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

Important context to come

by Aaron Wherry on Friday, November 20, 2009 4:33pm - 16 Comments

Unsolicited, a three paragraph statement from Foreign Affairs arrived just now.

It is important to let the Parliamentary Committee process unfold and to consider and weigh the testimony of subsequent witnesses before drawing any conclusions about how events in Afghanistan may have unfolded in 2006 and 2007.

It is our understanding that other current and former DFAIT employees will be testifying before the Parliamentary Committee. Their testimony will provide important context and information about this issue.

Canada has a robust monitoring regime for Canadian transferred detainees in place. From the beginning of our engagement in Kandahar in 2005, Canada has taken steps with the Afghan government to ensure that Afghanistan meets its domestic and international obligations with respect to the treatment of detainees.

Tags: Afghanistan, detainees, DFAIT, foreign affairs, Kandahar, Richard Colvin, torture

More by Aaron Wherry

http://intensedebate.com/people/Geiseric Geiseric

What a load of crap. O'Connor couldn't even give us a head count.

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

To be fair, he's never read any reports. Ever, if his words yesterday are to be believed.

Mike R

Hmmm, waiting for all the evidence to be in before coming to a conclusion. What a novel concept.

Anonymous

Kind of like the Iraq Invasion.

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

So, it would be completely inappropriate for members of the government to engage in a public smear campaign against a diplomat who testified?
http://intensedebate.com/people/Scott_Tribe Scott_Tribe

Actually Aaron, it appears what you received was a form letter response sent to the CBC's James Cudmore questions he sent to 2 different departments.

It appears they decided to send you this as well, in case any other media decided to bother them with questions.
http://intensedebate.com/people/TwoYen TwoYen

It would be nice to have information from more than one source before asking our military to put down their guns fighting the enemy so they can attend a judicial inquiry.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Jenn_ Jenn_

Well jeez, TwoYen, if the guy that needs to testify has been over there with a gun in his hand since 2006, I think he deserves a small break, don't you?
http://intensedebate.com/people/Scott_Tribe Scott_Tribe

Try to not be so obtuse TwoYen… there's been plenty of evidence from other sources other then Mr Colvin that have already been documented here at Macleans and elsewhere.

And it has nothing to do with "putting down the guns" to testify. But you knew that already… just another attempt to somehow paint finding out whether we've had war crimes committed as being "unpatriotic".

http://intensedebate.com/people/PolJunkie PolJunkie

"It is important to let the Parliamentary Committee process unfold and to consider and weigh the testimony of subsequent witnesses before drawing any conclusions about how events in Afghanistan may have unfolded in 2006 and 2007."

Considering Mackay's statements to date, one can assume that he didn't get those talking points, huh?
http://www.TennisVagabond.com Big Dave S

Can someone point me to actual smearing of Mr. Colvin? All I've seen are statements that his report is uncorroborated and that there are other views to be heard.
Is this what passes for a smear campaign, or have I missed the dirty?

http://intensedebate.com/people/Scott_Tribe Scott_Tribe

Well, let's start with Peter Mackay:

"Mr. Colvin is a member of the public service who has a job in Washington. As far as I'm concerned his job is there for him," said MacKay. But he also added: "I suspect that promotion (to Washington) took place, or it did take place, long before he gave his evidence yesterday."

So in otherwards, Colvin's credibility credibility is being attacked and Mackay is hinting strongly that somehow his promotion to Washington was no based on merit.

The Conservative MP's are also claiming his airings will aid the Taliban. I believe Mackay more or less called him a Taliban dupe in the House during QP and is quoted as saying he is a "suspect source".

That's an attack on his credibility and in my view constitutes a smear of the man.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Scott_Tribe Scott_Tribe

Well, let's start with Peter Mackay:

"Mr. Colvin is a member of the public service who has a job in Washington. As far as I'm concerned his job is there for him," said MacKay. But he also added: "I suspect that promotion (to Washington) took place, or it did take place, long before he gave his evidence yesterday."

So in otherwards, Colvin's credibility credibility is being attacked and Mackay is hinting strongly that somehow his promotion to Washington was no based on merit.

The Conservative MP's are also claiming his airings will aid the Taliban. I believe Mackay more or less called him a Taliban dupe in the House during QP and is quoted as saying he is a "suspect source".

That's an attack on his credibility and in my view constitutes a smear of the man.
http://intensedebate.com/people/danby danby

Pter MacKay: MacKay said Colvin had not provided "one scintilla of evidence" that wasn't second-or third-hand information.He painted Colvin as a Taliban dupe and said Canadians are being asked to accept the word of prisoners "who throw acid in the face of school children, who blow up buses of civilians in their own country."

The <not one scintilla of evidence basically says he willingly presents false evidence/this is personal/he is lying

The throw acid in the face…. says that his sources are liars and that he is a fool for taking the word of heinous, civilian killing thugs.
It is also interesting to note that words smilar in tone were used to stir strong emotions as justification for attacking Iraq/Sadam he gassed his own people…. This is an aggressive step beyond "it is felt his witnesses are not creditble"

Colvin is essentially being called a dupe that willingly spreads the lies of people who kill and maim innocents – you can argue the subtlety and nuance of the language, but the message is pretty clear

http://www.TennisVagabond.com Big Dave S

Right. That's what I thought. Thanks.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Scott_Tribe Scott_Tribe

Still skeptical? Even the Sun columnists were attacking the smear jobs Mackay and other Cons are trying on Colvin.

When you've lost the Sun, and even they recognize a smear for what it is… you know you're in trouble.