Posted on 10-4-2003

Clark Offends Bush
By AUDREY YOUNG political reporter NZ Herald, 10 April03

Intro, Alan Marston: The National Party and Act are really saying, don't
offend Bush because if you do he is likely to attempt to kill you and your
economy. The infamous Coalition of the Willing incorporates The Coalition
of the Servile, the New Zealand sub-section is lead by Richard Prebble, but
he has many challengers in the race to the ethical depths.

NZ Herald:
Prime Minister Helen Clark faced fierce pressure in Parliament yesterday
over claims that United States President George W. Bush had taken personal
offence at her comments on the Iraq war and that his national security
adviser, Condoleezza Rice, had asked the Government for an explanation.

Opposition parties seized on signs that the diplomatic fallout from her
comments was more serious than originally portrayed, causing business
concern as well as embarrassment for the Prime Minister.

Under attack for a second day, Helen Clark was accused of underplaying the
potential damage and of dodging questions in the House on Tuesday about the
text of an apology - which Foreign Minister Phil Goff provided later that
night.

She was grilled over the wording of the letter, which appears to apologise
for the fact that offence was taken rather than apologising for the remarks
themselves.

Offence was taken in Washington when Helen Clark told reporters in New
Zealand she believed the war would not have occurred under a Democratic Al
Gore presidency and that the war appeared not to be going according to plan.

Act leader Richard Prebble, citing unnamed senior sources in the
Administration, said the President himself had taken offence.

"It would be equivalent to President Bush saying that relations with New
Zealand would be much easier if Bill English was Prime Minister.

"Why will the Prime Minister not be frank with this Parliament and the
country about how serious the offence is that she caused last week?"

Mr Goff revealed that New Zealand's ambassador, John Wood, had delivered a
letter to an official attached to the National Security Council.

"It said she was deeply distressed to learn that the comments she had made
has caused the US Government to take offence.

"She said no offence was intended and recognised nevertheless that offence
was taken, that she regretted that and wished to apologise for it.

"The letter indicated the value that the Prime Minister put on New
Zealand's relationship with the United States as she had reiterated and
that it was a matter of great sorrow to her that the episode had arisen."

The council includes President Bush, Vice-President Dick Cheney, Secretary
of State Colin Powell, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Dr Rice.

Mr Goff told Parliament yesterday that the letter asked that her views also
be conveyed to the President - a strong indication that the claims of
personal offence are true.

The letter was addressed to the official who had raised the issue but Mr
Goff indicated the concern had been at the top level when he said through a
spokesman last night that the US official was expected "to pass it to any
member of the council that raised similar concerns".

National leader Bill English pressed the Prime Minister on whether she had
apologised for the comments or just for the offence taken from the comments.

Helen Clark: "I am concerned at anything which looks like it might damage a
long-standing relationship which is of value to me and New Zealand.

"Therefore when I hear that offence has been taken, I apologise for that
offence being taken."