Beyond The Commons

Aaron Wherry covers all the goings-on in and around Parliament Hill. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @aaronwherry

Categories: Beyond The Commons, Capital Read

Don't look away (II)

by Aaron Wherry on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 1:17am - 15 Comments

Global National reports that Rick Hillier was aware of Richard Colvin’s reports on the treatment of detainees in Afghan prisons.

According to insiders, it turns out Ottawa was indeed aware of reports from a senior Canadian diplomat, which repeatedly warned that Afghan detainees turned over to local authorities risked being tortured. Global National has learned from senior sources within the federal government and the Canadian military, that diplomat Richard Colvin’s warnings reached Retired Gen. Rick Hillier, chief of defence staff at the time…

Canada’s current top soldier says he’s working to get to the bottom of what happened to Colvin’s reports. Gen. Walter Natynczyk, chief of defence staff, said Friday he did not yet know where the diplomat’s reports landed back in Ottawa, who read them, and what was done with the information.

Tags: Afghanistan, detainees, Military Police Complaints Commission, Richard Colvin, Rick Hillier, torture, Walter Natynczyk

More by Aaron Wherry

kcm

So who are these senior sources military and govt sources? Are the walls starting to crumble for the Harper Tories? Isn't this how it started for Mulroney- or is it still a little early for that yet? You can't operate in the way Harper has without eventually amassing enemies.
If you want loyalty and trust you gotta recipricate.
catherine

This allegation is really serious. Sickening, if true.
kcm

Ah…reciprocate.

http://intensedebate.com/people/SeanStok SeanStok

You should sign up for the Intense Debate thingy, as you can then edit your comments (until someone replies).

kcm

Ta!

dan in van

Methinks Peter McKay's going to be taking another walk with his neighbour's dog, and soon.

kcm

Nooo! Not the potatoe patch again PLEASE not the potatoe patch again…

MJ Patchouli

I believe Hillier. Why would he lie?

I also don't understand why McKay and O'Connor think Canadians prefer an ignorant defense minister who doesn't read essential reports over one that is fully aware and onside with what's going on.
TedTylerEzro

Could there be any criminal prosecutions coming out of this if someone knew something but didn't pass it upstairs, or if it was passed upstairs, nobody did anything about it?
Anon

Is it just me or has anyone (hello, you journalists) out there asked the three amigos whether they "knew" or "had heard" about Colvin's report?

Seems to me that they are claiming they had not "seen" the report. Kind of like the "if they had asked me whether I had a business relationship … you know the rest".

http://intensedebate.com/people/lgarvin lgarvin

We've gone from Plausible Deniability to Implausible Deniability to "Are You Fu%king Kidding Me?"

The single most serious controversy in your department for the past THREE YEARS!!! and it "never made it to your desk?" The neighbour's dog will refuse to be seen with him.

Anon

Over at the Ottawa Citizen today, they are saying that Hillier was aware of the Colvin reports. Given Hillier's strained relations with PMO, no one bothered to warn the three amigos of the potential problems for the government with the Colvin reports being in the hands of an unmuzzledable (is this a word?) Hillier? The dog would probably be smart not to be seen with him. LOL

Seriously though, does anyone out there have an answer to my original question?

PolJunkie

So I’m gonna ask the obvious question here:

If Hillier knew about the potential torture of prisoners under his watch, what exactly did he do about it?