Ignatieff bludgeons Tories

[CHIMO]

More accusations of a cover-up and new charges that Defence Minister Peter MacKay purposely misled the House, when he said repeatedly no Canadian-transferred Afghan prisoner was tortured, started off a pretty frisky Question Period today.

“Quite clearly the minister has misled Canadians. Is he going to admit this and at last tell them the truth?” charged Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff.

The impetus for Mr. Ignatieff’s line of questioning was a front-page story in today’s Globe and Mail in which reporter Paul Koring wrote that sworn testimony by senior Canadian officers and uncensored documents contradict Mr. MacKay’s assertions that no Canadian-transferred detainee was abused.

Over the past several weeks, Mr. MacKay has repeatedly denied allegations of torture and abuse against Afghan detainees. The opposition parties are calling for a public inquiry; they do not accept the government’s position.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/bureau-blog/ignatieff-bludgeons-tories-with-detainee-contradiction/article1391789/

Proof of detainee abuse exists, despite MacKay's denials

“Not a single Taliban prisoner turned over by Canadian Forces can be proven to have been abused. That is the crux of the issue.” Mr. MacKay said in Halifax on Nov. 22.


The Canadian soldier's account, handwritten in a field notebook in the hours after the June 19, 2006 incident, is corroborated by a medic's examination of the detainee's injuries and photographs, which the government refuses to release. The account, first outlined in a May, 2007 affidavit by Colonel Steve Noonan, Canada's first task force commander, was subsequently confirmed by then Brigadier-General Joseph Deschamps, who was chief-of-staff for operations in Canada's expeditionary forces command when he was cross-examined about it in January, 2008.

However, the soldier's contemporaneous field notes – written on the day of the incident but not released until months after the DND's media statement – offer a version that matches the sworn affidavit and provides compelling detail of a sequence of capture, transfer, rescue and medical treatment. “Local ANP elements were in possession of a PUC detained by CDA troops and subsequently transferred to ANP custody,” the detailed written notes say.

They also refer by name and unit to the Canadian platoon that originally captured the individual and took pictures of him (showing no injuries) before they handed him over. Those photos, both showing the detainee unharmed before being handed over and after being beaten, have been withheld by the government.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/proof-of-detainee-abuse-exists-despite-mackays-denials/article1390782/

[Spazito]

1. I see McKay is now blaming others for what he said...

From the previous Globe and Mail article referred to in this article:

The minister's spokesman said Sunday that Mr. MacKay was standing by his repeated denials.

“He has said what he has said based on the advice of generals and senior officials in the department,” said Dan Dugas, spokesman for the minister.

Link to previous article from which I took the quote:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/proof-of-detainee-abuse-exists-despite-mackays-denials/article1390782/

Typical rabid right wing response, the old 'it was all their fault I lied'. Harper et al's house of lying cards is starting to collapse and that is very GOOD news.