Prebble Richard: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Prebble Richard: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:607;Page:5043] 
8.  
Hon RICHARD PREBBLE (Leader—ACT NZ) 
 to the  
Prime Minister 
: What advice if any did she take before stating it was “bleedingly obvious” that the war in Iraq was not going to plan and does she still hold this view? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK (Prime Minister) 
: 
 I did not need specific advice. There was ample public comment to that effect including that from a US Army ground commander. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: Does the Prime Minister not accept that her decisions and statements about Iraq have resulted in New Zealand for the first time ever being opposed to our traditional allies Australia the United States and the UK and that there will be long-term adverse consequences to New Zealand from her misjudgments? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: No I do not accept any of that. There were many countries in this sad affair that took a different view from a traditional friend and ally. The obvious examples are Canada—a country also very close to us—and many countries in Europe. What I believe that most New Zealanders feel is what the dean of Auckland cathedral wrote today: that New Zealand retained its integrity as a nation. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Will the Prime Minister admit that she took the advice of a few armchair generals on CNN that that is hardly the advice structure that the New Zealand Government and Prime Minister should be following and that as a result she was plain wrong? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: Perhaps the member would like to hear from Lieutenant-General William Wallace the head of the US fifth corps now who said: “The enemy we’re fighting is a bit different from the one we war-gamed against.” 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Mr Prebble’s question is set down to the Prime Minister not to a military official from the United States. If she cannot hack it why does she not give up the job? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Prime Minister addressed the question. I call the Hon Bill English to ask a supplementary question. 
David Benson-Pope 
: Here today gone tomorrow. 
Hon Bill English 
: No here tomorrow. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Fortunately that comment was made before the Leader of the Opposition started to ask the question. If there is any other comment the member will leave. I am very displeased; the member is a senior whip. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I am still waiting for the answer to my question. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That was not a matter for a point of order. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I asked a supplementary question. I am contesting the Prime Minister’s right to answer it in the way that she sought to by quoting from a military official. I asked her whether she had an advice structure upon which she as the Prime Minister the leading Minister of this country relied. I am waiting for my answer. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: She used the example of a fighting officer in the field to address the question. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Is the American fighting officer in the field a New Zealand official? Is he part of our Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade? Is he part of our Ministry of Defence? If the answer is no then the Prime Minister’s answer is wrong. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No it is not. The Prime Minister’s answer was not what the member wanted to hear but the Prime Minister addressed the question. 
Hon Bill English 
: Does the Prime Minister accept that her comments damaged our national interests; if not why did she apologise? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I place great value on the friendship with the United States. I was concerned that offence had been taken and that is why I moved quickly to rectify it. 
Keith Locke 
: Did the Prime Minister receive advice on whether George Bush’s plan anticipated such strong initial resistance in southern Iraq American bombs falling on marketplaces and residential areas many friendly fire incidents the killing of several journalists and anarchy in the major cities when the awesome American firepower finally prevailed? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: The member’s question reminds us of the terrible human toll on all sides when war actually occurs. I have had my attention drawn by many people to many comments about the state of readiness. I do not wish to add further to the debate. 
Peter Brown 
: Noting that the Prime Minister once thought the war was not going to plan will she tell this House now whether she thinks it has gone to plan? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: I am very pleased that the war appears to be virtually at an end. 
Hon Richard Prebble 
: Why does the Prime Minister not simply admit that she has every single issue over the Iraq war wrong so that today as the people of Baghdad celebrate their liberation New Zealand finds itself on the wrong side; if so in the Westminster tradition should the Prime Minister not take responsibility and resign and then we could all move on? 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK 
: When the dean of Auckland writes that New Zealand has retained its integrity as a nation I know that we have done just about everything right. The only resignation being called for is the Leader of the Opposition’s.