Here's John Key's quote in context:

PRESENTER: You say National will seek an early opportunity to move the US bilateral relationship forward on areas of common interest. Do I take it then you didn’t mention Iraq because that’s not an area where we’ve got common interest.

KEY: We certainly don’t have a common interest in Iraq and um I mean frankly ah, you know, the war in Iraq is, is over. I mean the war was over in a very short period of time. You’ve now got a situation where the main coalition forces are looking to withdraw their efforts out of Iraq and they’ve made it clear as an incoming National government and as future Prime Minister of New Zealand I would not commit troops to Iraq.

Here's what Key has subsequently claimed:

- Kiwi FM, October 5 2007

PRESENTER: About the ah, comment of the, the Iraq war is over, where, was that taken out of context or, what was the story around that.

KEY: Oh that’s for sure. Look, I’ve never suggested the conflict in Iraq was over. The um, because very clearly it isn’t um, the question I was asked was in relation to the invasion of Iraq.

PRESENTER: Right. Okay. So that’s um…

KEY: I mean, clearly there’s an insurgency operating there and ah, without doubt, that’s the case but I was asked about committing troops to the invasion of Iraq.

- bFM, October 4 2007

PRESENTER: Um, and what a morning for you John. What on earth were you saying, what on earth were you thinking with you, with your “frankly the war in Iraq is over”.

KEY: Oh well I was never suggesting that there isn’t a conflict and it’s not ongoing. I was asked a question specifically about the invasion.

PRESENTER: Well I thought it was more to do with the um the fact that Iraq was not mentioned in your ah, in your discussion document.

KEY: Yeah the question was in relation to the invasion though…

PRESENTER: Surely, surely having spent that much time doing, doing well with those people and especially in Washington and the, the US New Zealand partnership forum that sort of thing you must have, you must be well aware of the absolute gaffe that you’ve made with this about the Iraq thing.

KEY: No, the ah, you know, the position’s quite clear. I was asked a specific question in relation to the invasion - I answered it.

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