Little Andrew: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeLittle Andrew: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 17 March 2015. Volume:704;Page:2259. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]1.ANDREW LITTLE (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does he still believe that people who oppose the deployment of New Zealand soldiers to train Iraqi Government forces need to “get some guts and join the right side” in light of widespread evidence that Iraqi Government forces are committing war crimes?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister): Yes. The right side is the international coalition of over 60 countries that are contributing to the campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). ISIL is a brutal threat to stability not only in the Middle East but regionally and locally too. I am advised that the Iraqi Government is investigating allegations of abuses by Shia militia and individuals within the Iraqi security forces. We share the concerns of other partners about these allegations and we will ensure our view is communicated to the Iraqi Government.Andrew Little: Given that everyone in this House agrees that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is evil how is it gutsy to force young New Zealanders to train an army guilty of many of the same crimes as ISIS?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: That is not correct; we will not. We will set the terms of the mission including whom we will train how we will train them and when we will train them.Andrew Little: What has the Government done to ensure New Zealanders will not help the Iraqi units that have committed war crimes and been banned from receiving US assistance under Leahy’s Law?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I think the member has answered his own question. The US has identified those involved. The Government will make it clear to the Iraqi Government as indeed the Americans have that we find that behaviour reprehensible. The Iraqi forces must be consistent with the law; otherwise they stoop to the same level as ISIL. But I go back to the point I made earlier—we will set the terms of the mission including whom we will train how we will train them and when we will train them.Andrew Little: Will he give the New Zealand public a cast-iron guarantee that under no circumstances will our troops work with the Iraqi army units or militia that have committed war crimes?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: What I can guarantee is in terms of our own deployment we are still planning the mission to Taji. However we will set the terms of the mission including whom we will train how we will train and when we will train them.Andrew Little: Why has he declared that the deployment to Iraq will end whether or not its objectives are completed about 6 months before the next election? Is that just a coincidence?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: No.Andrew Little: Is the truth not this: although the goal of defeating ISIS is noble and shared on this side of the House his plan risks our forces mixing with war criminals has a cut and run exit strategy and is timed with a New Zealand election in mind not the Iraqi people?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: The Government is committing to building partner capability in Iraq for 2 years. In our view that is an appropriate step for us to take given the threat from ISIL. The member said in his opening statements that he found the actions of ISIL barbaric or words to that effect. We agree with him. On this side of the House we are prepared to do something about it.