Leon Panetta
Sep 23rd 2012, 12:43 am
#1
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Location: Queensland, Australia
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Leon Panetta
Outside of New Zealand Panetta was perceived as having a "lukewarm" reception during his recent visit.
But when you read the NZ press reports you'd be forgiven for thinking his visit was a success and he was on rip roaring good terms with Mr Key.
Funny isn't it how you can get different perceptions depending on where you are?
New Zealand was afforded a rare honour on Thursday – a visit by Leon Panetta, the first American defence secretary to visit the country since Caspar Weinberger back in the cold war days of 1982. But some local inhabitants seem a tad ungrateful. They have labelled Panetta, a former CIA chief, the "warlord of the world" and say he should be arrested and sent for trial in The Hague. They pay no heed to Washington's "anti-China" Asia-Pacific security agenda.
On balance, it always seemed unlikely Panetta would be handcuffed and led away. But he should tread carefully-----
On balance, it always seemed unlikely Panetta would be handcuffed and led away. But he should tread carefully-----
Funny isn't it how you can get different perceptions depending on where you are?
Sep 23rd 2012, 5:12 am
#2
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Re: Leon Panetta
I have found among kiwis the trend seems to be if its benefits NZ in any way then we will turn a blind eye to everything else.
Sep 24th 2012, 11:29 pm
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Re: Leon Panetta
Like dress sense? I mean just look at the two of them, matching jackets, no ties. And those jeans! Do you think their stylists collaborated? 
Sep 25th 2012, 9:23 am
#4
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Re: Leon Panetta
He looks like a bit of a joker and I reckon they were having a laugh about those three-legged jeans. 
