By KEVIN TAYLOR and AUDREY YOUNG
The world may not know for five years whether the invasion of Iraq was a good idea but it "probably was", says National leader Don Brash.
However Dr Brash appeared to waver on the Holmes show last night on whether he still supported New Zealand's armed forces being involved in the invasion.
"I guess in hindsight it's easy to see what might have been done differently," he replied. "I think we are not yet through this Iraq situation. It looks more and more messy by the month. I feel very uncomfortable with where we are currently in that area."
Pressed by Paul Holmes if he still thought New Zealand should have joined Australia in the United States-led attack, Dr Brash replied: "I think back, then I think the answer is yes."
But asked the same question later by the Herald, Dr Brash said he did not really want to comment.
"We are still in the middle of the Iraq situation. We may not know for five years whether the invasion in fact was a good idea or not. At the moment I think it probably was but it's not by any means finished yet."
Dr Brash faced questions from viewers on a range of subjects, including time limits on Treaty of Waitangi and nuclear ships.
His high-profile appearance on Holmes yesterday was matched by a high-profile absence in Parliament.
He stayed in question time for two or three questions before leaving to prepare for his television appearance.
In the parliamentary debate that followed, his absence and the Holmes appearance were widely referred to.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters sought leave for Dr Brash to make a speech "if anybody can find him".
Prime Minister Helen Clark said: "There's going to be one winner of the debate on TV tonight, and it will be The Simpsons."
Helen Clark has refused to debate Dr Brash head-to-head, saying she will take him on in Parliament. She has also accused Television New Zealand of "conniving" with the National Party to try to get her to debate him.
Support for US in Iraq 'probably right' says Brash
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