The New Zealand Herald said today the journalist who broke the story of the SAS joining the counterattack against a Taliban strike was surprised at the reaction in New Zealand.
Afghanistan-based New York Times reporter Dexter Filkins, in a blog posted to the newspaper's website yesterday, wrote:
"New Zealand? At war? Who knew? Not a lot of New
Zealanders, apparently."
"The news ... that a team of commandos from New Zealand had joined Afghan soldiers at the scene caused a sensation in the little country off the coast of Australia,"
Filkins said he spotted the New Zealand soldiers as they
moved in to Pashtunistan Square, the site of the Taliban attack, which killed five people and wounded at least 70.
He said one told him to: "Get out of here".
"I saw the patch on his arm announcing his country. Others were more friendly. 'Can't talk now, mate,' said another with a smile."
The Herald's assistant editor John Roughan said the paper stood by the decision to use the picture which, he said, had real news value.
"The soldiers were in a public street, in a major city, visible to anybody, wearing their uniforms, carrying their guns, photographed as the New Zealand SAS."
New Zealanders have reacted strongly for a number of reasons.
1. Filkins condescending attitude, calling New Zealand "the little country off the coast of Australia."
2. Filkins mixed his facts, calling John Key both President and Prime Minister.
3. Photos were supposedly published in The NY Times showing the unblurred faces of NZSAS troops responding in a combat situation.
4. Filkins deliberately described the situation bluntly "New Zealand is at war" when it is usually referred to more diplomatically in New Zealand.
New Zealanders know that SAS troops and regulars are involved in various situations in Iraq and Afghanistan, but details are rarely reported. That is partially an intelligent approach to security for the people at risk, but it is also because New Zealanders view war with less gusto than your average American. A comparison of the media coverage in the two countries shows a very different diet of information and photos.
New Zealanders weren't as surprised about SAS in action as they were that SAS troops were identifiable in the photos. It is true that the NZ troops, some without helmet or sunglasses, were not in any way shielding their identities. Knowing that international media practices vary, does take the wind out of the argument that the NZ Herald should not have published the photos. If the photos are online or in a major newspaper like The NY Times, what difference would it have made to not publish them in New Zealand? We are all part of the global information community, though China still tries to control access and content.
What really gets up many people's nose is Filkins' attitude. In reality though, he's on the ground in Afghanistan, possibly near another disgusting scene of needless violence and the resulting suffering. He probably doesn't care what a few million people in the South Pacific think.
My personal aside, the photo did make the NZ SAS look mighty fine.
Old news in NZ media on NZ deployments in Afghanistan:
27 January 2005: The mission is currently projected to end in mid 2006. Deployed personnel currently serve in the PRT for six months; this is New Zealand’s fifth rotation.
he NZ PRT will undertake engineering projects, school refurbishments, and local village health programmes. They will also continue with the patrol in and around Bamyan and will assist with the Parliamentary elections in April.
29 October 2007: There are 107 New Zealand Defence Force personnel involved in the NZPRT in Afghanistan today. The Kiwis are located in Bamyan Province and their role includes reconstruction projects, security patrols, training of Afghan National Police, explosive ordnance disposal and providing humanitarian aid and assistance.
No New Zealand troops were injured in the gun battle, which happened about 11am Afghan time yesterday, (about 7.30pm NZT) and lasted about two hours.
A patrol, comprising Hiluxes and Hummers, was returning from the northeastern area of Bamyan province, when it came under fire from insurgents armed with small arms and rocket propelled grenades, said Captain Zac Prendergast of NZ Defence Force communications.
The New Zealand troops returned fire on more than one occasion and the whole incident probably lasted about two hours, he said.
Other New Zealand troops and two Nato coalition Apache helicopter gunships were able to support them returning fire. A Blackhawk helicopter was on standby in case anybody needed to be evacuated, he said.
Prime Minister John Key said it would not make any difference to New Zealand's commitment in Afghanistan.
"As I've said repeatedly, Afghanistan is a dangerous place and I believe the ongoing work of the PRT (provincial reconstruction team) and of our other defence forces continues to be important as we seek to stabilise the situation in Afghanistan."
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