- Afghan Detainees come back to haunt Harper, MacKay

Political reasons to attack torture testimony, Stephen Maher, Mon. Nov 23
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/1154143.html

Once again the CronicleHearald Columnists have come up with very good coverage of an important political issue. It is quickly becoming the place to go to for informed, thorough and meaningful political commentary.

Harper, Mackay, Baird, and the other Con's approach to any criticism is to insult and attack the character of those that are criticizing, as opposed to dealing with the issue in a rational, civil fashion, as was and is their duty as Parliamentarians and those running the our Government. They have been doing this all along. Harper, MacKay and the other Con's have no interest in the truth, doing what's right (morally, that is) or properly addressing the issues of the day. They only are concerned with grabbing onto power and maintaining it, at any cost, and Canada be damned.

This is a prime example of their actions coming back to haunt them. Rather than approach this issue in 2006 - 2007 in a reasonable fashion as was, and is, their duty as the government and respond in a meaningful, useful fashion to the, quite legitimate, criticism of Afghan detainee transfers, they denied everything, hid information, obstructed and distorted and attacked the credibility of whomever crossed their path. They didn't have to take that approach but that is what they are all about, as I said, Canada be damned.

The problem is that this is on the record for all to see and now they are even more desperate since not only do they have they original issue staring them in the face again, they have their original denials, attacks, cover-up as well.

If anyone has any question about what Colvin was saying about detainee torture and abuse, you only need to read the US Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Report for 2006 on Afghanistan
(state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2006/78868.htm), published March, 2007:
. . .
Complaints of serious human rights violations committed by representatives of national security institutions, including arbitrary arrest, unconfirmed reports of torture, and illegal detention were numerous.
. . .
Prison and Detention Center Conditions
. . .
Prisoners were reportedly beaten, tortured, and denied adequate food.

If I were Mackay, I would be too embarrassed to admit I never heard of torture in Afghanistan during that period.

If anyone's credibility is under question it's that of Peter Mackay, Stephen Harper and the other Con's.

Lloyd MacIlquham cicblog.com/comments.htm