Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: There's Always One

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  • Steve Barnes,

    This all has me rather worried. I thought we down here at the end of the world had missed out on Terrorism but, as luck would have it, the likes of wishart & co. have reminded us of the threat to life as we know it.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    It's now being reported that the hi-jacker wanted the plane to fly to Australia.

    Cullen to blame, says Key.

    The press coverage in Australia was pretty reasonable however there was some pretty OTT radio coverage including a rather patronising interview on Sydney ABC with an RNZ reporter (can't recall her name). Lots of questions about 'so is there no screening in NZ', and 'what about metal detectors, you do have them in NZ right'. The RNZ reporter did well to point out that Blenheim was a smaller centre but you could be excused if you thought all Australian airports are Fort Knox...

    Anyone flying into or out of smaller centres in Australia would experience exactly the same level of security as applies in Blenheim (I say this from experience, I travel twice weekly and often into/out of smaller centres).

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Grant McDougall,

    ...and sure as eggs, Winston Peters has started to whip up his typical brainless redneck nonsense by saying she shouldn't have been let into the country and that it was a "serious terrorist incident." I wonder if he can spell "hyperbole"?

    I doubt he would've gotten as excited if she'd been European and it was a person with mental health issues losing their self-control, not religious zealots wanting to become martyrs.

    I agree with the above comments on Paul Henry, too. Sure, it's shooting fish in a barrel territory, but he really is an odious individual.

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    As I said, for legal reasons, don't take this seriously...

    You'll know you have Wishart's attention when he makes an empty threat of legal action against you. It doesn't really hurt.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Instead, since these actions are 'imported cultural baggage', we need to think harder about allowing Muslims into the country.

    But we keep letting the French in and there's not been a wave of assassinations and bomb attacks on thGreenpeace assets, beyond that one act of state-sponsored terrorism we've all got over. :)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    The RNZ reporter did well to point out that Blenheim was a smaller centre but you could be excused if you thought all Australian airports are Fort Knox...

    Ugh... I'd be more worried about security at train stattions -- some of the stations in central Sydney are already disasters begging to happen, that were never designed for the kind of traffic they already carry. I shudder to think what Sydney's version of the bombings in Madrid and London would look like.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Shep Cheyenne,

    Security at Airports isn't about passenger & crew saftey.

    It's all about big jets with explosive fuel bing used as bombs on domestic targets. So no need to change security as the prop aircraft don't carry the fuel to do the damage which is the threat being managed not hijacking per se.

    And on the Muslim thing. NZ Army had a Muslim commanding a deployment to Afghanistan. That was a real winner for hearts & minds. And there are a few immigrant secular soldiers who come from muslims countries serving on overseas deployments today.

    Since Oct 2007 • 927 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    Ugh... I'd be more worried about security at train stattions -- some of the stations in central Sydney are already disasters begging to happen, that were never designed for the kind of traffic they already carry. I shudder to think what Sydney's version of the bombings in Madrid and London would look like.

    I have a good friend who is in the NSW fire service and has been part of many emergency exercises. The biggest worry is a gas attack at Town Hall. Town Hall is multi-leveled and heavily patronised therefore ideal for maximising casualties. I try not to think of this when I go through there many times a week.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    And on the Muslim thing. NZ Army had a Muslim commanding a deployment to Afghanistan. That was a real winner for hearts & minds. And there are a few immigrant secular soldiers who come from muslims countries serving on overseas deployments today.

    That's interesting. But the Muslim angle is completely bogus anyway. We have had the odd non-Muslim crazy person in New Zealand, I think.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • rodgerd,

    it was a person with mental health issues losing their self-control, not religious zealots wanting to become martyrs.

    Being more concerned by religious zealots than the mentally ill seems pretty reasonable to me. When people are mentally ill society says it's OK to treat them and, if need be, stick them somewhere where they're less likely to hurt themselves or others.

    When religious zealots march on parliament in blackshirts giving clenched-fist salutes and demanding the elimination of various segments of society, the leaders of political parties curry their favour.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 512 posts Report Reply

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