Defence chiefs told to prepare medics

By JOHN ARMSTRONG

The Defence Force has been told to ready a medical team for possible deployment in a war against Iraq.

Prime Minister Helen Clark told the Weekend Herald that there had been a "loose" discussion with Defence Force chiefs about contingency planning.

As yet, there had been no preliminary inquiries by United Nations headquarters to sound out what countries might be willing to offer in the way of personnel and equipment.

New Zealand's participation in any operation against Iraq is contingent on it being sanctioned by the United Nations.

The Government has indicated it would offer medical help, logistic support or humanitarian aid.

"We have indicated Defence should start thinking about what medical resource it could muster and should start thinking about post-conflict use of Hercules [transport aircraft]," said Helen Clark.

In the post-war reconstruction phase, there was also a possible role for Army engineers in clearing mines.

"We've had a loose discussion about those things and Defence will be mulling that over," she said.

Meanwhile, Progressive Coalition MP Matt Robson has criticised the Government's increasing acceptance of the inevitability of war as "supine".

The former associate foreign minister in the Labour-Alliance Government wants his party to press its coalition partner to mount a more pro-active policy arguing against war.

Herald feature: Iraq

January 30, 2003:
George Bush's State of the Union speech

January 28, 2003: