Cautious reaction to Iraq's `invitation'
The government is reacting cautiously to Iraq's invitation to send troops to help train local forces, but opposition parties believe it's a done deal.
Iraq's foreign minister, Ibrahim al-Ja'afari, on Friday extended a "general invitation" to New Zealand to help Iraq fight Islamic State extremists, although he said his country doesn't need combat troops.
He told Foreign Minister Murray McCully at a meeting in Auckland his country needs help with logistics, training, reconstruction, intelligence sharing, humanitarian aid and capacity building.
The government's preference is to send troops who would work with an Australian training unit, and they're already preparing for deployment.
Mr McCully said after the meeting New Zealand still needed to discuss a "status of forces" agreement under which troops would enter Iraq, including their ability to defend themselves.
Dr al-Ja'afari said Iraqi forces would provide protection for the trainers, while Mr McCully said there was nothing in the discussions which would prevent New Zealand providing its own protection.
"When the prime minister has given a range of 40 to 100 troops, that range is there because the protection element in it takes you up to that upper level."
NZ First leader Winston Peters says Dr al-Ja'afari's trip to New Zealand was stage-managed.
"The visit is a belated choreography designed to legitimise a decision made months ago to send troops," he said.
The Green Party's Kennedy Graham also believes the government has decided to commit troops.
Continued here:
Cautious reaction to Iraq's `invitation'