Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Wednesday, 26 February 2003, 3:20 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
Scoop Is In The House
What The Europeans Would That We Do
Why France Believes The US Empire Is In Decline
Kiwi Anti-War Protestors Plan Direct Action
Recovered History: Shaking Hands with Saddam Hussein
The Undersecretary of State for ''Bad'' Arms Control
Firas Al-Atraqch: The Real Reasons For War Hysteria
Stateside Special: For The Good People Of Taranaki
Stateside: Angel Wings In Absentia
Kiwi Human Shield Responds To "Ruthless" Rumsfeld
More Human Shields Bound For Iraq
Cyanide Terrorism Threat Under Investigation
Scoop Link: Nth Korea Launches Missile
Words Which Would Take Us To War
Citing The Immigrant Detention Business: Aziz Choudry
BIG NEWS INVESTIGATES ACC - PART 8
Scoop! When Life Imitates Art

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
Say Yes To Peace - Thursday 27 February
Nick Smith's Garage Mum-To-Be Gets House
We Don't Need No Re-Education
Dude! Where's My Car
Lining Up On War With Iraq
Progressives And Engineers To Campaign For More Leave
Helen Pulls A Knowledge Wave Re-Entry
MAF Fails To Save NZ From The Bugs
Paying For Prescriptions & Operations
ACT Joins NZ First In Opposing Overseas Super Savings
Expect Less Violence On TV Thanks To Sue Kedgley
Part Time Soldiers In Parlous Position

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...TODAY'S PHOTO STORY...

What Donald Rumsfeld Did In The 1980s

http://img.scoop.co.nz/stories/images/0302/9f969783d8651c9fd22a.jpeg

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TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS

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Scoop Is In The House

– For Today’s questions for oral answer see... Questions For Oral Answer - Wednesday, 26 February [1] . Come back later for the uncorrected transcript of the answers. - EARLIER Q&A - Tuesday's Transcript [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00478.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00467.htm

What The Europeans Would That We Do

- A copy of the leaked European Commission GATS 2000 requests to New Zealand. This document was published yesterday by the Polaris Institute.

Why France Believes The US Empire Is In Decline

- As obnoxious as many Americans find the current behaviour of French President Jacques Chirac, there is clear method behind his apparent madness. See... France’s ''Non'' On Iraq Is The First Of Many [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00198.htm

Kiwi Anti-War Protestors Plan Direct Action

- Based in Auckland, Direct Anti-War Action (DAWA) is a United Front of various groups and individuals formed to organise direct action to stop the New Zealand government's involvement in the war on Iraq. See... Direct Action To Stop The NZ Involvement In War [1] and Call For Nonviolent Actions At Military Bases [2] . See also… Global Peace And Justice Auckland Newsletter #24 [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0302/S00174.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0302/S00238.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0302/S00173.htm

Recovered History: Shaking Hands with Saddam Hussein

- The U.S. restored formal relations with Iraq in November 1984, but the U.S. had begun, several years earlier, to provide it with intelligence and military support (in secret and contrary to this country's official neutrality) in accordance with policy directives from President Ronald Reagan. See... UQ Wire: The U.S. Tilts toward Iraq, 1980-1984 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00197.htm

The Undersecretary of State for ''Bad'' Arms Control

- John Bolton was in Israel last week doing his job, fighting the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Bolton is the U.S. Undersecretary of State for Arms Control. But the way he was doing his job is enough to make you laugh -- and cry. See... US Arms Control Hypocrisy is the Real Threat [1] see also... Why We Must Go To War, Richard Perle Explains [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00196.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00176.htm

Firas Al-Atraqch: The Real Reasons For War Hysteria

There is a maddening rush to war that is unparalleled in recent human history. See... Firas Al-Atraqch: The Rush to War [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00194.htm

Stateside Special: For The Good People Of Taranaki

- Most weeks I write this column on the weekend, edit it on Monday night and send it on Tuesday morning. This weekend was no different, but it is now Monday going on Tuesday and I'm starting off completely afresh, fuelled by late night pizza and root beer. See... Column of absolutely no interest outside Taranaki [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00190.htm

Stateside: Angel Wings In Absentia

- If you Google "liturgical dance", you'll likely come up with a miscellany of references that range from the Catholic Information Network's advising against having anything so profane in a service, to Carrie B's on-line store of angel-wing leotards and men's praise outfits. See... Madam Mime and the Karaoke Kristians [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00189.htm

Kiwi Human Shield Responds To "Ruthless" Rumsfeld

- Hi everyone, according to Donald Rumsfeld (the man that war criminal Henry Kissinger described as "the most ruthless man I've ever known") I am a war criminal. (click here to read the article). See... Rumsfeld pushes big lie on human shields in Iraq [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00195.htm

More Human Shields Bound For Iraq

- The latest contingent of “Human Shield” volunteers left Italy on Monday 24th February from St. Peter's Square, Rome. Earlier, the group of Human Shields that left London on 25th January in three double-decker buses arrived in Baghdad on 14th Feb. See... Latest Contingent of Human Shields Leave Rome [1] ALSO: - Peace Camp Set Up On Iraqi Frontline - 23 members on Monday set up a peace camp at the Demilitarized Zone along the Iraq-Kuwait border. The activists’ intent is to direct a message to U.S. military personnel poised across the border and to Americans opposed to another Iraq war. See... Peace Tent Set Up At Iraq-Kuwait Front [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0302/S00234.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0302/S00235.htm

Cyanide Terrorism Threat Under Investigation

-Police are investigating a letter threat to the United States Embassy and the British and Australian High Commissions. Identical letters were sent to the Embassy and the two High Commissions. A copy was also received by the NZ Herald at its offices in Auckland... See... Cyanide Threat to US Embassy and Americas Cup [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0302/S00169.htm

Scoop Link: Nth Korea Launches Missile

- North Korea launched a missile that crashed into the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan on Monday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said Tuesday. See... Here We Go! Nth Korea Launches Missile Into Sea [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00188.htm

Words Which Would Take Us To War

- The USA, Britain and co-sponsor Spain have been circulating this draft UN resolution about the Security Council. It bypasses calling for war against Iraq, but shrewdly details alleged breaches of Resolution 1441... See... Draft Resolution Circulates UN Security Council [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00185.htm

Citing The Immigrant Detention Business: Aziz Choudry

- The immigration detention business is booming. The global reach of the top players in the security industry is astounding. They are truly transnational corporations in every sense. And in our struggles against the neoliberal agenda, just like other transnational corporations, they must be vigorously exposed and opposed. See... The Paydirt of Paranoia [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00186.htm

BIG NEWS INVESTIGATES ACC - PART 8

- The severely disabled Christchurch boy who was mauled by a dog as a baby, only to have compensation stopped last month, has had an uphill battle with ACC since his 1993 injury. His case has been to review several times. See... ACC Repeatedly Cuts Compensation For Disabled Boy [1] MORE: - Part 1 - ACC staff knowingly flout ACC legislation [2] - Part 2 - ACC case manager and assessor collude [3] - Part 3 - Dodgy Assessments Used To Rid ACC of Claimants [4] - Part 4 - How some ACC assessments predetermine outcomes [5] - Part 5 - ACC claimants are not advised their entitlements [6] - Part 6 - ACC Boss Accused Of Misrepresenting The Public [7] - Part 7 - ACC Management Still Hostile To Media Queries [8]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00193.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00108.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00114.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00125.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00137.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00151.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00164.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00182.htm

Scoop! When Life Imitates Art

- The tin-pot dictatorship of a poor country with a rich natural resource becomes the focus of a war plotted by foreign powers and commercial interests, then fomented by a clueless press. So goes the plot of Evelyn Waugh’s novel Scoop, a hilarious satirical assault – on Realpolitik, Third-World governance, and journalism – which offers Cassandra-like premonitions of today. See... ‘Scoop’ On Iraq [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0302/S00159.htm

Say Yes To Peace - Thursday 27 February

- Rally at parliament to coincide with the visit of the European parliament delegation, with speakers including: See... Say NO to war and YES to peace [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0302/S00152.htm

Nick Smith's Garage Mum-To-Be Gets House

- The Nelson family unable to find accommodation have been successful housed, Acting Housing Minister Steve Maharey said today. See... Nelson Family Housed [1] and MP pleased house found for family, but ... [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00473.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00470.htm

We Don't Need No Re-Education

- Justice Minister Phil Goff's explanation today, of plans to "educate" New Zealanders before a change to the law governing the smacking of children, smacks of political re-education in the Maoist sense, ACT Justice Spokesman Stephen Franks says. See... Justice Minister Not "Re-Educated" On Smacking Law [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00472.htm

Dude! Where's My Car

- Former NZ rally champion and United Future MP Paul Adams had his car stolen from outside his Browns Bay, Auckland, home early yesterday. See... Former rally champ MP's car stolen [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00480.htm

Lining Up On War With Iraq

- National says New Zealand should be supporting the US-British draft resolution seeking UN action against Iraq. See... New Zealand should be supporting 2nd UN resolution [1] MORE: - United Future - Dunne: Polarised UN needs middle way [2] - Greens back peaceful resolution [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00461.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00458.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00451.htm

Progressives And Engineers To Campaign For More Leave

- The Progressive MPs will move an amendment to the newly introduced Holidays Bill seeking an entitlement of four weeks leave for all workers. See... Progressives to differentiate on four weeks leave [1] and Robson, union plan holiday tactics [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00463.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0302/S00206.htm

Helen Pulls A Knowledge Wave Re-Entry

- ACT New Zealand Social Welfare Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman today accused Prime Minister Helen Clark of performing verbal gymnastics over Associate Maori Affairs Minister John Tamihere's speech to the Knowledge Wave conference. See... Nice U-Turn, Helen [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00462.htm

MAF Fails To Save NZ From The Bugs

- MAF is still inconsistent in keeping our borders safe from unwanted pests, said New Zealand First biosecurity spokesperson Brent Catchpole. See... Biosecurity Still Not Good Enough [1] , National Catalogue of incompetence on biosecurity [2] and theGreens… Simple solution to shipping incursions [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00485.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00471.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00481.htm

Paying For Prescriptions & Operations

- New Zealand First has called on the Health Minister to sort out the messy contract negotiations between pharmacies and District Health Boards before patient safety is jeopardised. See... Mean Prescription Policies Threaten Patient Safety [1] and Health Debt Shocker To Spark Surgery Cutbacks [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00484.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00483.htm

ACT Joins NZ First In Opposing Overseas Super Savings

- ACT New Zealand Finance spokesman Rodney Hide today said that investing $58,000 million in Michael Cullen's Super Fund was a risky gamble on overseas share markets that offered no benefit to New Zealanders. See... NZ Super Fund A Gamble With Pensioners' Money [1] and NZ First… Sorry Plight Over Super Savings [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00482.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00443.htm

Expect Less Violence On TV Thanks To Sue Kedgley

- Television New Zealand will be expected to review the amount of violence it screens, as a result of a successful amendment to TVNZ's charter moved by Green MP Sue Kedgley. See... Kedgley takes the fight out of TV [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00477.htm

Part Time Soldiers In Parlous Position

- ACT New Zealand Defence Spokesperson Ken Shirley today released responses to written Parliamentary Questions revealing the parlous state of New Zealand's territorial services. See... New Zealand Territorial Force Faces Crisis [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0302/S00474.htm

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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