements were Helen Clark's expressed view at the weekend that the war would not have happened had Democrat Al Gore been elected president."

Probably true.

Al gore would have stood by even if Saddam took over Mexico and set up nuclear tipped scud bases there.

[CFC__VRWC]

There would likely be hundreds of thousands of war casualties in NYC, Chicago, LA, St. Louis, Philly, etc., but no Iraqi citizens would be endangered.

And Helen Clark would be saying that America had those casualties coming.

[Blue Screen of Death]

Where is Old Zeland?

[KosmicKitty]

I once heard that New Zealand produced the most methane gas of any country on earth -- because of all the sheep.

Maybe the PM's add to the methane too!!!

[applemac_g4]

She's right. If Al Gore had been president, we would have surrendered to Afghanistan.

[Rockiesrider]

"Helen Clark's expressed view at the weekend that the war would not have happened had Democrat Al Gore been elected president"

Well she's right. Al Gore would be in the process of remaking himself for the umteenth time since 9/11. Koffe Annon would be telling him what to do and say. Hans Blix would be trying to find his ass with both hands and Tom Daschel would not be very, very disappointed.

[kiwiexpat]

When the French unilaterally destroyed a Greenpeace vessel in New Zealand, it outraged voters and brought the Socialists to power.

Actually, the "socialists" - the fourth Labour Government were elected to power in 1984 - two years before the French blew up the Greenpeace boat. The so-called socialists actually were neo-liberals who followed Milton Friedman more than they did Karl Marx. Under the "socialists" New Zealand went from having one of the most regulated capitalist economies to one of the least. New Zealand in terms of market protectionism and subsidies to agriculture is one of the most free market economies in the world - much free than the United States, which still has high tariffs and huge subsidies for agricultural producers. Helen Clark's government has not changed this. She is a free-market liberal - she combines conservative economic policy with liberal social policy. New Zealand's economy is the fastest growing in the work and is the darling of monetarist economists.

Helen really needs to shut-up.

[xp38]

In the Netherlands

[RightWhale]

When the Chinese arrive to do some ethnic cleansing and begin sheep farming for themselves, who you gonna call, PM Clark?

[Enemy Of The State]

"the war would not have happened had Democrat Al Gore been elected president. "

Hell no it wouldnt have, because he wouldnt have the balls to defend this country. Goron would have have picked up where willy left off, and he would be right back to selling our country off to China.

[gcruse]

It is sad to see New Zealand led by such a dolt as she.

Sad, but not surprising.  New Zealand, you'll recall, is the country
who refused the US Navy docking there unless we declared
each ship to be nuclear-free.  This pretty well destroyed ANZUS.

[gcruse]

New Zealand was named by the European credited with settling the country, for a Dutch city (The Netherlands) called Zealand. So, yes, there is an "OLD" Zealand though they do not use the term "old"!