Hager's book timely reminds us how ineffective and gullible Clark and Goff really were. Without the book we might be tempted to vote - at least one of them - back into office; as PM no less! Oh, horror. Thanks Nicky!

All these experts, yet how many of them have had the GUTS to go there?

The great thing is; no matter what fantasy Hager writes, or how much his devout followers jump up and down claiming conspiracies and secret right-wing agendas, you will never change a single thing, nothing.

You can stage all the protests you like, write whatever you like, sit around hating those that have the power; but at the end of the day, all you will ever achieve is to raise your blood pressure. Wake up and get with the program.

Nicky Hager is driven by his own commercial interests. If his books were not full of shock horror stories they would not sell. He is a total fraud.

To bobo #82

"I have no respect for anyone that joins the armed forces of any country..." Wow, way to go, showing great tolerance and modelling what you believe in there eh bobo. Basically you're saying anyone who doesn't agree with me I don't like, or that does something I don't value or understand is wrong. I suppose if we let people like you run the world with that attitude it would be a better place? Not!

A few replies... "NZ Aardvark" Comment 81 - you make a comment about the capability of the Defence force when really you should be commenting on the low levels of funding which lead to the security lapse that allowed teh mdeals to be stolen.

"Matt Russell #78" and "Justice 80" - People won't remember Nicky Hager in history because he's generally considered an imbalanced, highly imaginative conspiracy theorist. They don't 'engage' with Nicky Hager because he lacks objectivity and credibility. Are yours by chance the supportive opinions of liberal Arts students or recent graduates? Start with the first obvious question, how exactly would Nicky Hager get access to classified documents. Does he make his own security clearances? Do OIA's now give out supposed classified documents willy-nilly (the answer is no)?

Oh and "Ivor #77... stop watching so many movies. They're clouding your perception of reality.

Access to 'classified documents', eh?

Try googling 'wikileaks unredacted cables guardian'

justice #80, to say that Guys like Hager are the REAL patriots of this country is an insult to the rest of heroes this country has or ever had. We have patriots all over hour short history, Maori and Pakeha alike, so please keep things in perspective.

Hager usually has strains of truth in his books but connects dots that aren't connected or makes leaps that take it too far. This is where he lets down the public, but no doubt builds his traditional constituency. The missteps are why Lange was 'surprised' at some of the 'revelations' in Nicky's book 'Secret Power'. The surprises were the bits that weren't actually true but the product of misjoined dots. Of course Lange was surprised! It is a shame because Nicky could produce much better and authoritative work. His biggest weakness is that he has no firsthand experience working for the military, the agencies he thinks he knows, or the wider government. I also suspect that many of his 'sources' may not actually have the authority or knowledge he imbues them with (or he selectively interprets them). Those who have worked in government (at a decent level) despair at the way he characterises the relationships, motives and actions of their colleagues. Sadly, if people only know about these things from the myths portrayed in movies, television and dubious internet material, it is natural for Nicky's work to seem authoritative, think they are better informed, and believe he is right.

Many people would actually be reassured by the truth, or, in some cases, disappointed to have invested so much of their time and worry into chasing conspiracies that don't exist. Those who do understand the bigger and more complex international picture will understand that the 'truth' (as boring as it REALLY is) is obscured for more sophisticated reasons than Nicky and others portray.

I WILL read his book. I believe his views and motives are honestly held. And, afterall, why let the truth get in the way of a good conspiracy

Wow, have read a number of comments from (so-called) ex-servicemen, and parents of such, etc. Amazing how many of them missed the point that high level officers have been caught red-handed DISOBEYING ORDERS and misleading their superiors.

As an ex-territorial myself, it really is hard to imagine how they could miss something like that.

It could be that misleading your own nation is 'patriotic' in their minds.....but patriotic to whom I wonder.

In my mind, someone who betrays or misleads their country can only be considered a traitor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traitor_%28disambiguation%29), and there is certainly nothing patriotic about looking the other way when you know of somebody doing this.