Greens criticise aid to Libya

Ally Mullord at 3 News reports:

John Key’s announcement that Government is likely to provide financial aid to Libya “feels a bit like ‘me-too-ism’”, Green Party co-leader Russel Norman says. …

He says the Government should wait to see how the situation in Libya develops before making a decision to send aid to the country, and while he isn’t opposed to supporting the country there are other places “which in terms of absolute need are higher priorities”.

Tell me you are kidding?

At the end of a civil war where a dictatorship has just been abolished, is exactly the right time to be lending support and aid. It is at this point one has the greatest ability to help encourage Libya to go down a benign path.

So why on earth would the Greens be criticising aid to Libya?

“It feels a bit like ‘me-too-ism’ following the United States, which this government does kind of suffer from… and we need to see what’s going to happen at least in the next few days and the next week,” he says.