What John Key did not tell us is the what the USA has threatened as an adverse consequence to NZ if we did not put our SAS in.

As painful of a war as Afghanistan is, should Afghanistan descend further into chaos it could bring Pakistan further into chaos.

And nuclear-armed Pakistan descending into complete chaos (in part because of Afghanistan) next to nuclear-armed India (with whom they've fought four wars).....let's just say the possibilities of a new war between Pakistan and India would not be pleasant.

At the minimum, if India's economy was sunk due to nuclear war with Pakistan, it would completely screw the world's economy as India is such a huge part of the IT/Computer Programming/Tech that the world is increasingly dependent on. (Bangalore anyone? Who is doing most of the world's tech support?)

From an economic standpoint alone....even isolated NZ has a big stake in preventing the domino effect that could result from Afghanistan falling.

What a load of rubbish, the left has been just as hawkish in its foreign policy in both New Zealand and Internationally - which party was in power throughout all of WWII? This churlish attempt to infer a whole political spectrum as unwashed hippies singing anti war rags is just plain sour grapes. What can you expect from New Zealand's Rush Limbaugh wannabe.

Is there any reason why NZ is supporting the US in Afghanstan other than economic and to support the opium trade rendered out of control by the current Afghan administration?

It is a difficult decision. Bill's blog adds nothing to evaluating it.

1. Will the intervention work? 2. Will it be too dangerous and the human cost too high? 3. Will the US be an honourable and trustworthy ally? 4. Will the international community support this action? 5. Is the benefit going to outweigh the cost?

The first comment displays an incredible lack of understanding of how international affairs are conducted. We benefit hugely from a secure and safe world. In this environment trade is able to flourish and NZ as a trading nation benefits greatly. To expect to benefit from this peaceful world without assisting in achieving this situation is not the NZ way. I would agree with the third comment that Helen Clark was not backward in committing SAS and conventional troops to trouble spots. She did understand how international affairs are conducted and responded in the appropriate manner despite those who opposed the decision within her party. She showed leadership which sometimes requires courage and commitment. However, she took a stand on Iraq which differed from our allies but did so because the deployment was not supported by a UN Resolution. This was generally supported by New Zealanders. I have no doubt that New Zealanders who have an understanding of international affairs will support the Government's decision. However, I would like to add that the deployment to Bamyan has been very successful but the time has come to use civilians to provide nation building competence. Although the military can to so to a limited extent, experts in education, agriculture, health and Governance should now take over. A small security element for protection for these experts should remain as should the police training team to continue their training and their mentor role which they have done very well. I think that it is important to remember that the NZ Army does have conventional forces that could play a combat role in Afghanistan if the government wishes to do so after the thinning out of the Bamyan military commitment. Many of Australian troops are from conventional units. So in summary I think the deployment of SAS is well justified and a good decision while acknowledging they are tough decisions for the Government to make and always should be. Committing troops to combat is probably the hardest decision for a Government to make. In making that decision the troops should be provided the appropriate equipment to conduct operations effectively.

Bill, go swot up on your military and social history and understand what those Joan Baez songs refer too. This piece of yours is very sloppy and predictable nonsense. How are the blue underwear?

Don't get too carried away with Hilary Clinton wanting the Kiwi SAS back in Afghanistan because they are the best,frankly I don't think she could determine between them and the Australian and British SAS. They are all equal in all aspects of being what they are,"SPECIAL FORCES". A few years ago I could only imagine the Australian SAS cringing in their seats as Little Johnny Howard came to town in Perth to ingratiate himself with them before bundling them off to Afghanistan,you are the best in the world he said. They would probably muse, why can't we just get on with the job and leave like the Kiwis on a Hercules with the PM of that time (Helen Clark)disavowing any knowledge of there departure,like the Poms and the Kiwis the Australians don't have to have some little upstart playing Captain Mainwaring and giving a pep talk, especially when the man wouldn't know one end of a gun from the other.

Bill, your article is right on. I'm sure the pacifist leftists have been secretly desiring this opportunity to whip up their anti-American rhetoric, sigh, again. The first comment in this blog indicates as much, implying that the U.S. had to "threaten" New Zealand into this action.

We should not be in Afghanistan at all, let alone under the murderous regime of the United States. There are no proper procedures in place to protect New Zealand troops who are transporting prisoners for torture at the behest of the Americans. So we do we stand on this topic alone? New Zealanders are not being told or informed, and it makes our government culpable to be involved in this filthy bjusiness. The British Government were utterly hypocritical about tolerating torture in Uzbekhistan, and when there very own Ambassador, Craig Murray tried to speak out about it, he was eventually forced to leave by Jack Straw, under the Blair Government. Television New Zealand might do better asking John Key the hard questions instead of putting on a sickening soft soap article about him tonight on 60 Minutes. Agreeable he may come across, but we don't need to know that, we need to know what is being done in our name. Don't send them!