Speaker by Various Artists

Brilliant Steven. But the PM dislikes satire especially when directed at him. If you see a dark car parked in your street at night with plates "DF Coverup/cleanup" be prepared.
The PM did say this morning that an announcement will be made soon, as soon as David collates the poll results.

Best practice would be to send in the 'Blind Man Squad' to determine the true nature of an elephant!

https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/elephunk-in-my-soup-1984

Bill English has just stated that there is "no basis for an inquiry." Was this because some top Nats were likely to be implicated? Or is this just the predetermination of a closed mind?

English said Keating was independent, as he was not involved in the operation.

Uh huh. Sure, Bill.

There's not any real contest over the facts other than the book...which has got them wrong.

Given that English has chosen to permanently sully his reputation for no obvious gain, are the lawyers who are working for the victims able to take this case directly to the International Criminal Court? Maybe a lawyer could tell us.

Was this because some top Nats were likely to be implicated?

It could be quite embarrassing given the oddly sudden (or so it seemed at the time) appointment of Sir Jerry Mateparae as Governor General.

It could be quite embarrassing given the oddly sudden (or so it seemed at the time) appointment of Sir Jerry Mateparae as Governor General.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Mateparae initially appointed head of the security services soon after the raid, then replaced by one of John Key's schoolfriends a short time later?

English's comments today have out-satired Steven Price. Breathtaking cynicism, as if taken from a script rejected by The Thick of It or Yes, Minister for being too unsubtle for laughs.

The depressing aspect of all this is that (short-term, at least) his calculation is probably right. He can play "won't ask, won't be told" because a large proportion of the NZ population don't want to know, and much of the NZ media will follow.

I'm feeling a lot less proud of our country right now.

I'm not even slightly surprised by the PM's decision. If we have learned one thing over the last few years, it should be that criticism from the likes of Nicky Hager has tended to bolster support for the National Party. They never seem to lose votes in this scenario. Certainly the Dirty Politics book did them no harm. So it makes no sense politically for the Government to order an inquiry. There is literally nothing to gain from it.

Mind, I don't say it is a good decision. There should be an inquiry. But the Government has no doubt read the Curia tealeaves and determined that it is better to attack the messenger than to find out what actually happened.

Roll on, the victims' legal action. It won’t all go away that easily, will it?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Mateparae initially appointed head of the security services soon after the raid, then replaced by one of John Key's schoolfriends a short time later?

yup, that sounds right

replaced by one of John Key's schoolfriends

the schoolfriend's brother (but hey, Chch ambition)

the Curia tealeaves

tidy turn o phrase #onya

the schoolfriend's brother (but hey, Chch ambition)

Who was recommended by the SCC after a thoroughly above board recruitment process, otherwise referred to as a shoulder tap;

http://www.newshub.co.nz/politics/key-admits-fletcher-shouldertap-2013040312

A most appropriate response from Nicky Hager on RNZ.

Investigative journalist Nicky Hager has accused Prime Minister Bill English of joining "a seven-year cover-up" by refusing to hold an inquiry into a 2010 raid in Afghanistan.

... Mr Hager said it was "a joke" for Mr English to trust the military's word.

"These are the people who are in trouble, so of course they don't want an inquiry ... No experienced minister should fall for that."

English has also chosen to ignore the collaborating evidence provided by fellow Nat Wayne Mapp, who was Defence Minister at the time and who was on the ground when the raid occurred. And the New York Times report dated 24 August 2010 which also refers to the village as "Naik".

Mateparae was also present when the raid happened. Surely if the military's hands were as squeaky clean as they claim he'd have come forward by now to back up the government's version of events?

If English's comment that Keating is "independent" adds yet more lies to this sorry affair, Mateparae's silence at this point is deafening.

Clearly we should conclude that Nicky Hager's book is substantially correct, and that the PM has plenty to hide. What a shameful affair.