Scoop: Top Scoops + Just Politics

Thursday, 22 April 2004, 5:05 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
LEAD STORY: Mossad, Spooks, And The Price Of Dodgy NZ Passports
NZ Defence Updates On Basra
MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:
UNICEF Urges Children Be Spared In Iraq War
INTERNATIONAL NEWS HEADLINES

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Hard News & More Is There
CORRECTION: NZ Is Not Backing A Cuba Bashing UN Resolution
Fighting Talk From Fighting Talkers
US Barbarism In The Middle East & Latin America
What If Al Qaeda Were A Bureaucracy?
Sam Smith Is Uninspired By John Kerry
Genevieve Cora Fraser: Who's Leading Who In The ME?
Fitrakis: Fresh Reasons For Indicting The Shrub
Martin LeFevre: America Is Losing Its Soul

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
Dr Don Offered Help With Seabed & Foreshore Bill
Dr Don's Offending Speech
A Neighbour Comments On Prison Consultation Report
Killer Overstayer Should Be Deported Pronto
NZ To Play Key Role In Small Island States Meeting
Parole Board Gets Mark Brickbat - Judge A Bouquet
Exporters Warned On Animal Cruelty Reputation Risks
Liberal Values Op-Ed Comment On Greens' Growth Views
McDonald's Responds To Ronald's Resignation Over GE Fed Chicken

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...TODAY'S PHOTO STORY...

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0404/S00176.htm
Mossad & NZ Passports: Do You Believe In Spooks Downunder?

LEAD STORY:
Mossad, Spooks, And The Price Of Dodgy NZ Passports

- Selwyn Manning writes… The past month's events have conjured shadows. Names like the SIS, EAB raise suspicion, intrigue. Outward, beyond our borders, lurk more spooky counterparts: CIA, MI6, Mossad. Even TV's on to it. We're spy fanatics. Do you believe in Spooks downunder? See... Do You Believe In Spooks Downunder Inc? [1] for more on the Israeli spook passport scandal CLICK HERE... [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0404/S00176.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/index.html#sow

NZ Defence Updates On Basra

- Basrah City remains closed to Coalition Forces except those directed to support Iraqi casualties. NZ Troops are safe and remain in Fortress Lines and will stay there today. See... UPDATE: NZ troops in basrah after explosions [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0404/S00141.htm

MORE NEW ZEALAND HEADLINES:

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0404/S00143.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0404/S00139.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0404/S00214.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0404/S00213.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/SC0404/S00069.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/CU0404/S00109.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/CU0404/S00108.htm

UNICEF Urges Children Be Spared In Iraq War

- NEW YORK -- Responding to the deaths Wednesday of children on a school bus in Basra, UNICEF said it is alarmed by the growing impact of the ongoing fighting on Iraqi children. See… UNICEF Condemns Killing of Children in Iraq [1] Doves Released As Vanunu Walks Free From Prison - Today 200 international and Israeli activists gathered for a vigil at Ashkelon Prison in anticipation of Mordechai Vanunu's release tomorrow. Some of Vanunu's supporters tied black cloths across their mouths to symbolize the possible imposed silence… See... 18 white doves released when gate opens for Vanunu [2] . See also... Israeli whistleblower freed from prison [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0404/S00232.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0404/S00214.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0404/S00131.htm

INTERNATIONAL NEWS HEADLINES

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0404/S00230.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0404/S00229.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0404/S00227.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0404/S00226.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0404/S00225.htm

SCOOP COLUMNS:
Hard News & More Is There

- A couple of people have asked me who "Gordy" is - and Gordon Dryden was, understandably, concerned that people might think it was him. No. Gordy is Gordon King, aka NZ Pundit, leading local representative of the vast right-wing conspiracy... See... Public Address 22/04/04 - Up And Down [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0404/S00186.htm

CORRECTION: NZ Is Not Backing A Cuba Bashing UN Resolution

- It’s mightier than the sword – besides, you get a nice tattoo into the bargain! Why? After seeing my piece in SCOOP on 16/04/04, the Cuban Ambassador to New Zealand, Miguel Ramirez, kindly pointed out to me that contrary to the Agence France Presse (AFP) item widely published on the internet on Tuesday April 6th, and on which I based my criticisms of New Zealand, MFAT had confirmed to him that they were not co-sponsoring, or involved in any way with, the Draft Resolution sponsored by Honduras. See... CORRECTION: Julie Webb-Pullman Falls On Her Pen [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0404/S00184.htm

Fighting Talk From Fighting Talkers

- Been reading. One of the perks of being in the media is browning noses with publishers, and I've been fortunate enough to land a hard-to-find copy by a book by one old (92 and counting) geezer; Mr Studs Terkel. See... Fighting Talk - Latest Talk [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0404/S00183.htm

US Barbarism In The Middle East & Latin America

- Recent US military conduct in Fallujah, murdering cvilians, closing hospitals and deliberately targeting ambulances, is the latest example of the barbarism of United States official culture. See... Toni Solo: Varieties Of Barbarism [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0404/S00182.htm

What If Al Qaeda Were A Bureaucracy?

- You know, like the U.S. government? What would its inter-cave memoranda say about the state of the U.S. war on terrorism from a jihadist perspective? See... A Hypothetical Memo from Osama bin Laden [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0404/S00181.htm

Sam Smith Is Uninspired By John Kerry

- John Kerry is the most lackluster presidential candidate the Democrats have had since Michael Dukakis. That he is their candidate is due in no small part to Terry McAwful’s successful efforts at frontloading the Democratic primaries. See... Sam Smith: Morning Line [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0404/S00180.htm

Genevieve Cora Fraser: Who's Leading Who In The ME?

- The myth of America as an honest broker in the supposed Palestinian-Israeli peace process has been completely shattered. See... Is America A Servant To The Will Of Israel? [1] . See also a poem... Genevieve Cora Fraser: Rantisi Remembered [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0404/S00178.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0404/S00179.htm

Fitrakis: Fresh Reasons For Indicting The Shrub

- The new revelations in Bob Woodward’s book, Plan of Attack, provide further evidence to convict President George W. Bush of war crimes. See... Again, Why Bush Must Be Tried As A War Criminal [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0404/S00177.htm

Martin LeFevre: America Is Losing Its Soul

- Here in the United States, a strange phenomenon is taking place. On one hand, the blatant falsehoods and philosophical idiocy of the Bush Administration are beginning to unravel. On the other hand, support amongst the American people for the Bushites is growing stronger. See... Meditations: Rushing Toward the Rubble of History [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0404/S00174.htm

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0404/S00138.htm
Ronald McDonald Quits Over GE Chicken

Dr Don Offered Help With Seabed & Foreshore Bill

- New Zealand First has offered to explain the foreshore and seabed legislation to Don Brash so that he does not continue making a fool of himself publicly over it. See... Jones Offers To Explain Legislation To Brash [1] MORE: - Michael Cullen - More half-truths and nonsense from Brash [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0404/S00347.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0404/S00346.htm

Dr Don's Offending Speech

- The reality is that we are now being conned. The Government is dressing the old foreshore and seabed proposals in a new kit and presenting them to the public as a major change. While the Government is telling all New Zealanders they own our beaches, it is telling Maori that they have control. See... Brash Speech to Marine Industry Association of NZ [1] and The Brash-Report - No. 28, 21 April 2004 [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0404/S00342.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0404/S00335.htm

A Neighbour Comments On Prison Consultation Report

- My Response To The Corrections Department Report To The Minister Of Corrections Regarding Iwi And Non-Iwi Consultation For Spring Hill Men's Prison Proposal, North Waikato 17 April 2004, from Lyn Milnes. See... Hampton Downs Landowner Speaks On Corrections PR [1] MORE: - Govt. - Report into Spring Hill consultation released [2] - National - Springhill Prison report a whitewash [3] - ACT - Report Confirms Two Laws Exist In New Zealand [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0404/S00142.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0404/S00322.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0404/S00329.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0404/S00327.htm

Killer Overstayer Should Be Deported Pronto

- New Zealand First law and order spokesperson Ron Mark has called on the Government to start deporting criminal overstayers immediately. See... Killer Overstayer Should Be Sent Packing [1] MORE: - NZ First - Offend On Our Roads Then Home You Go [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0404/S00344.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0404/S00343.htm

NZ To Play Key Role In Small Island States Meeting

- New Zealand is being asked to play a central role in the lead up to a major United Nations meeting later this year on the sustainable development of small island states, says Foreign Minister Phil Goff. See... Key role for NZ ahead of Small Isld. States summit [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0404/S00341.htm

Parole Board Gets Mark Brickbat - Judge A Bouquet

- New Zealand First law and order spokesperson Ron Mark has congratulated Justice Chisholm for the sentence he handed down to serial sex offender Gary Isherwood. See... Parole Board Is A Threat To New Zealanders [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0404/S00340.htm

Exporters Warned On Animal Cruelty Reputation Risks

- The Royal New Zealand SPCA says that meat processors and exporters must remember the sensitivity of overseas markets to scenes of animal cruelty or neglect. See... Exporters Urged to Uphold Animal Welfare Standards [1] . See also... MAF vet criticised for horse cruelty [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0404/S00146.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0404/S00134.htm

Liberal Values Op-Ed Comment On Greens' Growth Views

- Jeanette Fitzsimmons of the Green Party recently argued that economic growth is not important to Kiwis. She said that surveys show people are interested in quality of life issues like education and health care. See... Economic growth rejected by Greens good for China [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0404/S00140.htm

McDonald's Responds To Ronald's Resignation Over GE Fed Chicken

- Dear Steve - Thank you for your letter of February 20 2004 regarding McDonald’s genetically engineered ingredient policy and categorisation in the Greenpeace GE Free Food Guide. See... McDonald's Letter [1] MORE: - Ronald McDonald quits over GE chicken feed [2] - Links [3] - Images [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0404/S00149.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0404/S00133.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0404/S00147.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0404/S00138.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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