12.25pm
Justice Minister Phil Goff today said he had no knowledge of an agreement between the governments of New Zealand and the United States to deliberately leak information that SAS troops were in Afghanistan.
National Radio today reported the Government approved the deliberate leaking of information that SAS troops were in Afghanistan.
It followed a briefing of New Zealand officials on the damage being caused by New Zealand's policy to keep secret SAS movements, National Radio said.
It was believed the information would strengthen Miss Clark's chance of a successful Washington trip.
National Radio said top level officials knew of the SAS' involvement but could not pass that information on.
It said Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet head Mark Prebble and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Neil Walter went to Washington to pave the way for Miss Clark's trip.
They had explained New Zealand's confidentiality policy but were told there were benefits to "standing up and being counted".
If New Zealand got the information out it would enhance its position, help make a successful visit and take the edge off the anti-nuclear policy.
Miss Clark earlier this month acknowledged members of the SAS were in Afghanistan after a White House website confirmed they were there.
Miss Clark previously refused to say anything other than that SAS soldiers were offered to the United States to help in the war against terror and people should assume the offer would be accepted.
The statement said Miss Clark "formally acknowledged the presence of members of the SAS in Afghanistan" and quoted her as saying:
"The Government's reluctance to confirm the presence of members of the SAS in Afghanistan has been based on a desire to minimise the risk to those serving overseas and to their families left behind."
Mr Goff today told reporters he had no knowledge of any agreement.
Because of the confidentiality sought by New Zealand's special forces themselves, it was difficult for New Zealand's effort in Afghanistan to be acknowledged.
"The New Zealand Government has always put the wellbeing of our forces and their needs ahead of publicity and potential benefit to the Government.
New Zealand would continue its policy of not revealing operational details about special forces deployments, he said.
"Our special forces are frequently deployed in various areas to safeguard the wellbeing of New Zealanders and our interests.
"It's not in their interests or in New Zealand's interests that should be publicised at every occasion."
National's defence spokesman Max Bradford said the SAS issues were embarrassing to New Zealand and to Miss Clark.
"Because the prime minister kept it a secret New Zealand has been in the embarrassing, if not idiotic, position of not knowing where its SAS troops are when 30 other countries were providing information on what their special operations forces were doing in Afghanistan," he said in a statement.
The slip-ups before Miss Clark met President George Bush put New Zealand in a poor light, he said.
- NZPA
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Goff denies agreement with US to leak SAS whereabouts
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