Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Terror panics and the war imperative

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  • Dismal Soyanz,

    According to Stuff, Finlayson says

    New SIS and GCSB minister Chris Finlayson said the 13-year-old Terrorism Suppression Act, which makes participating in Isis activity illegal, was inadequate.

    "It is difficult to prove someone is a fighter. There are also issues about the collation of evidence and evidence that would be admissible in a court of law according to the standard that we currently have."

    So it is sounding more and more like reducing the burden of proof.

    And if it's about intention to support terrorism, why the hell is Key using examples of after the fact support?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2010 • 310 posts Report Reply

  • mark taslov,

    "What I would say, with the greatest respect to those individuals, they don’t see the same information I see.”

    What I would say is that if you have real information that someone in New Zealand is planning to behead someone, best get cracking on ways to ameliorating that specific threat than waffling on to us about it. At the end of the day, an amended law is simply not adhesive enough to keep my head attached to my body.

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Jeez. This is so 2002. We must curtail your freedom because terrorism. Key is playing catchup for his bosses, global corp and the world bank.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • mark taslov, in reply to 81stcolumn,

    While I would prefer not to be seen as an apologist for beheadings, I do despair at the one dimensional analysis of affairs in Saudi Arabia

    I’m also reminded of the recent horrific developments in the US death industry; untested drug cocktails resulting in protracted executions, and these are the allies our PM claims it would be odd for us not to support.

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    I wonder who it was that told John Key to start using the word "Odd"?

    odd (d)
    adj. odd·er, odd·est
    1. Deviating from what is ordinary, usual, or expected; strange or peculiar: an odd name; odd behavior.

    It is diminutive, it is also hard to take offence to as it is not an outright insult but in some ways it is surreptitiously worse, it is "Othering". It is the kind of term you could apply to an Uncle that is becoming senile "He is a little Odd". To a person that has weird religious beliefs "they listen to trees because trees are God". It is how you refer to people that are not like "us".
    He also reinforces this othering when he says thing like this...

    He added: "If anyone believes that there is absolutely no risk of a form of domestic terrorism here then they are actually deluded."

    It also has another meaning that would appear to describe John Key's attitude during the election run-up.
    Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)

    Actively refuses to comply with majority's requests or consensus-supported rules.
    Performs actions deliberately to annoy others.
    Angry and resentful of others.
    Argues often.
    Blames others for his or her own mistakes.
    Frequently loses temper.
    Spiteful or seeks revenge.
    Touchy or easily annoyed.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes,

    Operation Inherent Resolve

    inherent
    ɪnˈhɪər(ə)nt,-ˈhɛr(ə)nt/Submit
    adjective
    existing in something as a permanent, essential, or characteristic attribute.
    "any form of mountaineering has its inherent dangers"
    synonyms: intrinsic, innate, immanent, built-in, inborn, ingrained, deep-rooted; More
    antonyms: acquired, alien
    LAW
    vested in (someone) as a right or privilege.
    LINGUISTICS
    (of an adjective) having the same meaning in both attributive and predicative uses.

    resolve
    rɪˈzɒlv/Submit
    verb
    1.
    settle or find a solution to (a problem or contentious matter).
    "the firm aims to resolve problems within 30 days"
    synonyms: settle, sort out, solve, find a solution to, find an answer to, fix, work out, straighten out, deal with, put right, set right, put to rights, rectify, iron out,
    2.
    (of something seen at a distance) turn into a different form when seen more clearly.
    "the orange light resolved itself into four roadwork lanterns"
    synonyms: turn into, be transformed into, become clearly visible as, change into, metamorphose into, be transmuted into
    "the shore came closer, the grey smudge resolving into green fields and a sandy beach"
    (of optical or photographic equipment) separate or distinguish between (closely adjacent objects).
    "Hubble was able to resolve six variable stars in M31"
    separately distinguish (peaks in a graph or spectrum).
    noun
    noun: resolve; plural noun: resolves
    1.
    firm determination to do something.
    "she received information that strengthened her resolve"
    synonyms: determination, resolution, firmness of purpose, fixity of purpose, purpose, purposefulness, resoluteness, single-mindedness, strength of will, strength of character, will power, firmness, intentness, decision, decidedness; More
    antonyms: indecision
    2.
    US
    a formal resolution by a legislative body or public meeting.

    So... Operation What?, Operation It will always look different from afar but when you get closer it is something completely different? or ... Operation we have the right to feel that we must do this?

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • mark taslov, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    Thanks for this Steve, I appreciate this kind of analysis, so much language is absorbed without a second thought, next minute pacificism is not cricket.

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report Reply

  • mark taslov,

    ‘Odd if we don’t’ wins UNSC bid, the world just got a little more normal, impoverished napalmless napalm testers pack lunches in anticipation.

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report Reply

  • Marc C,

    Yeah, much panic, but also:

    I have seen much more, not to be taken easily, and then again, is this where we want to send our soldiers, it is more radical than what Hitler and the Nazis presented!

    Auckland • Since Oct 2012 • 437 posts Report Reply

  • tussock,

    News is the things that are not happening to you. Unfortunately, our monkeysphere sense says they must be happening to someone, because there's only about 150 of us, and so the insignificant bullshit which fills the news scares the crap out of most folk. Politicians and the media know and love this fact, using it to justify whatever they were going to do anyway.

    News at 11: we're invading Syria. Because they have oil and only Iran looking after them, who we aren't scared of. The trick is in creating a sufficiently fearsome enemy (we give them money via the Saudis, to buy arms via the Turks, and then highlight the resulting chaos and death all out of proportion) that can justify our looming mission.

    Remember, Syria is our ally. We sent them people for especially cruel torturing just recently. Also, Syria is our enemy. They torture people, FFS, it's monstrous. We also torture people, but anyone who tries to prove that goes to prison, and we don't call it torture so that's fine.

    Nothing's going to "go down" in New Zealand that isn't already going down on a routine basis. There's scores of murders every year, they're not even news, one day one will be by or of an "Islamic terrorist" who no one suspected of any such thing (because they weren't, duh) and that'll be trumpeted from the rooftops as we parcel some young men and women off to secure the safety of future oil supplies. It's for their own good, you see, enduring this and manifest that. Democracy. Whatever floats your boat, keeps the protests manageable.

    Since Nov 2006 • 611 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    Surely Key understands that by not allowing the (mythical) terrorists to travel overseas they'll have to do their (mythical) terror here?

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to ,

    It sounds like these events have nothing whatsoever to do with terrorism, other than the perpetrator being a Muslim. It's another mass murder, something which both Australia and NZ unfortunately have long histories of. I guess we'll find out eventually who actually killed who. When police burst into a hostage situation and we hear dozens of shots and several explosions, then it seems prudent to wait for post mortem analysis.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • mark taslov, in reply to mark taslov,

    The crass opportunism…in a more measured way. Andrea Vance has done great work this year.

    My apologies for causing offence in my earlier post, I was enraged. I've just put some friends on a plane from here where it does routinely happen to there where it "could happen" and feel sick about the way J.P. Key talks it up. Thanks for your patience Russell.

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Three incidents in the last few days:
    + an armed hostage incident in Belgium
    + six people shot in Pennsylvania
    + and an axe attack in the Hutt

    All of them tragic cases of damaged people losing the plot (although the Belgian incident might, I suppose, have been entirely rational people acting to advance their illegal business operations).

    But none of them getting much media and police attention because the perpetrators didn’t declare themselves to be muslim jihadi’s?

    And something which society can’t avoid, but can reduce by more attention to the healthcare, social welfare and justice systems. A much better idea than buying billion dollar aircraft and sending them to bomb peasants thousands of miles away.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • mark taslov,

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report Reply

  • mark taslov,

    Safety fears for Cricket World Cup following Sydney siege

    Prime Minister John Key claims there are two people living in New Zealand who are capable of acting as lone wolves and repeating what happened in Sydney.

    I guess my question is, are these 2 peoples’ names going to be passed on to cricket venues and barred? Or are those with the lone wolf capabilities going to be allowed into the matches? If we’re letting the lone wolves into the matches, who fancies a day on the embankment?

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report Reply

  • Dismal Soyanz, in reply to mark taslov,

    And given that this fellow wasn't actually on any Australian watch list, it rather beggars belief that Key can make such outrageous claims.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2010 • 310 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Paul Campbell,

    Surely Key understands that by not allowing the (mythical) terrorists to travel overseas they'll have to do their (mythical) terror here?

    just imagine what control we will cede him then?
    I'm sure he has..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to Dismal Soyanz,

    And given that this fellow wasn't actually on any Australian watch list, it rather beggars belief that Key can make such outrageous claims.

    I'd have to say Man Haron Manis came across less as Osama bin Laden, and more like Adam Lanza.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • mark taslov, in reply to Dismal Soyanz,

    And given that this fellow wasn’t actually on any Australian watch list, it rather beggars belief that Key can make such outrageous claims.

    This Key quote from Stacy Kirk’s morning report, seems to have been culled in the update, Google cached.

    "We know that as part of those 30 to 40 people we identified on the first list, that there are people who spend a lot of time on the internet, basically delving very deep into the messages and the propaganda that is coming out of ISIS [Islamic State],” he said.

    “spend a lot of time on the internet,” – at least it’s qualified, “… basically delving very deep into the messages and the propaganda that is coming out of ISIS”. That does sound quite dangerous, PublicAddress poster Marc C had a number of delving binges (above), I’ve been on a couple myself, if you were researching/ writing/ commentating on this phenomena you’d have to have a bit of a delve, perhaps a deep delve, into the messages, and propaganda, coming out of ISIS.

    Of course the authorities understand that their brief is to keep New Zealanders safe, as opposed to the very specific keep New Zealanders safe only from ISIS? Not for a moment has the task - to prevent the spread of violence as opposed to preventing the spread of ideologies - been forgotten. Despite Key's distraction I’d expect that the authorities' primary focus is actually geared towards watching those people with a history of threatening and violent behaviour, those who are purchasing weapons, amassing suspicious quantities of fertilizer, at least more so than those who spend a lot of time of time on the internet, deeply delving.

    Though I wouldn’t, but If I were to compile a watch list, in terms of who to keep tabs on, I’d prioritise the classic characteristics such as a history of mental health issues, a deep interest in firearms and weapon acquisition, a persecution complex, paranoid delusions, intense lack of empathy, prior criminal convictions, and most importantly a desire to find groups to sponsor their violence. e.g. something like this:

    Weapons Acquisition/ Sponsorship

    [Suspect], 2/21, 2:19am

    ok i’m going to go look at 17hmrs at the gun shop

    [Suspect], 2/21, 2:20am

    i like the savage left hand stocks

    [Suspect], 2/21, 2:21am

    yeah…wonder if i can fit one of those stocks to a cz

    anshutz are dear as poison

    [Suspect], 2/21, 2:22am

    http://www.trademe.co.nz/Sports/Hunting-shooting/Rifles/auction-356279340.htm

    nice gun

    [Suspect], 2/21, 2:25am

    i think i will get a 300WSM in a tikka if i have to pay

    and reload my own

    [Suspect], 2/21, 2:25am

    otherwise a 7mmWSM in something else and reload

    for my hunting rifle

    [Suspect], 2/21, 2:26am

    pity tikka don’t make a 7mmWSM

    [Suspect], 2/21, 2:26am

    with a 300WSM i’ve been told to put a Supressor on it otherwise it boots the shit out of you

    [Suspect], 2/21, 2:27am

    also reccomended that i get the super varminter Tikka

    heavey barrell, plus picatinny rail for scope mounts

    [Suspect], 2/21, 2:28am

    only prob is adds about 700 bucks to the rifle…so def need a sponsor i think…then there is the scope

    yeah it is just the model type…check it out…it makes sense with a 300 to have the extra weight

    http://www.tikka.fi/t3models.php?supervarmint

    [Suspect], 2/21, 2:43am

    i dropped my psch report intot he pigs this morning…the last line says “I consider [redacted] to be a fit and proper person to hold a firearms licence”

    [Suspect], 3/14, 7:01pm

    need a 300WSM for 100

    1000

    or a 338 lapua

    [Suspect], 5/6, 2:11am

    talking to the guy now

    will sell it to me for $2000

    [Suspect], 5/6, 2:17am

    i’ve got it if we want it for $2000

    [Suspect], 5/24, 7:28pm

    yep

    i can see a legit purpose for a MSSA…one or two…for 3 gun shoots

    or military target comps

    Persecution Complex/ Paranoid Delusion

    [Suspect], 24/11

    I wish they would hurry up…they played the real dirty politics…even tried to kill me…I have evidence of..

    [Suspect], 26/11

    Just to be clear, I never said the Labour Party were trying to kill me. That’s the spin the Labour Party have put on it this morning.

    The criminal conspiracy was large enough for some of them not to know what others were planning in parallel.

    Mental Health Issues

    [Suspect], 27/11

    Part of that was a plan to increase the pressure on me, knowing that I have been open and honest about my mental health issues and suffering depression, to push me to the point where I would kill myself

    Intense lack of Empathy

    [Suspect], 27/1

    Feral dies in Greymouth, did world a favour

    Fortunately we’ve yet to identify any such individual.

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report Reply

  • Dismal Soyanz, in reply to mark taslov,

    Ohhhh. Now I see why Dear Judith was so hands on.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2010 • 310 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Campbell,

    Given dear leader's recent troubles with that particular oily person of debatable character we might see a move to mandatory shipment to ISIS for select suspects chosen by the GCSB and the PM's office

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz, in reply to mark taslov,

    It can't be a problem. He's got a gun license, and in NZ, that lets you buy not just one gun, but an entire battalion's supply of weapons and as much ammo as you can transport. Plus you aren't under any obligation to account for where this arsenal went.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • mark taslov, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    He's got a gun license

    The question I'd have is; who completed that psych report?

    Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Mar 2008 • 2281 posts Report Reply

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