Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Tuesday, 18 March 2003, 3:44 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
Kindness Or Bombs and Blood: You Choose
Scoop Is In The House
The Final Countdown: Bush Admin. Ultimatum
The Final Countdown: UN Pulls Out
The Final Countdown: The Hawks' Call To Arms
Hard News is There!
How Does It Feel In Baghdad?
Matthew Reid: UNMOVIC, Where Up Is Down
Australia Commits To Unsanctioned War
Sanders Research: The Economic Rationale For War
John Kaminsky: Only Solution Now Is To Arrest Bush
Resigning US Diplomats Just The Tip Of The Iceberg
Ominous, Dreadfull and Haunting Silence On War In The US
David Miller: Selling Mayhem Matters
Howard’s End: Bow Our Heads In Shame
The Murder Of Peace Activist Rachel Corrie
Daily Katya Rivas's Passion

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
Peace Slips Through Twiddling Fingers
No Justice When Murder Is The Means
Nats Sought Iraq Debate
Nats Support Iraq War
NZ War Debate: Time To Lobby MPs
Chilling Prediction Rocks Parliament
Trade NZ and Industry NZ Merge
More Acute Psyche Patients At Risk
GE Feed Sneaks Into NZ
NZ Must Prepare for SARS Flu
Sea Containers Must Be NZ Checked
Chains around The Trees
Hodgson’s Off To USA
Hillary Challenge To Benefit Schools
Govt Is Getting There On Jobs
Hodgson On Climate Change
Greens To Protest ACC
BIA Rot-Review Nears End
Health Innovation Awards Winners
United Gets New Chief

Kindness Or Bombs and Blood: You Choose

- This whole USA-Iraq War crisis boils down to two things: either you support a mass killing of children option, or you subscribe to an ongoing course of diplomatic resolution. It is your personal choice. Here, courtesy of UNICEF, Scoop presents a Photo-Essay we have titled: A Race Against Time. And yes it is running out. See... Kindness Or Bombs - You Choose [1] and Friends Journal: The Faces Of Collateral Damage [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0303/S00135.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0303/S00127.htm

Scoop Is In The House

– For Today’s questions for oral answer see... Questions For Oral Answer - Tuesday, 18 March 2003 [1] . Come back later this evening for the uncorrected transcript of the answers. Question time will follow an urgent debate on the planned war in Iraq currently underway.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0303/S00305.htm

The Final Countdown: Bush Admin. Ultimatum

- In a 1pm (NZT) statement U.S. President George W. Bush has given Iraqi Leader Saddam Hussein and his two sons 48 hours to leve Iraq or face an Invasion. See... Hussein Must Leave Iraq Within 48 Hours : Bush [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0303/S00256.htm

The Final Countdown: UN Pulls Out

- UN News Audio - UN Weapons Inspectors Ordered Out of Iraq [1] - UN - Annan to withdraw UN staff from Iraq [2] , Key Iraqi disarmament goals to be dicussed Wednesday [3] &UK, US and Spain won't seek vote on resolution [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0303/S00254.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0303/S00253.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0303/S00252.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0303/S00251.htm

The Final Countdown: The Hawks' Call To Arms

- UK - Jack Straw to the House of Commons on Iraq [1] , Legal basis for use of force against Iraq [2] , PM outlines vision for Iraq and the Iraqi people [3] & 'A clear ultimatum to Saddam' [4] - US Govt. - Briefing on Situation With Iraq - Colin Powell [5] EARLIER: - Atlantic Summit Communiqués - Summit: A Vision For Iraq And The Iraqi People [6] and Summit: Commitment To Trans-Atlantic Solidarity [7] - Press Conference Transcript - Monday "Moment of Truth" for World on Iraq [8]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0303/S00250.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0303/S00248.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0303/S00247.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0303/S00245.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0303/S00240.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0303/S00219.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0303/S00218.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0303/S00217.htm

Hard News is There!

- When United Nations inspectors left Iraq in 1998 , they did so because Saddam's regime was not co-operating on access to certain sites, including presidential palaces, and because of the fear of consequent US and British airstrikes. See... HARD NEWS 18/03/03 - The Empire Strikes [1] . See also…Latest From Public Address… [2]

[1] - http://publicaddress.net/default,hardnews.sm#post325
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0303/S00146.htm

How Does It Feel In Baghdad?

- Baghdad, Iraq is in a state of psychological disarray. Families with financial means have started to crowd buses leaving Baghdad for the outlying villages, towns, and cities within Iraq, and for Syria, Jordan and Iran. See... Firas Al-Atraqchi: Iraqis Phone In Last Wills [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0303/S00145.htm

Matthew Reid: UNMOVIC, Where Up Is Down

- I swear we’re living with Alice in Wonderland. Up is down, down is up; black and white have eerily evolved into each other and Chief UN Weapons Inspector Hans Blix believes what he cannot see yet doubts what he cannot deny. See... Matthew Reid: Ignorance is Blix [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0303/S00142.htm

Australia Commits To Unsanctioned War

- Breaking News: The Sydney Morning Herald has announced that Australian PM John Howard has committed Australian troops to war in Iraq. See... Johno Howard Embroils Diggers In US-Led Iraq War [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0303/S00144.htm

Sanders Research: The Economic Rationale For War

- The contemporary apotheosis of Parkinson’s Law is without a doubt the grotesquely misnamed American Department of Defense. Spending enough to fight a world war, managing to achieve less every decade with each dollar that it spends than it achieved in the decade before, it is mobilising itself to obliterate the armed forces of a fifth rate, virtually land locked power of some 24 million souls, of whom about half are aged 15 or younger. See... SRA Commentary: Dictate, Dependence and Deficits [1] and for more on the implications for the Global Economy see… Neville Bennett: Last Days [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0303/S00143.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0303/S00141.htm

John Kaminsky: Only Solution Now Is To Arrest Bush

- We now face a daunting task. An unpleasant and possibly fatal realization now confronts all of us in our daily lives. Many of our most powerful leaders need to be arrested for numerous and continuing crimes against humanity. See... John Kaminski: Open Letter To The American People [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0303/S00140.htm

Resigning US Diplomats Just The Tip Of The Iceberg

- Interview with Daniel Ellsberg, former U.S. government military analyst who released the "Pentagon Papers," conducted by Scott Harris See... Internal Dissent Against Iraq War In State Dept. [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0303/S00139.htm

Ominous, Dreadfull and Haunting Silence On War In The US

- The pastime sweeping the country right now is not to talk about the war, as if it will somehow magically go away. Surprised by a friend's nominal pro-war stance, I tried to explain what a terrible mistake it was. She would have none of it: "You're not going to get me in this trap-I will not discuss this with you." See... Daniel Patrick Welch: Fair Warning [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0303/S00138.htm

David Miller: Selling Mayhem Matters

- Despite what the anti-war lobby in New Zealand and around the world think or say, the United States and Britain have already made their decision to go to war with Iraq. See... It’s How You Sell The War That Matters [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0303/S00136.htm

Howard’s End: Bow Our Heads In Shame

- It took twenty-seven years from the time of the U.N. partition decision creating Israel in November 1947 before the Palestinians could return to the U.N. and be granted a full hearing. Make no mistake, the Palestinian "question" remains… See... Sad Commentary on Western Civilisation [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0303/S00134.htm

The Murder Of Peace Activist Rachel Corrie

- Rachel Corrie was murdered by the Israel Defence Force in Gaza this weekend. She was protesting against the bulldozing of Palestinian homes. Rachel had a loud-hailer and was clearly visible. The soldier bulldozed her into the ground. See… Rachel Corrie in her own words [1] MORE: - NY Jews Condemn Killing Of American Peace Activist [2] - - Condolences for Rachel Corrie [3] - Statement On The Murder Of Rachel Corrie [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0303/S00236.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0303/S00238.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0303/S00237.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0303/S00235.htm

Katya Rivas's Passion

- In spite of everything, the enormous weight and the terrible fatigue, together with the sweat of Blood, I had been hit in such a way that when I went to look for My Apostles, I felt tremendously exhausted. See... Katya Rivas: Jesus Looks for His Disciples [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0303/S00137.htm

Peace Slips Through Twiddling Fingers

- Auckland, 18 March 2003; A last chance for peace is slipping away as New Zealand fails to act in the face of continuous Security Council deadlock, said Greenpeace New Zealand. See... New Zealand Allows Peace To Slip Away [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0303/S00143.htm

No Justice When Murder Is The Means

- “There is no legal or moral justification for the US led war against Iraq which will result in certain death for countless innocent people,” Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson said today. See... No Justification For Iraq War [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0303/S00142.htm

Nats Sought Iraq Debate

- National Leader Bill English says Helen Clark's denial of a Parliamentary debate on the imminent war in Iraq is petty political manoeuvring over a deadly serious issue. See... English attacks PM over "pointless" debate [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0303/S00296.htm

Nats Support Iraq War

- This week will see the final round of the diplomatic process on Iraq. Will there be a final ultimatum on Iraq from the UN? At the moment that looks unlikely. Military action will unfold before the end of the month, and as early as this week. See... Speech: Mapp - Iraq: Making the right decision [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0303/S00299.htm

NZ War Debate: Time To Lobby MPs

- The NZ parliament is going to debate the impending US led attack on the people of Iraq at 2pm today. It would be particularly useful if you could contact your MP as soon as possible to demand that the NZ government gives no support whatsoever to ... See... Alert! NZ war debate [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0303/S00144.htm

Chilling Prediction Rocks Parliament

- A major publication written by leading economists, paediatricians and researchers is calling for major shifts in social policy. The authors say the report points to chilling implications for the workforce in 20 years if New Zealand’s current rates ... See... New report highlights emerging social problems [1] ALSO: - Govt - Jim Anderton MP, Leader of the Progressives will host the launch of the Child Poverty Action Group's document "Our children: The Priority for Policy" today at 12.30pm in the Beehive Theatrette. See... Child poverty must be eliminated [2] - Govt - Child poverty must be eliminated - speech notes [3] - Maharey - Government committed to children and families [4] - Greens - Our children are not surplus to requirements [5] - Nats - Welfare reform key to good start for children [6] - NZ First - Government Must Stop Child Poverty [7] - ACT - ACT's Alternative Plan To Fight Poverty [8] - Lindsay Mitchell - Demands From The Cpag Dangerous [9]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0303/S00140.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0303/S00300.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0303/S00319.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0303/S00307.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0303/S00302.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0303/S00312.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0303/S00315.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0303/S00317.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0303/S00145.htm

Trade NZ and Industry NZ Merge

- The new organisation formed by the merger of Trade New Zealand and Industry New Zealand would be called New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Ministers Jim Anderton and Jim Sutton said today. See... New Zealand Trade and Enterprise unveiled [1] ALSO: - Establishment Board - Tim Gibson To Head NZ Trade And Enterprise [2] - Govt - New Zealand Trade and Enterprise unveiled [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0303/S00310.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0303/S00308.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0303/S00304.htm

More Acute Psyche Patients At Risk

- More and more psychiatric patients are slipping through the cracks of our fragmented mental health system - and it will not be long until one reappears, having committed a horrendous crime, ACT New Zealand Health Spokesman Heather Roy said today. See... Tragedy On The Way -- Heather Roy [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0303/S00318.htm

GE Feed Sneaks Into NZ

- It is outrageous that container loads of GE soy meal are still being sneaked into New Zealand and fed to animals such as chickens, without New Zealanders being informed, Green MP Sue Kedgley said today. See... Sneaky importation of GE stock feed wrong [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0303/S00316.htm

NZ Must Prepare for SARS Flu

- National's Health spokesperson Dr Lynda Scott says she is seriously concerned at New Zealand's lack of preparedness in dealing with the SARS illness sweeping the world. See... New Zealand must prepare for deadly disease [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0303/S00313.htm

Questions Of The Day

- 1. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Prime Minister: In light of her statements regarding an invasion of Iraq, “I think it’s a very bad precedent to go in without explicit sanction from the UN”, and that she believed some of New Zealand’s “best friends” were wrong, ... See... Questions For Oral Answer - Tuesday, 18 March 2003 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0303/S00305.htm

Sea Containers Must Be NZ Checked

- New Zealand can't rely on other countries checking sea containers for pests and diseases before closing them up and shipping them here, says National's Biosecurity spokesman, Shane Ardern. See... Check sea containers here, not there [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0303/S00311.htm

Chains around The Trees

- Fears of forests being locked up - or exorbitant rent being charged - for access, illustrates yet again that the criteria for Maori is different from that of the rest of the country, ACT New Zealand Rural Affairs Spokesman Gerry Eckhoff said today. See... Lock Up The Forests, Labour [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0303/S00309.htm

Hodgson’s Off To USA

- Pete Hodgson departs New Zealand on Wednesday 19 March for the United States to promote investment in the ICT and screen production industries. See... Hodgson to USA for screen industry, ICT promotion [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0303/S00306.htm

Hillary Challenge To Benefit Schools

- Education Minister Trevor Mallard today gave his support to a new learning adventure for school students known as The Hillary Challenge – an on-line social study project that explores the life and adventures of New Zealand legend and icon Sir Edmund Hillary. See... Hillary Challenge for primary and secondary school [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0303/S00303.htm

Govt Is Getting There On Jobs

- The latest update of the government’s employment strategy shows that New Zealand is continuing to hit the mark in maximising job opportunities and creating the right conditions for employment growth, Social Services and Employment Minister Steve Maharey ... See... Hitting the mark on employment growth [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0303/S00301.htm

Hodgson On Climate Change

- [Address to New Zealand Water and Wastes Association's '2003 Environment Summit', Duxton Hotel, Wellington] See... Pete Hodgson: Climate change: impacts [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0303/S00298.htm

Greens To Protest ACC

- Green MP Sue Bradford says she hopes a nationwide "Day of Shame" protest today against the way ACC is being run will add weight to cross-party calls for an inquiry into ACC. See... "Day of Shame" strengthens ACC inquiry call [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0303/S00297.htm

BIA Rot-Review Nears End

- The Building Industry Authority expects to begin consultation on the findings of its treated timber review next month, Chairman Barry Brown announced today. See... BIA Nears Completion Of Review Into Treated Timber [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0303/S00146.htm

Health Innovation Awards Winners

- Twenty-five finalists in the inaugural New Zealand Health Innovation Awards have come up with ideas and systems that will make a big difference to the lives of New Zealanders, say event sponsors ACC and the Ministry of Health. See... New Zealanders the winners from Health Innovation [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0303/S00141.htm

United Gets New Chief

- United Future leader, Peter Dunne, today announced that Mr Rob Eaddy has been appointed as his new Chief of Staff, responsible for managing the relationship between United Future and the Labour-led Government. See... New Chief of Staff for Dunne [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0303/S00314.htm

ENDS

© 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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