Shifted

Yesterday, we learned that the government was reviewing its future contribution to peacekeeping missions, with an eye to turning us into an American footstool. As I pointed out, this would be a major shift in our foreign policy, and one we need to stop. Unfortunately, we're too late: Cabinet agreed to the change last October (see ERD Min (13) 11/3). In secret, without consulting the people on behalf of which those troops will be deployed.

Reading that paper, there's also another bombshell: they want to send spies on peacekeeping missions. The new criteria ask:



Which agencies are so sensitive that their possible presence needs to be redacted for "national security"? (Hint: it is unlikely to be the Ministry for Culture and Heritage)

so, National has - in secret - completely changed our foreign policy, removed a major check on foreign troop deployments, and agreed to deploy spooks on peacekeeping missions. Given that latter bit, the UN would be wise to reject any contribution we offer as a trojan horse for US intelligence gathering.