Protesters with boltcutters and pointy sticks deflate one of the Waihopai domes

[jrandom]

NZ Herald story link (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10507033).

Personally, I deplore the extreme naughtiness of vandalising Government property, but, well...

Y'know...

The protestors do make a good point vis-a-vis the our Government's potential secretive involvement with regimes that its electorate doesn't support.

Anyway, quite frankly, this is hilarious. Even if the saboteurs had no justifiable political agenda, it'd be worth it for the lulz. Obviously little old NZ still takes a fairly relaxed approach in terms of 'lethal force authorised' protection around sensitive installations. God bless.

(You wouldn't want to try a stunt like this on in the good ol' USA, would you!)

[Ixion]

That's Dominicans f' y'. Go the God Botherers.



The protestors do make a good point vis-a-vis the our Government's potential secretive involvement with regimes that its electorate doesn't support.


So, on the same basis , we justify taking a cutoff wheel/digger/gas axe/shaped charge to the cheesecutters? After all that's another example of our Government's potential secretive involvement with regimes that its electorate doesn't support. Transit, to wit.

[ManDownUnder]

ha ha ha!!!! I Love it.

High tech secret squirrel security stuff designed to outwit baddies far far away, the very pinnacle of NZ's security contribution to world peace beaten by...

By what?? Pointy sticks? LOLOL

It reminds me of the scene in one of the old Star Wars trilogy where the Ewoks took on the Empire's fighting machines with log etc... classic!

[Lias]

Pity we no longer have the death penalty for treason. I'd happily have them hanged by the neck until dead for sabotage.

That being said there is some serious lulz value in it, and major egg on aunty helens face.

[Swoop]

Confucious say "Balloon like girl's virginity. One prick, all gone!"

[jrandom]

So, on the same basis , we justify taking a cutoff wheel/digger/gas axe/shaped charge to the cheesecutters?

Well; a slightly different basis, and one closer to home.

Yes, I'd support sabotaging the cheesecutters as an ethical statement of protest, if it truly seemed that more civilised approaches were being ignored.

[scumdog]

NZ Herald story link (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10507033).

Personally, I deplore the extreme naughtiness of vandalising Government property, but, well...

Y'know...

The protestors do make a good point vis-a-vis the our Government's potential secretive involvement with regimes that its electorate doesn't support.

Anyway, quite frankly, this is hilarious. Even if the saboteurs had no justifiable political agenda, it'd be worth it for the lulz. Obviously little old NZ still takes a fairly relaxed approach in terms of 'lethal force authorised' protection around sensitive installations. God bless.

(You wouldn't want to try a stunt like this on in the good ol' USA, would you!)

Haven't the losers that do this sort of crap got a job to go to?:angry:

Or a motorbike they should be riding or something worthwhile??

[Ixion]

Haven't the losers that do this sort of crap got a job to go to?:angry:

Or a motorbike they should be riding or something worthwhile??

Well, I suppose that one of them , at least, could say that sort of crap *is* his job. You work from The Man. He works for The Boss Man.

[scumdog]

Well, I suppose that one of them , at least, could say that sort of crap *is* his job. You work from The Man. He works for The Boss Man.

The Boss Man who pays him to do this stuff...???

[Ixion]

Yep. That's the one. No worries about moths, or rust, either.

[ManDownUnder]

Haven't the losers that do this sort of crap got a job to go to?:angry:

Or a motorbike they should be riding or something worthwhile??

I'd say the answer is something like a resounding NO.

[Swoop]

If we are down to "just one dome", does this now place us at the same level as England?
They call theirs "The Millenium Dome". Both have smeg-all inside!

[FJRider]

Haven't the losers that do this sort of crap got a job to go to?:angry:

Or a motorbike they should be riding or something worthwhile??

It would seem NOT.


There are more SECRET installations around, just people just dont know what they're looking at

[Forest]

I don't think the radomes actually have a technical purpose. They just stop folks from seeing what satellites the dishes are pointed at.

This protest was symbolic - if they wanted to disrupt operations then a stick of dynamite would have been far more effective.

[Hitcher]

Deranged, delusional, paranoid, conspiracy theorists shit me to tears. Particularly when they indulge in senseless vandalism or worse to make a point, whatever that is. I hope that the SIS continues to use National Radio to intercept their thoughts.

[ManDownUnder]

I hope that the SIS continues to use National Radio to intercept their thoughts.

They can listen but not act upon them due to the privacy act... and probably the treaty as well as the RMA - somehow.

The red tape involved to use this info to any gain would be overwhelming.

[jrandom]

Deranged, delusional, paranoid, conspiracy theorists shit me to tears. Particularly when they indulge in senseless vandalism or worse to make a point, whatever that is.

You support the use of NZ taxpayer funds to provide SIGINT services to the American military establishment, then?

Or were you simply unaware that that was the case?

[imdying]

You support the use of NZ taxpayer funds to provide SIGINT services to the American military establishment, then?

Or were you simply unaware that that was the case?Most definitely, we have leaned upon the Americans in the past, and most likely will do so again. This is a relatively minor imposition on the people of New Zealand, and probably quite cost effective compared to having a decent defence budget (which is what severing ties with the states would have to result in, as that's potentially what they'll do if we tell them to stick their dishes).

[Ixion]

Deranged, delusional, paranoid, conspiracy theorists shit me to tears. Particularly when they indulge in senseless vandalism or worse to make a point, whatever that is. I hope that the SIS continues to use National Radio to intercept their thoughts.

There is scarcely any "conspiracy", Deranged, delusional, paranoid or otherwise.

The Waihopai installations certainly exist. Their purpose is no secret, it has been openly stated in parliament, and is authorised by the Telecommnications (Interception Capability) Bill. The GCSB who run it certainly exist (they even have a - very badly designed- website). And that they form part of the Echelon intelligence network is openly stated by Ministers in Hansard.

None of this is a conspiracy. Some people think that NZ should not engage in such activities, and/or object to the perceived lack of controls over the GCSB. You, unsurprisingly, disagree. (as, somewhat more surprisingly, do I - which is quite irrelevant).

They are as entitled to their opinion as you are to yours. I doubt that ad hominen derogation would worry those involved in this incident, but it adds little to support for the activities of the GCSB.

Nor can their actions be deemed "senseless". Given that their opposition is valid, it makes perfect sense to create an incident which draws public attention to the activity which they oppose.

[Usarka]

If i ask are they obliged under the privacy act to divulge what information they have intercepted from/about me? :sherlock:

[Ixion]

No, they are exempt.

[Hitcher]

You support the use of NZ taxpayer funds to provide SIGINT services to the American military establishment, then?

Or were you simply unaware that that was the case?

I'd rather we had a couple of squadrons of F16s. The costs to the New Zealand taxpayer for maintaining useful working relationships with Uncle Sam are small beer. And the value of any "SIGINT" derived from Waihopai or any similar monitoring facility is questionable, given the events of 9/11 and the inability of the world's largest superpower to locate and destroy their number one most wanted person.

[jrandom]

I'd rather we had a couple of squadrons of F16s. The costs to the New Zealand taxpayer for maintaining useful working relationships with Uncle Sam are small beer. And the value of any "SIGINT" derived from Waihopai or any similar monitoring facility is questionable, given the events of 9/11 and the inability of the world's largest superpower to locate and destroy their number one most wanted person.

All very good points.

I note that the saboteurs' motivations were of an idealistic and religious nature, rather than being based on any form of political pragmatism.

[scumdog]

Nor can their actions be deemed "senseless". Given that their opposition is valid, it makes perfect sense to create an incident which draws public attention to the activity which they oppose.

They're dreamworld conspiracy dorks whose actions have brought derision around their ears.
Hope the have to pay zillions for their Intentional Damage - 'cos that's all it is.

[ManDownUnder]

I'd rather we had a couple of squadrons of F16s.

The costs of buying and maintaining them would be horrendous - the only Department with that sort of cash is Social Welfare I can only imagine how many poor innocents would be forced to get a real job.

You heartless bastard - can I buy you a beer?

[jrandom]

The costs of buying and maintaining them would be horrendous - the only Department with that sort of cash is Social Welfare I can only imagine how many poor innocents would be forced to get a real job.

Make Ethnic Minority Babies, Not War! (tm)

[ManDownUnder]

Make Ethnic Minority Babies, Not War! (tm)

I did - I'm Manx by decent...

[lb99]

that will be why some airforce dinosaur came in low and loud at about 9am on a queer angle, i told my workmate to look for a big cloud of smoke........

I drove past the base twice this afternoon and never noticed, until I got to work and saw the paper at afternoon smoko.

take that you pricks, those fuckers will probably collapse regularly now :innocent:


I know they get really upset when the leave the gate open and you follow them in on your bike to snap a few pics, :shifty: yes a cbx400 can outrun a white hiace, but the cops were waiting at home to tell me to pull my head in, so was the wife.

[bikemike]

As with the recent Lyttleton Coal / Greenpeace doodah, you are all being primed to loath these guys, even before you stop to think seriously about what they are doing and what is going on.


http://www.stuff.co.nz/4451578a10.html

"A lone constable was attacked in a brawl in central Christchurch yesterday as 30 other officers spent hours dealing with a Greenpeace protest on Lyttelton Harbour, police said."

According to Air Marshal Ferguson in the NZ Herald article (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10507033)linked in this thread:

"Obviously it's just imposing a cost on the taxpayer having to rebuild. That's why I describe it as a senseless act of criminal vandalism".

What about the cost(s) to us with the base as it is? (Quite apart from any consideration on whether you agree with it or not)

Manipulation of public opinion - that - is what is going on.

I thought you lot were free thinkers :weep:

[Toaster]

Deranged, delusional, paranoid, conspiracy theorists shit me to tears. Particularly when they indulge in senseless vandalism or worse to make a point, whatever that is. I hope that the SIS continues to use National Radio to intercept their thoughts.

That would be the GCSB mate.

[Ixion]

A..According to Air Marshal Ferguson in the NZ Herald article (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10507033)linked in this thread:
"Obviously it's just imposing a cost on the taxpayer having to rebuild. That's why I describe it as a senseless act of criminal vandalism"...

Rebuild ? Wotcha on about Marshie? It's a bit of rubberized canvas, just basically a big inner tube. Send an apprentice spy down with a good supply of Woolworths bicycle patches, and a tyre pump , to pump it up again.

EDIT: Hey, how come we can afford a ruddy Air Marshal , when we son't have any planes? Sort of like having an Admiral of the Fleet when the Fleet consists of a leaky lilo. Wots 'e do, run around his office with his arms stuck out making vroom vroom noises ?

[Nade]

LOL..as much as we all found this little 'deflation' funny...in the end it will cost the tax payer millions of dollars.
Base Woodbourne in Blemheim was placed on a heightend security alert today because of this incident...the paper work and people involved costs money...all paid for by the tax payer...not to mention the cost of fixing and re-inflating the protective dome over the dish, and any damage done to the equipment on the dish...the fences...etc..and you can bet that security at Waihopi will be investigated (costing money) and probably upgraded...again...more money. Then there will be the cost involved in prosecuting the offenders etc.
We had contractors supposed to come onto Base Woodbourne today to do work and they were turned away because they didn't have NZDF security clearance.....again costing the tax payer money....which wouldn't normally happen if the security level hadn't been raised. Something like this dosen't just effect the spy base...it effects the entire NZDF like ripples...and will continue to do so for weeks to come.

[Ixion]

he paper work and people involved costs money...all paid for by the tax payer.

Nay, because we are paying them anyway. Just means they've got something to do other than run around their officces with their arms stuck out making aeroplane noises.

[JimO]

lock the cunts up until them or their mates pay for the damages

[lb99]

LOL..as much as we all found this little 'deflation' funny...in the end it will cost the tax payer millions of dollars.
Base Woodbourne in Blemheim was placed on a heightend security alert today because of this incident...the paper work and people involved costs money...all paid for by the tax payer...not to mention the cost of fixing and re-inflating the protective dome over the dish, and any damage done to the equipment on the dish...the fences...etc..and you can bet that security at Waihopi will be investigated (costing money) and probably upgraded...again...more money. Then there will be the cost involved in prosecuting the offenders etc.
We had contractors supposed to come onto Base Woodbourne today to do work and they were turned away because they didn't have NZDF security clearance.....again costing the tax payer money....which wouldn't normally happen if the security level hadn't been raised. Something like this dosen't just effect the spy base...it effects the entire NZDF like ripples...and will continue to do so for weeks to come.


IS this why that plane came in full noise on a mental angle this morning, followed by another at a far more sedate pace a few minutes later? was that the air marshall arriving?

[sAsLEX]

I don't think the radomes actually have a technical purpose.

You sir would be wrong.

But again what would I know :rolleyes:


the value of any "SIGINT" derived from Waihopai or any similar monitoring facility is questionable

Bomb allah Iraq Iran terrorist strategic target diesel fertiliser GPS accuracy Gorge Bush ........


Make Ethnic Minority Babies, Not War! (tm)

So little white kids?

[Motu]

It's going to cost $1,000,000 to fix all the damage.Say.....$200,000 for a fence repair,and maybe $800,000 for the balloon.I think I'll put in a tender for the balloon repair - does anyone know where to get tender application forms?

[Nade]

The Orion was doing a fly past this morning.....then hooked around and came in and landed a few minutes later.....think your talking about the same plane..not 2 of them.

[lb99]

The Orion was doing a fly past this morning.....then hooked around and came in and landed a few minutes later.....think your talking about the same plane..not 2 of them.

:doh: yep that'll be it

I was bored shitless, guarding the traffic cones on nelson st at the time, hope nobody nicked any :whocares:

anybody want to buy a traffic controllers certificate?

[Steam]

We had contractors supposed to come onto Base Woodbourne today to do work and they were turned away because they didn't have NZDF security clearance.....again costing the tax payer money....which wouldn't normally happen if the security level hadn't been raised.

So, you're saying normally I can come and poke around the base if I am driving a contractor's van and wearing overalls? Good security there. Sounds like you dozy military types needed a wakeup call anyway.

[tnarg]

Shoot them, there terrorists.:ar15:
Taken from tvnz web site.

"One of the three, Peter Murnane, a Dominican friar has previously known to clash with authorities.

Nine years ago he helped a group of asylum seekers, who were on a hunger strike, stay in New Zealand. He was also a supporter of Algerian asylum seeker Ahmed Zaoui."

[scumdog]

Shoot them, there terrorists.:ar15:
Taken from tvnz web site.

"One of the three, Peter Murnane, a Dominican friar has previously known to clash with authorities.

Nine years ago he helped a group of asylum seekers, who were on a hunger strike, stay in New Zealand. He was also a supporter of Algerian asylum seeker Ahmed Zaoui."

And there's a good chance YOUR taxes are paying for his capers..:Oi:

[peasea]

And there's a good chance YOUR taxes are paying for his capers..:Oi:

He eats capers?

[Nade]

So, you're saying normally I can come and poke around the base if I am driving a contractor's van and wearing overalls? Good security there. Sounds like you dozy military types needed a wakeup call anyway. :argh:

No.....usually contractors and civilian personal without an NZDF clearance have to alert the main gate to their presence and are met at the gate and escorted....due to the protesters NO-ONE was allowed on the base unless they could produce a security pass.(ie: NZDF personnel and those civilians who work on the base and have already undergone a NZ police check and an SIS security check. NO ONE can be employed on a military installation unless these have been passed) The gates are manned 24hrs 7 days a week....and several camera's are mounted around the gate to record vehicals and foot traffic.....anyone entering is recorded on camera. Not saying this is fool proof as you can walk around the vehical gates and climb over fences if you really wanted to get on the base....but having said this...any and all 'sensitive' area's require key access or keypad locks etc.

Even Air Force personnel in uniform were not granted access onto the base if they didn't have their ID...they were sent home to go get it..and reported to their Commanding officer as its against reg's to not carry it at all times.

[Clockwork]

Terrorists?? I doubt any one was terrified. Personally I find the idea of a group of fruitcakes sneeking into a top secret intelligance installation and bursting an oversized baloon funny.

Wouldn't that make them Humourists?

[MisterD]

Does anyone else find it ironic that a bunch of idiots, who have obviously never done a constructive day's work in their lives, chose to call their organisation "ploughshare"?

[Ixion]

Pretty obvious I thought

"They shall beat their swords into ploughshares their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift sword against nation; and there shall be no more training for war. Isaiah 2/4"


They're just following orders.

[MisterD]

Pretty obvious I thought

"They shall beat their swords into ploughshares their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift sword against nation; and there shall be no more training for war. Isaiah 2/4"


They're just following orders.



I got the reference, but I'm still amused by the irony...I doubt that lot would know one end of a plough from the other.

[jrandom]

They're just following orders.

No. They commit St Peter's error:

Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

[scumdog]

Pretty obvious I thought

"They shall beat their swords into ploughshares their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift sword against nation; and there shall be no more training for war. Isaiah 2/4"


They're just following orders.



Pff, when have that bunch of ding-bats ever made anything?? (other than a mess for others to clear up)

Orders? THEIR interpretation of 'orders'.

[scumdog]

...I doubt that lot would know one end of a plough from the other.

Oh, I dunno, I'm sure at least some of them have seen a plough being used....somewhere.

But as for THEM using it?

[Ixion]

Or, then again, perhaps not.



Samuel Peter Frederick Land, 24, of Hokianga, Adrian James Leason, 42, a teacher from Otaki and Peter Reginald Leo Murnane, 67, a Dominican friar from Auckland, have all been charged with intentionally damaging a satellite, the property of the GCSB, and entering a building with the intention to commit a crime.




SAM LAND
Kia ora. I am a farmer in the north of New Zealand, a place called Hokianga (The Returning), where my family has practiced a form of subsistence farming since 1978. I am a steady practicing Catholic and have been for all 24 years of my life. Daily life consists of gardening to provide food, working with the cows and horse, and other daily necessities. To get by financially I do self-employed manual labour - mostly building. On the spiritual side I am fed by my Christian faith and take my ideals from the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John - which (by taking them seriously) has led me to this.


Might be two of them of course. Unlikely but

Annoying little things, afcts, ain't they. 'N harder to squash than a huhu beetle even.

[MisterD]

Might be two of them of course. Unlikely but

Annoying little things, afcts, ain't they. 'N harder to squash than a huhu beetle even.

Meh. I'll contribute to their organisation and send them a bar of soap.

[FJRider]

He eats capers?

They're ok, but needs garlic !!!

[Robert Taylor]

NZ Herald story link (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10507033).

Personally, I deplore the extreme naughtiness of vandalising Government property, but, well...

Y'know...

The protestors do make a good point vis-a-vis the our Government's potential secretive involvement with regimes that its electorate doesn't support.

Anyway, quite frankly, this is hilarious. Even if the saboteurs had no justifiable political agenda, it'd be worth it for the lulz. Obviously little old NZ still takes a fairly relaxed approach in terms of 'lethal force authorised' protection around sensitive installations. God bless.

(You wouldn't want to try a stunt like this on in the good ol' USA, would you!)

I take a dim view of what they did because of the old adage ''freedom comes at a price'' NZ Government listening posts were able to feed transcripts of Argentinian naval traffic to Whitehall during the Falklands war. That was a justifiable conflict given that the British Government was liberating the farmers on that island from Argentinian aggression.
The next global conflict may well be fought over food shortages and that will implicate us in terms of aggression from most probably the Indonesians. We will be glad of intelligence gathering but less glad that this crock of a Government got rid of our air strike force and supporting infrastructure

[Swoop]

If the "protestors" really wanted to draw attention to the location, why not just paint red nipples on the tops of the domes?

Ohh er!!:cool:

Instant tourist attraction and potential advertisment site for Bendon.

[sAsLEX]

a huhu beetle even.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=84099&d=1202028781

[jrandom]

... Falklands war. That was a justifiable conflict given that the British Government was liberating the farmers on that island from Argentinian aggression.

Nice of you to credit the British with such good motives.

Unfortunately, it's all bollocks. The British Government had egg on their faces and wanted to win the next election; that war had nothing to do with the rights of the island inhabitants (http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/27b/034.html) (said rights were merely a convenient bit of rhetoric for the unwashed Sun-reading masses to chew on).

[MisterD]

Nice of you to credit the British with such good motives.

Unfortunately, it's all bollocks. The British Government had egg on their faces and wanted to win the next election; that war had nothing to do with the rights of the island inhabitants (http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/27b/034.html) (said rights were merely a convenient bit of rhetoric for the unwashed Sun-reading masses to chew on).

Strange how the Argie Junta were in much the same position - increasingly unpopular with the masses, the invasion was their attempt at that trick...unfortunately for them, they didn't have the Paras.

[Robert Taylor]

Nice of you to credit the British with such good motives.

Unfortunately, it's all bollocks. The British Government had egg on their faces and wanted to win the next election; that war had nothing to do with the rights of the island inhabitants (http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/27b/034.html) (said rights were merely a convenient bit of rhetoric for the unwashed Sun-reading masses to chew on).

Maybe so but it returned Margaret Thatcher and that was a good thing. Having lived there at the time I think I can safely offer my opinion.

[MisterD]

Maybe so but it returned Margaret Thatcher and that was a good thing. Having lived there at the time I think I can safely offer my opinion.

Hey! It's the anniversary of the sinking of the Belgrano today...spooky.

I was 11 years old, plotting the progress of the campaign on a big map on the classroom wall...:banana:

[Grahameeboy]

Hey! It's the anniversary of the sinking of the Belgrano today...spooky.

I was 11 years old, plotting the progress of the campaign on a big map on the classroom wall...:banana:

Belgrano??

[MisterD]

Belgrano??

Belgrano (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARA_General_Belgrano)
and just for Robert:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aZdAyHVjzQ

[Grahameeboy]

and just for Robert:


You old fart you.......:lol:

[Grahameeboy]

You old fart you.......:lol:

I got a warning for this...geeze

[Flatcap]

I got a warning for this...geeze

No Fartist comments please

[jrandom]

... it returned Margaret Thatcher and that was a good thing.

Gah! Thud.


Having lived there at the time...

Yes, you obviously had your fingers on the pulse of the nation.

[Grahameeboy]

No Fartist comments please

Especially the liquid kind eh...

[Hitcher]

I hear that these tree huggers are now hunger striking. The Police should take a leaf out of what their Israeli counterparts do in such circumstances and start barbecuing meat and other tasty treats up wind...

[Robert Taylor]

Hey! It's the anniversary of the sinking of the Belgrano today...spooky.

I was 11 years old, plotting the progress of the campaign on a big map on the classroom wall...:banana:

A friend of mine that works for the Ohlins UK automotive distributor was crew in the submarine ''Conqueror'' that sank the Belgrano. I remember the uproar in the left wing / pacifist British press when Conqueror returned to its base in northern Scotland flying the jolly roger to signify a kill.....in fact a Royal Navy tradition for centuries. On every sizable Royal Navy vessel there is a member of the crew trained as an upholsterer, and it is the responsibility of that member to sew up a jolly roger flag on the return journey.
The sinking of the Belgrano spooked the Argentinian Navy who scurried back to port leaving only the Argy Air Force to give a decent account of itself.

[Ixion]

They'd have had the aircraft carrier, too, if Nelson had been there.

[Robert Taylor]

Belgrano (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARA_General_Belgrano)
and just for Robert:


Nostalgia! A woman politician worth her salt, thankyou!!

[Robert Taylor]

Gah! Thud.



Yes, you obviously had your fingers on the pulse of the nation.

When I arrived in England there were 3 million unemployed but had no problem getting a job because I was willing to work. That they had to go through such initial pain under the Thatcher administration was testament to years of socialist Government mismanagement.