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### Viewing cable 07WELLINGTON88, PM CLARK REBUKES MINISTER FOR BROADSIDE AT US IRAQ POLICY

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
07WELLINGTON88 | 2007-01-26 03:03 | 2011-04-28 00:12 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Wellington

`

    VZCZCXRO9034
    RR RUEHDT RUEHPB
    DE RUEHWL #0088/01 0260342
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    R 260342Z JAN 07
    FM AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3791
    INFO RUEHNZ/AMCONSUL AUCKLAND 1138
    RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
    RHHJJAA/JICPAC HONOLULU HI
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
    RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHDC
    RUCNARF/ASEAN REGIONAL FORUM COLLECTIVE

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 WELLINGTON 000088

    SIPDIS

    SIPDIS

    SENSITIVE

    STATE FOR D (FRITZ), EAP/FO, AND EAP/ANP
    NSC FOR VICTOR CHA
    SECDEF FOR OSD/ISD LIZ PHU
    PACOM FOR J01E/J2/J233/J5/SJFHQ

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: PGOV NZ
    SUBJECT: PM CLARK REBUKES MINISTER FOR BROADSIDE AT US IRAQ POLICY

    WELLINGTON 00000088  001.2 OF 002

    Summary
    -------
    ¶1. (SBU) On January 12th, Jim Anderton, the New Zealand Government's
    Duty Minister at the time, launched a blistering attack on President
    Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq. PM Helen Clark and Foreign
    Minister Winston Peters quickly disavowed Anderton's comments, and
    the PM removed him as Duty Minister within the day. As a result,
    Clark especially has been roundly criticized by many ordinary Kiwis
    and the NZ media, who tend to agree with Anderton. The PM was also
    assailed by the Greens, who accused her of cuddling up to the U.S.,
    and by National, who claimed that Anderton was repeating what the
    Labour Government really thinks.  To our mind, the PM's quick work
    to tamp down Anderton's remarks demonstrates that she recognizes the
    GNZ needs to improve the tone of its rhetoric if it is to build
    bridges with the U.S.  It also proves she is prepared pay a price
    for this at home.  End Summary
    What Anderton said
    ------------------
    ¶2. (SBU) On January 12th Jim Anderton, then the Government's Duty
    Minister, was asked by a reporter from the Christchurch Press for
    Government reaction on President Bush's decision to send more troops
    to Iraq.  Although the President had not yet delivered his speech,
    Anderton roundly criticized not just the new initiative but the Iraq
    war in general. He compared the Iraq campaign to the mistakes of
    Napoleon and Genghis Khan, adding that "it is hard to see how
    additional 20,000-25,000 troops are going to be capable of making
    any real difference." Anderton, the Government's third-ranked
    Minister, further wondered "whether the lessons I would have
    expected to be learnt from (Vietnam) have been learnt in any way at
    all." Anderton claimed that the Government's views "remain
    consistent with our [GNZ] original view about military action not
    being a sustainable or long-term contributor to the peaceful
    development of Iraq."
    ¶3. (SBU) When the journalist informed the Embassy's Media Specialist
    about Anderton's comments and asked for comment, the DCM immediately
    alerted Carl Worker, Director of the Americas Division at the
    Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and stressed the importance
    of the New Zealand Government at senior political levels disavowing
    this position.  Worker said he would immediately inform the PM's
    office.
    -----------------------------------
    PM Clark quick to admonish Anderton
    -----------------------------------
    ¶4. (SBU) Within hours after the DCM's call to MFAT, Clark distanced
    herself from Anderton's comments.  In a statement released to the
    media, Clark claimed that Anderton had spoken as leader of the
    coalition Progressive Party and a local MP, not on behalf of the
    Government. Said Clark, "President Bush today announced a revised US
    strategy for Iraq based on several major elements. They include the
    Iraqi Government taking the lead in confronting the insurgency;
    improving internal political dialogue and economic progress in Iraq,
    encouraging Arab state support for the Iraqi Government; and
    increasing the number of US troops deployed."  She noted that
    "attempts to bring peace to Iraq have foundered in the face of a
    bitter insurgency, marked by sectarian violence. The current
    situation in Iraq is also destabilizing within the region. "  Clark
    added that "Iraq faces enormous challenges and the situation there
    is of great concern to New Zealand and the international community."
     MFAT informed the Embassy that Clark had also decided to replace
    Anderton as Duty Minister within a day, and ordered him not to
    comment further on the matter, and instructed that the USG be
    informed of this action.
    Foreign Minister Peters critical of Anderton
    --------------------------------------------
    ¶5. (SBU) Foreign Minister Winston Peters backed Clark's view and
    publicly called Anderton's comments "ill-informed and regrettable."
    In a statement issued from Cebu, where he was attending the East
    Asia Summit, Peters noted that the comments "certainly do not
    reflect the views of the Government."
    Clark's Move Catches Flak from Public and Media
    --------------------------------------------- --
    ¶6. (SBU) Clark's decision to slap down Anderton has put her very
    much on the wrong side of popular opinion in New Zealand, as she
    undoubtedly anticipated it would.  Polls have found that most NZers
    endorsed Anderton's comments and were highly critical of Clark's
    reaction.  An unscientific and voluntary poll by New Zealand media
    website Stuff.co.nz showed almost 80 per cent of the more than 3500
    respondents agreed Iraq was becoming another Vietnam.
    ¶7. (SBU) By and large, editorials have similarly disapproved of
    Clark's actions.  Whilst most NZ editors gave Anderton low marks for

    WELLINGTON 00000088  002.2 OF 002

    diplomacy, they awarded him high marks for courage and honesty. In
    contrast, Clark's decision not back Anderton was roundly criticized,
    with one editorial describing it as "nothing more than a shallow and
    transparent attempt at diplomatic face-saving."  A week on, the
    papers are still publishing readers' letters about the incident, few
    of which support what Clark did.  While we suspect many Kiwis do
    agree with the Prime Minister, the majority of those who have spoken
    out clearly do not.
    Clark also faces political heat
    -------------------------------
    ¶8. (SBU) In addition to broad public and media criticism, Clark
    received political flak as well. National Party leader John Key
    claimed the comments simply reflected what Anderton had heard around
    the Cabinet table and would weaken the Government's attempts to
    improve relations with the US.  Green Party co-leader Jeanette
    Fitzsimons claimed that the controversy revealed Clark's true
    colors.  She said, "...the fact that Clark has been willing to bag
    her closest coalition partner in order to keep relations with the US
    friendly is not something I would have expected from a leader who
    just three years ago inspired New Zealand by refusing to bow to
    pressure to join the Coalition of the Willing."
    ¶9. (SBU) Ironically, perhaps, we believe Fitzsimons got it exactly
    right. PM Clark made a decision few would have expected three years
    ago to protect her Government's relationship with the United States,
    even though important left wing supporters disapproved.
    McCormick

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