Following the announcement of New Zealand troops to undergo pre-deployment training for Iraq, Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has insisted that a final decision has yet to be made on plans to send military personnel. The Labour Party said the government has already decided on the matter and any other claim may be far from the truth.

Brownlee told Radio NZ that the Iraqi government has not officially asked New Zealand to send its defence forces. He said the New Zealand government was still evaluating its capabilities to determine what the country has to offer in case the time comes when Iraq will ask for assistance.

He remarked that New Zealand should not think it was safe from the growing threat of ISIS. Brownlee said many New Zealanders travel abroad and could be victims of ISIS attacks. He believes it was better for everyone to eliminate ISIS before the group can cause more harm.

Despite Brownlee’s statements, Labour’s defence spokesperson Phil Goff said the declaration that the government has not made any decision was “not honest.” He remarked that the issue was not about protecting human rights and fighting ISIS.

Goff believes the government’s desire to send troops was part of the price New Zealand had to pay for being part of the Five Eyes intelligence network. Australia, Canada, UK and the U.S. already have troops in Iraq training government forces to help them fight ISIS.

He questioned what the New Zealand Defence Force can do in effort to fight ISIS that the Iraqi Army cannot do on its own. Goff said the U.S. had invested more than $25 billion in Iraq in the last decade. However, the effort to train and equip them had made little difference. He suggested that New Zealand provide more humanitarian aid instead of sending troops to help millions of refugees displaced by conflict.

New Zealand Herald reports that Foreign Minister Murray McCully said Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Ja’afari will be visiting the country within the week. He is set to meet Mr Key, Brownlee and his Kiwi counterpart. A decision concerning the deployment of troops to Iraq is expected by the end of the month.

Meanwhile, a New Zealander who previously served in Iraq as one of Britain’s Royal Marines, said training for a possible deployment in Iraq is the best preparation for soldiers, reports Radio New Zealand. Terry Knights, the 47-year-old former Motuaka man, believes the government is giving soldiers the best chance to survive in the Middle East.

To report problems and leave feedback on this article, contact: r.su@ibtimes.com.au