New Zealand apologizes to Bush administration over prime minister's anti-war comment

Associated Press ^ | 4-7-03

[Bigg Red]

Arnett helped her write her apology, I guess.

[shaggy eel]

,,, more...

[Drango]

Who or what is New Zealand? Is it something to do with sheep?

[shaggy eel]

,,, more, plus...

[shaggy eel]

,,, last, but not least...

[fourdeuce82d]

After the U.S. Embassy called the comments "regrettable," Clark conveyed her apology through diplomats.

why in the name of hell do we get worked up over this kind of crap? Doesn't it seem petty? Who cares what some twit (only a vowel away from being something much nastier) has to say?

I think it would be better, and actually more insulting, to say something along the lines of "She said what? I'm sorry, we were busy, we didn't notice."

[AmericanVictory]

If the Bush people are smart, they will make a well publicized reply that will give her opposition something to rally round. We need the Kiwis back on track.

[shaggy eel]

,,, in fact, a lot of Kiwis are on track. Let Klark keep klutzing up. Anything anti-American will draw her out of the woodwork and she'll nail herself to it.

[shaggy eel]

ping

[rintense]

Clark is a socialist fool. But what does the average Kiwi think, Shaggy? Do they support the war?

[lilylangtree]

Any relation to that female minister in Chretien's govt a few months back? Sounds like a duplicate of her apology.

[Trajan88]

New Zealand must want more American tourists &/or film producers to use their country's backdrops.

Trajan88

[ijcr]

This occurs in any nation that elects a rugby prop as a Prime Minister.

[shaggy eel]

This occurs in any nation that elects a rugby prop as a Prime Minister.

,,, you're well informed.

[shaggy eel]

what does the average Kiwi think, Shaggy? Do they support the war?

,,, a difficult assessment to make Rintense. The women I speak with haven't got the slightest idea of what's actually happening with this war. I casually mention to most of them that the parallels between Saddam Hussein and Hitler are striking. The ones who have some knowledge of history quickly shut up as the thought registers. The younger ones tag on to what the media tells them. Generally, men seem to realise that whether it's about oil or not, neighbouring Arab countries have reason enough to let the US stage operations behind their lines - Kuwait may have been the first "Poland", but Saudi can easily see they'd be the next "Austria".

The media has a lot to answer for. Klark can count on trade unions, arty farty cafe leeches and teachers for her support. Business people, if they are opposed to the war, hope it's over quickly. Those sentiments are generalisations, but accurate enough to give you a bit of a snapshot.

[kiwiexpat]

New Zealand hasn't made a good political decision since WWII? Well, consider these decisions:

- Joined ANZUS in 1951
- NZ Troops fought along side American troops in Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War I and Afghanistan. NZ also has a navy destroyer operating in the Gulf.
- New Zealand began to deregulate its economy in 1984, and has move from having one of the most regulated capitalist economies in the world to one of the least. New Zealand is the world leader in free trade and a lack of protectionism for industry and agriculture.

New Zealand has made some unwise political decisions since WWII, but so has every other country.