It was almost a year ago that the chair of Canada's Military Police Complaints Commission announced his intention to hold public hearings into the handling of Afghan detainees by Canadian forces. And since then the Harper government, those believers in accountability and transparency, have been trying to put a stop to it. Harper may be winning.
Less than two weeks before it was to begin hearing evidence from witnesses into Canada's handling of detainees in Afghanistan, the government has again blocked the inquiry of the Military Police Complaints Commission.
Commission chair Peter Tinsley, who had planned to begin full-scale public hearings on Feb. 17, issued the indefinite adjournment order this week after the Justice Department filed a motion in Federal Court calling for the inquiry to be stayed.
Here's a quote from a letter written by a government lawyer to the commission:
The government of Canada seeks to prevent irreparable harm to the reputation of our soldiers recently returned from Afghanistan, risk to national security ... and the potentially needless expenditure of time, effort and resources
The risk to national security and "potentially needless expenditure" sound like so much padding. It's that first clause that's of interest. The government's lawyer manages to make it sound as though our soldiers did something terrible and they now need to be protected from the consequences of their own actions. In other words, our government is hiding behind the troops they claim to support.
expect more lies and distortion and obstruction on this file from the new Harper-Ignatieff coalition.
I hope Iggy surprises us with some tough questions but I ain't holdin' my breath. Handing over prisoners to known torturers is a contravention of the Geneva Conventions. The public has every right to know if CF engaged in such a practice and, if so, upon whose orders.
I must agree there, JimBobby - if the gubberment is serious about preventing "irreparable harm to the reputation of our soldiers" it would do well to investigate this situation and if it is found we have transgressed a Geneva Convention, rectify it.
When the Airborn Regiment was dismantled for actions in Somalia I certainly felt a surge of pride in my country that they (we) would not put up with such foolishness.
Come ON. Soldiers do not act without orders. I will NOT buy a Canadian knock-off of the American Abu Ghraib "a few bad apples" song. Nor will I buy a "leave me alone - don't you support the troops?" line of bullshit.
George is gone, Stephen. Face it. Let's get honest, and let's get real.
And while we are at it - don't think we have forgotten the "torture lite" thing, Michael.
Support the troops. Bring them home.
Soldiers do not act without orders.
Certainly not where the issues of this inquiry would be concerned — soldiers would follow the direction of their commanders and ultimately of the civilian authority they answer to. If the reputation of our soldiers is on the line here it's because someone in government didn't care or wasn't paying attention.
"didn't care or wasn't paying attention" - or something a helluva lot darker than either of those alternatives.
No matter what - let's have a look at the subject of this thread.
Sunlight disinfects. No hiding behind the troops.
We need public hearings.
Accountability and transparency indeed.
harpo, if you've got nothing to hide, you've got nothing to fear.
Actually, wouldn't that be sweet if WE could get trials against us dropped on such grounds?
"This trial will only impugn my reputation and it's a waste of your time and money anyway since I'm innocent."
"Oh, I never thought of it like that. Case dismissed."
Support the troops, get behind the troops . . . same thing in their lexicon. :)