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Opposition decries freeze on Afghan-prisoner news

ALAN FREEMAN

From Tuesday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 8:46 AM EST 10/07/07

'This is unacceptable,' Liberal defence critic says of order to shut down communication ...Read the full article

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  1. Steven Koning from Bloomfield, ON, Canada writes: France is a NATO partner. Why is Dion not asking Sarkozy, the president of his other country, to give Canadians a hand in dealing with the Taliban, so Canadian lives can be saved, instead of clamoring to get the military to release info which would aid and abet the enemy? Why doesn't Dion do all he can to save the lives of Vandoos and other Canadian regiments that are being targeted by Taliban so the Taliban can provide another safe haven for El Qaida jihadists by getting help from NATO partners for our forces?
  2. Mrs. Whiggins from Canada writes: Canada's enemies are liars, hiders of truth, unaccountable people in power, and dirty deeds done behind the scenes.

    Why cannot Canadians know what is being done in our name? Why cannot Canadians follow-up on Minister O'Connor's assertion that the missing detainees 'will be found. Anyone can be found.' Why cannot Canadians know what happens to people detained at great risk to life and limb of our most precious resource, answering the call of our Country to assist Afghanistan?

    If the Afghan prison system is 'a revolving door' as Minister O'Connor asserts, why are concerned Canadians labelled socialists or Islamists? Instead of being simply concerned Canadians who send their youth under the sanction of NATO to aid a country who asked us to be there. Why is Canada out of step with its NATO allies in reporting the facts to their people?

    How are Canadians, most particularly our troops, served by being kept ignorant of possibly life-threatening actions and realities in Afghanistan? Are the detainees apprehended at great risk simply allowed to be 'bribed out by their tribe'? This is important. Are detainees given second chances to kill our troops? Why? Does Canada and NATO need to look more closely at the support for basic services to Afghanistan such as it's prison management? If only to make sure that the guilty are not let go for money.

    Something really stinks about this unheard of censorship at the hands of Canada's New Government and by an un-elected General dictating what Canadians can or cannot know.

    The next year will be seeing Canada's New Government (TM) asking Canadians for concensus on the Mission: will it do it by providing no information? Will Canadians be well-served if their elected MPs are uninformed?

    Every thinking Canadian will be asking questions and demanding answers. Good for the G&M for not letting this issue be brushed under a rug.
  3. Steven Koning from Canada writes: Mrs. Whiggins from Canada writes: 'Canada's enemies are liars, hiders of truth, unaccountable people in power, and dirty deeds done behind the scenes.' I write: 'That's a verbose way of saying TALIBAN.'
  4. Steven Koning from Bloomfield, ON, Canada writes: Mrs. Whiggins makes a good point about the Afghan prison system, however, the point is moot as there is a war on, and the normal situation cannot prevail, i.e. you cannot fix the motor on a car while it's moving. First priority is to get rid of the Taliban, then improve governance. I cannot think of any situation such as the current Afghan one where a country in the middle of a serious attack from within with help from without started to reform its prison system and its culture of bribery.
  5. Malcolm Thistle from Toronto, Canada writes: Personally I have stopped reading the Globe as much in recent months because of stories like this. It's not just a new tendency to support Liberal guff of the kind that comes from the mouth of Dennis Coderre, but it's become more and more of a headline grabbing newspaper and has lost it's sense of objectivity and fairness. Further, it's lost it's sense of being Canada's national newspaper as it now seems to follow the whims of public opinion rather than leading. I used to respect this paper when it stood alone as the one source of quiet intelligent reporting. But not anymore. I still check in online sometimes but not as frequently and never buy the hard copy.
  6. Vern McPherson from Lake Opeongo, Canada writes: This issue would never have been an issue if there wasn't an amateur dope running things at DND. Every time o'connor opens his trap he is wrong or has to clarify later what he meant to say yesterday.

    I know of church socials better run than this.
  7. janfromthe bruce from Canada writes: 'Gen. Hillier's role in the Access to Information process is carried out by the Strategic Joint Staff, a recently formed strategy unit within his office.'
    Didn't they mean the Joint Chiefs of Staff, oops, nope that's America. This is Canada and Harper is Bush's poodle, and even names the same sad 'military industrial complex' after them as another form of fawning.
    Now we have the military calling the shots.
    Next election, Harper will run on 'standing up for war' with secrecy, hidden agendas, and distain for democracy.
  8. Anthony B from Sydney, NS, Canada writes: I'll repeat my comment from yesterday on this story. Since when does the Taliban read the Globe and Mail to find out how many of their fighters have been captured? Do Toronto gang leaders read the Kabul Times to discover how many of their members have been arrested? No, this is about Hillier and his masters hiding from Canadians any questionable actions committed in our name.

    Earth to Hillier: The Taliban don't have to read Canadian newspapers to find out what's happening in their neighbourhood, but Canadians do.
  9. Michael Crowell from Halifax, Canada writes: 'It's a total stain on democracy,' said Mr. Coderre. The only stain I see on Canada is Denis Coderre and the Liberal Party. The Liberal Party is the last group in this Country I would look to for transparency and honesty. I implore Mr. Dion to remove Coderre as Defence critic. He hasn't the ability to carry Hillier's and Gordon O' Connor's briefcase to meetings. Good decision and leadership by the CDS.
  10. John Smith from Canada writes: Actually Wang Woo from Toronto, the strange bedfellows were the 'right wingers' (shall we call you facists since democrats seem to be 'socialists') who supported guerilla warfare in Afghanistan starting in 1979. Then Soviet Union was fighting the very war you support - a fear of Islamic fundamentalism. But you guys, crawling into bed with a stranger called them 'freedom fighters'. A lesson for the facists to be more careful about who they sleep with. In the meantime, many people want their government to engage in conflict under democratic scrutiny. Alas, facists haven't learnt and still just want to sleep with anyone and anything when it is convienient. A dose of morality regarding your bedfellows might help you guys - and cut down on future conflict.
  11. Gerry Pankhurst from westport ontario, Canada writes: This is absolutely astonishing news. The G&M and the opposition are criticizing something the government is doing. Unheard of!

    Judging from the trend being set by some of the postings here, this will be another article that will soon become 'Comments Closed'. How dare contributors criticize the critics?
  12. Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes: I'm with janfromthebruce on this one. 'Strategic joint staff?'
    The Conservative gov't need to go back to their election campaign and remind themselves of their promise, to Canadians, for a open, transparent, and accountable gov't.
    Presently, they offer blacked out pages to House of Commons committees and they are more comfortable for deciding Canada's policy behind closed doors than in the light of day.
    This tone of governance is a change.
  13. Ek Balam from Toronto, Canada writes: As War Enters Classrooms, Fear Grips Afghans

    http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/10/world/asia/10afghan.html?hp

    Here's an article from the NY Times. It describes how the Taliban shot six students at a school on June 12th. The school in particular is for boys up to six years old and girls up to twelve years old.

    This is part of the Taliban's intimidation campaign.

    I guess if we pull out then Taliban Jack Layton's friends will be able to continue doing this with impunity. Maybe the NDP can start a letter writing campaing to Mullah Omar to ask them to stop killing children?
  14. fedup taxpayer from rottawa, Canada writes: Denis Coderre and the Liberal Party are a festering boil on the butt of Canada. I look forward to seeing them lanced in the next election. I want my country back.
  15. Shawn Bull from Canada writes: The G&M is lost. Newspapers report the news, they don't create it.
  16. Pete Kauchak from Cascadia, Canada writes: Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes:

    'I'm with janfromthebruce on this one. 'Strategic joint staff?'
    The Conservative gov't need to go back to their election campaign and remind themselves of their promise, to Canadians, for a open, transparent, and accountable gov't.'

    Does that include revealing the locations of where prisoners were picked up and therefore revealing the location of Canadian personnel in current combat operations? Sorry but the press has gotten more openess in combat operations than any other government in Canadian history. Do you remember the last conflict in Yugoslavia? Soldiers bodies were flown home in secret at night without the media knowing. Families were never notified by the circumstances of their son's/daughter's deaths. Hmmm..who was in power then ?
  17. Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes: Pete Kauchak: Disagree with you completely. Did we have a 'Strategic joint staff' before the governance of the Conservative gov't? General Hillier muzzling information from the Canadian public does little to garner openness.
    No. The Conservative gov't seems to be attempting to manage the information and soothe the Canadian public that 'they know best.'
    Canadians deserve a Minister of Defence that tells the truth to the House of Commons and offers the information in a timely way.
  18. Stude Ham from Outremont, Canada writes:

    This only the tip of a very nasty iceberg. And we are on a TITANIC collision course. If the harper regime will not tell us anything more on one issue, what else will they be hiding from us in terms of the corrosive glut they've launched?

    harper = hidden agenda.



    GET OUR TROOPS OUT OF AFGHANISTAN NOW!

    DUMP HARPER!
  19. A Canuck from Ottawa, Canada writes: The reality here is the military HAVING to gleem through information to protect its soldiers from Taliban friendly Liberal$ and NDP's...we are at war with evil forces, why to do have to justify every steps we take to get our mission to succeed...I say let them do what they are trained to do, keep the idiot loud mouths in the oppositions at bay and get our soldiers back to Canada once they've delivered the merchandise.
  20. A Canuck from Ottawa, Canada writes: Stude Ham from Outremont, Canada writes:
    This only the tip of a very nasty iceberg. And we are on a TITANIC collision course. If the harper regime will not tell us anything more on one issue, what else will they be hiding from us in terms of the corrosive glut they've launched?
    harper = hidden agenda.
    GET OUR TROOPS OUT OF AFGHANISTAN NOW!
    DUMP HARPER!
    Stude - you are an idiot and Canada has no need for your likes...you want to know what Harper has up his sleeves, read his last election campaign promises and watch the news, he delivers one by one on his promises...
  21. David Smith from Toronto, Canada writes: Very pleased to see the Tory sympathizers singing from the hymnal of Karl Rove... the Opposition mentions detainees and because of this audacity, most of you Tory clowns are taking a leaf from the Bush/Cheney school and distorting the situation. 'They're either with us or against us.'

    This worked for Bush/Cheney through two elections to the utter amazement of 80% of the Canadian population. I urge you clowns to maintain the tactic and you will discover the truth behind the words of a truly great Republican president, ol Abe who said: 'You can fool some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time but you can't fool all the people all the time.' The current day Republicans are just now starting to see the wisdom there.

    Americans and Canadians follow the rule of law. Sadly for the population of both countries, the governance in charge in both Washington and Ottawa are betraying our core values. So I am very pleased to see this wonderful Tory (read Alliance) reaction this morning as you are showing your true fascist colours.
  22. Allan Eizinas from Simcoe, Canada writes: Wow!

    At 5:25 a.m. when this story was released, the government paid forum watchers, using convenient pseudonyms were certainly on their toes.

    The Conservative war room had the 7 first posts on this story.

    Way to go guys!

    You have finally realized the easy access to another public vehicle.

    I would share with you how I came upon that information but I have to cite a section of the access law that allows me to refuse disclosure of information that would harm 'the defence of Canada or any state allied or associated with Canada,' including information that, if disclosed, would impair the detection, prevention or suppression of hostile activities.
  23. asm oak bay from Canada writes: Why do we live in such a self-loathing culture? Why do we have elected politicians who lend support to the enemy and do their level best to undermine the credibility of our government and military at a time of war? Is this a sign of healthy democracy or a sign of a society where a good number of people have lost their moral and cultural compass? I think the latter.
  24. James Wallace from Barrie, Canada writes: We live in a democratic country. That means that we live in a country in which the general population governs itself. It is up to the general public to decide collectively how to deal with each and every issue. We use representatives, which we call MP's, to speak on our behalf in Ottawa. And if these representatives do not do a good job of gauging public opinion in their respective ridings, then we elect someone else. My point is that we, the general public, are ultimately responsible for the decisions made by our government. In order for us to make rational decisions and judgements, we need to know the facts and details on the issue. This is why it is so important that the government share as much detail and information as possible with the public. We elect a government to express our thoughts, not to think for us. My MP has the job of taking my concerns to Ottawa, not to tell me how Ottawa wants me to think. In my opinion, the second a government in a democratic country starts to withhold information from the public, that government needs to be removed. Withholding information is the first step towards corruption. In order for you and me to make correct and informed decisions, we need openness and transparency. In order for democracy to work, we need to know what is going on. In this case, our military is doing things in our name. This will affect our reputation around the world. We have a right to know what is going on.
  25. Russ Kehoe from Canada writes: Michael Crowell, speaking of stains, the best part of you was a stain on the sheets. A Canuck from Ottawa, you are NO Canuck, you are the idiot. fedup taxpayer, it is you who is a festering boil. Steven Koning you are not worth the air you breathe. I could continue, but I've wasted enough time on you fascists
  26. R L from Calgary, Canada writes: Some truly disgusting comments here today. The blind neocons are out in full force.

    Do you people realize that this is a democracy? You support your government hiding information from you? You support blacked-out documents? You support government non-disclosure with 'security' as the excuse?

    Instead of being outraged at government secrecy, you people demand it. You demand to be denied the truth. You demand to be treated as lowly servants of the state, and thus, that is what you shall be.
  27. Don Adams from Canada writes: Mrs Wiggins. Sorry, but Idealist Lefties such as yourself just don't have the mental capacity to handle news such as this. You types have this disease...mental incompetance.... just can't see the reality of any given situation, only your own idealistic views, and those are dangerous to the bulk of people who live in the real world. Now why not just go have a glass of warm milk and some cookies.

    This comment is also directed at Anthony B of Sydney, janfromthebruce, John Smith, Catheeeee Wilkie, David Smith, and, of course, Stupid Ham
  28. Dwayne Allan from Canada writes: Ah yes,the typical 'guilty until proven innocent' crowd is trying to defend their incompetent NGC once again.The usual lines about Taliban supporters and of course 'brown bags or boondoggles' for distractions from the real issue.They still fail to aknowledge that the biggest problem was that many of the detainees were not Taliban yet were treated a such.These same hypocrites are quick to point out that the Taliban beat,torture and kill those opposed to them,but fail to note that our soldiers could be inadvertently doing the same thing when they have been handing these unidentified detainees over to Afghan jailers.In a country where stonings,beatings and executions are not uncommon,these same warmonging neo-con have the nerve to suggest the public is niave enough to believe this couldn't happen by NATO 'backed' Afghans.Funny how if this bit of propoganda doesn't pass they revert to the line of let the Afghans deal with it as it's their country and who are we to interfere with their ways.Too bad they forget this last theory when it comes to 'why are we fighting someone elses war?'This inept minority NGC must be open with what is happening in all it's actions.Given the numerous false stories that came out about this issue in the spring clearly shows they aren't capable of knowing what the other hand is doing and since this is the case it only makes sense to have others watch over what is going on.This isn't about safety of the troops,it's about the safety and hopeful recovery of Harpers falling numbers in the polls.
  29. scott thomas from Canada writes: Hillier is a soldier - it's not for him to determine what the freedom of information act applies to: that's political. He just can't stop signing treaties with foreign countries and administering political administration, can he? And if O'Connor were anywhere near competent, he wouldn't be letting this soldier run roughshod over him. Very, very dangerous precedents begin set by the conservative government, which is at heart astonishingly weak.
  30. Jennifer Menna from Canada writes: To the people commenting that it is a security issue to even release the number of people capsured (not names and places, numbers). If it was such an security risk then why are several of our allies in the region doing so. This includes the Americans.

    I understand that withholding information about JTF2's activities are necessary and the plans for upcoming missions for our regular troops just to protect their security. However I am at a loss to understand how saying we capsured 5 people today threatens their security. Surely the Taliban would know that they were caught when they didn't report back.
  31. True North from Canada writes: This makes a complete mockery of what Canada's brave men and woman are fighting and dying in Afghanistan for. Now, Canadians are fighting to maintain a veil of secrecy when it comes to basic human rights - this is a clear message to those that torture that they have the green light to commit abuses.

    It is more dangerous to operational security to have soldiers go on national television (christmas, mother's day etc) say their full name, where they are from and broadcast their families' names - making them easy targets here at home. However, it is more important to sr. military brass to CYA on abuse reports than protect soldiers' and their famiies' lives.

    The current government is soft on human rights and cannot be trusted.
  32. A Canuck from Ottawa, Canada writes: Russ Kehoe from Canada writes: Michael Crowell, speaking of stains, the best part of you was a stain on the sheets. A Canuck from Ottawa, you are NO Canuck, you are the idiot. fedup taxpayer, it is you who is a festering boil. Steven Koning you are not worth the air you breathe. I could continue, but I've wasted enough time on you fascists

    Well, well Russ...are we a pissy little man today...call me an idiot if you wish, I have been called worse by better lefties...but fascists? do you even know what that means? I am a true Canuck and I am a true patriotic...I believe in my country and its worth...and I like certain things and would like to preserve some traditions, but yet, improve economically and socially the lot of those willing to get off their butt to attain it...fascist???come on!
  33. PRAGMATIC PUNDIT from Canada writes: Boy does that hypocrit CS'er Coderre ever need a swift kick in the stones. Can't even bear to hear him speak.
  34. Malcolm Thistle from Toronto, Canada writes: Asm Oak Bay - your phrase 'self loathing culture' caught my eye and strikes me as very appropriate. Political correctness obscures the truth and there is hardly any better example of this than the response of the left to the detainees issue. We seem to forget that the Taliban are a bunch of medieval barbarians who behead people because they look the wrong way, routinely rape women, and commit other atrocities. Political correctness demands that we ignore these things in pursuit of the 'greater good' but in so doing puts idealism and idealogy ahead of one's own country and people. It's a kind of inverse relationaship with patriotism that produces a self loathing as you put it. The Globe used to try to use intelligent objective reporting to ameliorate regional issues and generate intelligent discussion. But lately, it seems to me, has abandoned that role and like most print media has fallen to the injudicious use of headlines to sell newspapers. In this sense it has becoame part of the self-loathing you speak of. Too bad!
  35. Jack Ryan from Toronto, Canada writes: This is pathetic. The Taliban know how many of their members and who is captured long before our media obtains the information through Access to Information requests. If the Taliban are organized enough to maintain control over large parts of Afghanistan after 6 years of sustained attack, they are organized enough to know when somebody is missing. If they are sophisticated enough to obtain Canadian newspapers, read about detainee numbers, and somehow turn this information into an operational advantage: they are sophisticated enough to perform head counts on occasion and would know how many people have been captured long before they could read about it. This veil of secrecy has nothing to do with national security and everything to do with the image of our 'New (Neo) Government' and smothering opposition to the war on the home front... a disgusting and shameful form of wartime agitprop; propagated, not by a Minister, but by our highest general! Where's the accountability in this? It should frighten Canadians that Hillier is the acting Rommel and Goebbels all at once.
  36. Larry Lootsteen from Conestogo, Canada writes: As always I'm stunned at how easily many of you would let your freedom, your democracy, crumble because 'we're at war'.

    Do you really believe knowing and tracking what happens to captured Afghans is leading to the demise of the war effort? Seriously?

    Do you really believe the Taliban reads this newspaper? They may watch CNN, if they even can, but I seriously doubt Newsworld and Newsnet are on the Taliban's radar.

    Do you believe we should just let people be tortured? No due process? No rights? Anyone seen the studies that prove that torture doesn't work? Anyone care that we become less then animals by letting inhumane treatment happen? Anyone care that the Geneva convention exists for a reason? Anyone care that the fabric that makes this country great is based upon some very basic principles that now appear to be just another throw away item by this government and many on this site?

    It is not the Liberals who are the problem. It's the expectation that walking away from the very things we stand for because we are at war makes it okay.
  37. Diego Monico from Mississauga, Canada writes: Ask this yourself, what good that it give to us to know what we do about Taliban prisoners and detainees? So we captured 30, interrogated 5, send the rest to Afghan National Army for further vetting. So what? To what good does this be to us here back at home? I'd rather that it be kept hidden if there is some chance that it could harm our troops, then by all means Do keep it inaccessible. If its just so you can feel good that we are treating these bunch of killers as humane as possible, then I'd suggest they might as well go smoke a joint. It would give you the same feel good high you always crave for.
  38. John Arthur from Ontario, Canada writes: True North from Canada writes: This makes a complete mockery of what Canada's brave men and woman are fighting and dying in Afghanistan for. Now, Canadians are fighting to maintain a veil of secrecy when it comes to basic human rights - this is a clear message to those that torture that they have the green light to commit abuses.

    They do not have a green light to commit abuses. No one in a democracy would believe that. Our soldiers have the right to safety and security whilst over there.

    They also have a right to be tried in International Courts of Law if necessary. Not a Leftist Canadian newspaper blog, by self-serving moonbats like you!

    Please have the courtesy to allow the process to work itself through. After all, it was YOUR leftist group of monkeys that sent them there in the first place!
  39. Don Adams from Canada writes: Malcolm Thistle. Excellent post. The idealists have to be pretty 'sick' folks to be idealistic.

    Larry Lootsteen from Conestogo. Typical NEO-CAN post. NEO-CAN: an individual from the nation of Canada who has fallen under the failed policies and political ideology of the Trudeau and Chretain regimes which DESTROYED the capabilities, purpose, and NATIONAL FABRIC of Canada.
  40. JP M from Canada writes: When will this joke of a minister resign? Perhaps Harper and the boys have already decided that they'll have to cut him loose eventually, so they're trying to hang a few extra weights around his neck before shipping him off on some patronage posting????
  41. Robert P from Montreal, Canada writes: Harper’s government’s relationship with the press is what troubles me the most about this new conservative party. There definitely seems to be a split in this country over the role the fourth estate has in Canadian politics. Harper and his supporters like to claim that the press oversteps its bounds, twists their words, and as an unelected body has no rights. To this end the PM has changed the relationship and access the press has been granted and expected by the population for generations. The press has a historical role on the hill but when Harper came into power he changed the rules on how press conferences are run by having his staff chose what reporters can ask questions. How is amazing to me how most people are not even aware of this or think it is not a big deal. To many this is a major blow to an open democracy. Of course the press will try its best to tear apart any government in power. Look for holes, push buttons and in general be a pain in the side of the ruling party. Will some reporting be biased? Yes. Will the government have to spend time defending accusations made in the press? Yes. This is the press’ job. Our job as citizens is to sift through all the noise and have an opinion. This story is just another example. The information being requested was supplied in the past and only after it became embarrassing to the government did the same information become a security issue. In this light it seems acceptable that the press is questioning the government’s motivation. Now many on this board accuse people of supporting terrorists for finding the government’s actions questionable. This party does have power legitimately and even if there are issues where I don’t see eye-to-eye with the current government I can accept them in the constitutional democracy I choose to live in. But, there desire to control the press is the main reason why I could never support the Conservative party.
  42. John Arthur from Ontario, Canada writes: Don Adams from Canada writes: Malcolm Thistle. Excellent post. The idealists have to be pretty 'sick' folks to be idealistic.

    Larry Lootsteen from Conestogo. Typical NEO-CAN post. NEO-CAN: an individual from the nation of Canada who has fallen under the failed policies and political ideology of the Trudeau and Chretain regimes which DESTROYED the capabilities, purpose, and NATIONAL FABRIC of Canada.

    Don: Are you going to add that very apt description into Wikipedia? It belongs there. Terrific post, you get a gold star!
  43. Robert P from Montreal, Canada writes: Fred Heff from cowtownCalgary, Canada writes: “Dennis Coderre is a MP who marches with Hezbolla. He is a defence critic for the Liebranos and most Canadians know that both the Liebranos and Coderre cant be trusted with any information”

    Mr. Heff, is it your intention to feed the stereotype that most people have about those who live in our fair city of Calgary? I think you know what stereotype that is.

    Is this normal Calgary banter? Please, someone in Calgary people come to your city’s defence.
  44. Don Adams from Canada writes: John, believe it or not, it came from an American, Andy Garrett, who posts here but usually in the world section. I just loved it! We all have his permission to use it whenever we want, and I do :-)
  45. Pete Kauchak from Cascadia, Canada writes: Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes:
    'Disagree with you completely. Did we have a 'Strategic joint staff' before the governance of the Conservative gov't? General Hillier muzzling information from the Canadian public does little to garner openness.'

    Despite the complaints, I can't recall any other 'war' in which the media was given so much access to information. As for the 'Strategic joint staff', the article does not mention that this is a new body created by the Minister. It may have already existed in the DND
  46. Jack Ryan from Toronto, Canada writes: Fred Heff, Don Adams, Michael Crowell and many others are typical neo cons who aren't intelligent enough to debate the issue so they must resort to attacking the person delivering a message, rather than the message. And just as bad are the ones who attack the medium - the Globe - for reporting what the different arguments about an issue are; for reporting what others are saying about an issue. Apparently the posters who attack the Globe would prefer a country where any and all opposition to their position is muffled... yet they talk about exporting 'freedom' and 'free speech' to countries like Afghanistan. What a farce. As soon as you resort to attacking the messenger, rather than debating the message, your comment is not worth reading or considering.
  47. Dave M from Somewhere, Canada writes: Its all based on whats called OPSEC - Operational Security. If the 'dushman' don't know who we have captured, then they are not privy to what information we may or may not know about them, their operations, habits, locations, personalities, weapons, tactics, etc.

    Did we publish who we captured in WWI, WWII, Korea, etc? No - so why start now?
  48. Dwayne Allan from Canada writes: asm(a small mind?),you may be right about self loathing.The thing is,you may be suggesting the loathing is coming from the wrong group of Canadians.You must remember the majority of Canadians don't support Harper or his government.If it weren't for Adscam Harper would still be searching for a new party to weasel into the PM seat with.As for supporting the terrorists try to provide some proof of this rather than the same of neo-con(Taliban-ish) spin on anyone questioning the NGC.Same old'with us or with the enemy' crap.That 'if you're not on our side you're evil' theory doesn't exactly show signs of democracy but instead shows signs of one who must blindly follow the leader at all costs of freedom of thought.Much like the Taliban or Al Quaida followers.The same ones who easily convince a supporter to strap a bomb to himself and walk into a crowd and detonate it.Yes there is a problem with morality,the thing is,it is with the current PM and his crew.The lies and deception coming from the PMO and DND as well as the rest of those CPCer's allowed to speak is disgusting and and shouldn't be allowed.There is further lack of morality shown by those who have the audacity to brand those who question the NGC as terrorist lovers or supporters.It is the right of the free world to question what is happen when their country is at war.It is also their right to be informed HONESTLY.When you can read where bombing attacks by NATO kill 30 people to get to ONE possible Taliban warrior,who is really the terrorist?If this type of action is 'saving' the Afghans, I for one,sure as h3ll don't want Harper and his people 'saving' Canada.
  49. Fred Heff from cowtownCalgary, Canada writes: Mrs. Whiggins from Canada writes: Canada's enemies are liars, hiders of truth, unaccountable people in power, and dirty deeds done behind the scenes. Why cannot Canadians know what is being done in our name? Why cannot Canadians follow-up on Minister O'Connor's assertion that the missing detainees 'will be found. Anyone can be found.' Why cannot Canadians know what happens to people detained at great risk to life and limb of our most precious resource, answering the call of our Country to assist Afghanistan? If the Afghan prison system is 'a revolving door' as Minister O'Connor asserts, why are concerned Canadians labelled socialists or Islamists? Instead of being simply concerned Canadians who send their youth under the sanction of NATO to aid a country who asked us to be there. Why is Canada out of step with its NATO allies in reporting the facts to their people? How are Canadians, most particularly our troops, served by being kept ignorant of possibly life-threatening actions and realities in Afghanistan? Are the detainees apprehended at great risk simply allowed to be 'bribed out by their tribe'? This is important. Are detainees given second chances to kill our troops? Why? Does Canada and NATO need to look more closely at the support for basic services to Afghanistan such as it's prison management? If only to make sure that the guilty are not let go for money. Something really stinks about this unheard of censorship at the hands of Canada's New Government and by an un-elected General dictating what Canadians can or cannot know. Hey Don Adams ! Mrs Wiggins gets very upset if you spell her name wrong and will write 3 full comments on how she cant see 'Liebrano Spin' when it is clear to everyone else. An unelected General ! Do we do that here in Canada.
  50. mike sty from Canada writes: Just another example of how this New Minority Gov't is NOT open and transparent.

    Can this PM ever tell the Truth???

    Can we ever Trust Harper???

  51. BaZ MaN from Canada writes: What is funny to me is the fact that PM Harper turns Afghans over to Afghans the Liberals to the US. The facts are the Tories turned over people that maybe tortured well the Liberals handed them over to the US to be torutred. But as normal the Liberal lefties are pointing at someone else who is doing the job they started and blaiming them for it. The left is the only ones to complain about something they started, had input into and voted for but now disagree with becuse our soldiers are dieing. Thats war people, did you think the Taliban would roll over? SAD, that you lefties Liberal voters done take any blaime for your voting, instead blaime the Tories or the NEO-CONS for your actions.
  52. Don Adams from Canada writes: Robert P from Montreal. I totally disagree. It's NOT the role of the press to function as the Opposition, it's simply to report the news. There should be NO bias in the reporting. I'm quite comfortable with the Cons backing off biased reporters.

    Yes, reporters should be able to research stories to get to the 'truth', but, unfortunately, todays reporters take it a lot further than than and pump their own ideology, which, to me, is 100% unacceptable.

    If you're a younger individual, ie under 45, you wouldn't have any experience about true reporting, as it died when Trudeau came to power. Pre Trudeau, the job of 'reporter' was an honourable profession. Today, many, many so called 'reporters', are simply muck rakers who'll do almost anything, say almost anything, in order to get a story published under their byline.

    A prime example is in today's G&M 'Day Pleads With Mounties to Back New Boss' by Jane Taber. I read the text of the letter. As far as I'm concerned, there was certainly no 'pleading'. In my opinion, the headline was patently false, but typical, of todays crop of reporters.

    I have very little respect for today's 'Press'
  53. m dooley from Canada writes: Baz man, how simple minded to call the liberals left? I am a lefty and I can assure you that the liberals are way off my radar (to the right) . They are big business friendly and more than willing to appease the neocon regime to the south. They wouldn't have gon into Afghanistan in the first place otherwise
  54. Jack Ryan from Toronto, Canada writes: Robert P from Montreal, Canada writes (regarding Fred Heff from cowtownCalgary): 'Is this normal Calgary banter? Please, someone in Calgary people come to your city’s defence.'
    Hi Robert. I'm from Calgary, but, unfortunately, I am not prepared to come rushing to the city's defence. Although Calgary - especially in the areas near downtown - has plenty of young progressive people, they are far outnumbered by bigoted, racist and regressive individuals who think everything they read in the Calgary Sun is factual news (part of the reason I could stand the place no longer and left just over 2 years ago).
    Some may think that electing a Liberal to replace Ralph Klein in his Calgary riding shows there is hope for the city, but the reality is that it was simply a protest vote against the new Premier and Conservatives will remain as the unopposed and unaccountable rulers of their fiefdom for years to come.
  55. mike sty from Canada writes: Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes:
    Canadians deserve a Minister of Defence that tells the truth ....

    --------------------

    Would be nice but this goes against the main charter rule of Canada's New Minority Gov't.

    Start a LIE
    Repeat it over and over and over..............
    Louder and Louder and Louder
    and soon it becomes truth.

    Why Can't this PM tell the Truth???

    What's Canada's New Minority Gov't have against honesty??

    Can Harper ever be Trusted ???
  56. Jack Ryan from Toronto, Canada writes: Don Adams writes: 'I have very little respect for today's 'Press'' ... Then why do you spend your retirement reading, and posting on, the Globe's website? (I'm assuming there is no way you have a job considering the volume and frequency of your 'intellectually stimulating' comments).
  57. Robin M. from Canada writes: Thank you Robert P. you make good points about the press.

    ...................Harper is not to be trusted and is showing more and more that he is not worthy of the office he holds. He seems incapable of providing 'off the cuff' interviews. Everything has to be 'on the message', a speech from the pulpit. He takes no questions, unless vetted first... And now by allowing Hillier, a general and unelected member of the Government, to make such statements to do with Government policy, is disgraceful..........................Harper is not to be trusted... Our Canadian values are being undermined by this government and hopefully those who have forgotten their 'thinking' hats and replaced them with 'blinkers', will wake up before the Canada we know and love is railroaded by a PM, who governs by controlled speeches, spin and misinformation being thrown at Canadians.

    'Anyone one but Harper stickers' are being seen more and more.... Hopefully the wave will continue....
  58. Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes: Pete Kauchak: as a response to your 10:28 comment.
    'Gen. Hillier's role in the Access to Information process is carried out by the Strategic Joint Staff, a recently formed strategy unit within his office.'
    I deducted from 'recently formed...' that this Conservative's 'Strategic Joint Staff' was, well, recently formed.
    As far as the comment that you can't remember any other 'war' given more access. When did this 'NATO misssion' become a 'war?' You're probably more accurate in your term, though.
    As far as open access. We are experiencing a Minister of Foreign Affairs who often contradicts the Minister of Defence who doesn't always walk in step with General Hillier, who takes his script handed to him by the PMO.
    The PM should invite the Opposition Leaders to Afghanistan to view the happenings for themselves.
    A first step to remove the fog of war.
  59. Stude Ham from Outremont, Canada writes:

    A Canuck from Ottawa, Canada writes: Stude Ham from Outremont, Canada

    Stude ...you want to know what Harper has up his sleeves, read his last election campaign promises and watch the news, he delivers one by one on his promises...
    *

    Promises? Like the Income trust thingy dealy? Like the Open, Accountable guvmint? Like Fortier from Quebec? :like Wajid Khan? Like massive costs to the softwood lumber industry? Like Emerson? Like idiots in cabinet like doris, flakey, oda, clementine, etc... like massive provincial-federal discord? ...

    *
    DUMP HARPER!
  60. Bill G from Calgary, Canada writes: Hey Jack. We don't miss ya!
  61. Shawn Bull from Canada writes: Stude Ham: Are you even talking about Canada?

    Stude you are going to misserable for awhile because Harper and the Tories are not going anywhere. Nobody wants an election (look at the numbers for all parties), Canadians are scared to death of Dion (again look at the numbers - Harper is 3 times more porular than Dion), and people are not angry with the overall performance of this government.

    I expect a couple more years of minority government and then a Tory majority when people realize that the Tories have a good government.

    Stude- the angry young man.
  62. mike sty from Canada writes: ack Ryan from Toronto, Canada writes: Then why do you spend your retirement reading, and posting on, the Globe's website?
    -----------------------

    His paper, the Western Standard does not allow a truly democratic posting, comment board such as what the Globe has. (a real newspaper)
  63. Don Adams from Canada writes: Mike Sty, I live in Eastern Canada. Never read the Western Standard. :-)
  64. Trillian Rand from Canada writes: I entirely agree with the government. We should not be told anything about our military operations anywhere. We should stop these heart-wrenching TV articles that show young men and women bravely going off to Afghanistan, we should stop telling the world who they are and where they live, we should stop announcing Canadian casualties, stop showing ramp ceremonies and mile long funeral processions. We should shut up and get behind the mission. The less we know, the better we'll be able to support it and the more just our cause will seem to be.

    We don't need to see smiling men and women in uniform as they board planes overseas. We certainly don't need folksy-homey pictures of our troops eagerly listening to the Prime Minister on one of his many visits, don't need the Canada Day wishes form our men and women in uniform. These things only muddy the cause. Please, Mr Harper, keep us in the dark. We don't want to know what is going on. Shut down all media access to information about the military. That's what the president of Pakistan, General Musharraf, has done. Follow his lead. He knows what he's doing. He does. He really does.
  65. David Smith from Toronto, Canada writes: Don.... you are at Mensa level? I guess all us idealists have finally met our match. I hadn't realised that when you take a simple concept like US GOOD, THEM BAD that you just stop right there and abandon further thought on the matter. Silly us, trying to complicate a clearly black and white situation by dabbing everything in grey paint.
  66. Byron Rottweiller from vancouver, Canada writes: A Canuck from Ottawa - I totally agree. In a time of war, the Canadian public has no right to interfere with the political or military leadership.
    The War on Terror, which needs to continue until every last Islamist militant has been shot or incarcerated, will last for generations, and require a total commitment from the West.

    Until then, we should suspend parliament and democracy, as they are just getting in the way.

    Those who oppose our government, especially Mr. Harper, are traitors and terrorist sympathizers and should be treated accordingly. (nudge, nudge, wink wink)

    The Liberal agenda has created all of this. They are to blame. The Conservatives are our only hope.

    Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil!
  67. Rick Clarke from Edmonton, Canada writes: 'THE TRUTH!? YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH! Son, we live in a world that has walls. And those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Who's gonna do it? You?' ... A few Good Men(1992)
  68. mike sty from Canada writes: Trillian Rand from Canada 11:03 post
    ----------

    And remember when Harper promised and ran on 'OPEN and TRANSPARENT, and ACCOUNTABLE' gov't??

    Why does this PM LIE?

    Can We Really Trust Harper??
  69. FREE FROGGY from Mississauga, Canada writes: I think we should worry more about how-thanks to the Liberals-we have laws with no bite,when it comes to gun crimes in this country!
    Iguess;however,that if the liberals can keep us focused on the poor downtrodden Taliban pow's then it will distract us from realizing how they have truly screwed this nation in so many ways!
  70. Don Adams from Canada writes: Match, David? Sorry, but idealists aren't even in the stadium :-)

    Now, come to me, dis-agreeing, but open minded as to reality and possible necessary compromise, and I'm quite willing to discuss issues. Unfortunately, idealists are uncompromising creatures, so convinced in their own minds that they're correct and everyone else is wrong, eyes totally closed to reality, that it's impossible to hold a sane conversation with one. That being the case, why bother even trying? I don't. Having views to the left of the spectrum is fine, as leftists can and do accept reality and are willing to compromise. True centrists, be they slightly left or slightly right wing can always get along, as both are willing to compromise in order to face reality. However, individuals that cross over the line to idealism, be they right wing or left wing idealists, are just sick puppies, and only worth ignoring or insulting. I could ignore them, I suppose, but find it fun to listen to them squeal when I insult them, so that's just what I do. :-)
  71. Pete Kauchak from Cascadia, Canada writes: Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes:,

    'I deducted from 'recently formed...' that this Conservative's 'Strategic Joint Staff' was, well, recently formed.'

    The problem is how recent 2007,2006,2005? Context is everything and of course the article is not specific.

    'As far as the comment that you can't remember any other 'war' given more access. When did this 'NATO misssion' become a 'war?' You're probably more accurate in your term, though.'

    I guess it's more of a guerrilla war than one in the conventional sense - that of two or more countries declaring war on each other.

    'As far as open access. We are experiencing a Minister of Foreign Affairs who often contradicts the Minister of Defence who doesn't always walk in step with General Hillier, who takes his script handed to him by the PMO.'

    Cross departmental communication has always been bad. I even heard Craig Oliver on Question Period suggest that the government setup a 'war cabinet' to deal with these issues. If DND says we handed over 4 prisoners and Foreign Affairs says 2, does that mean the Minister's are lying or does one department lack information the other one has?

    'The PM should invite the Opposition Leaders to Afghanistan to view the happenings for themselves.A first step to remove the fog of war.'

    Why? They will ignore everything good and just focus on the bad - just like how they selectively filter information in the Defense Committee meetings to make the government look bad. It's been generally partisan all around.
  72. Robert P from Montreal, Canada writes: Don Adams, I will not disagree with you that the press is less honourable and civilized than it once was (actually, I think we can say in general society is less so). Bias is a harder subject to tackle. First, many confuse the perspective of an individual journalist as bias, it is not. Also, editorials are allowed to have bias. Finally, of course there are some bad journalists out there that give the media a bad name. All that said, for the government to start to shut out the media is alarming to many since it is seen as part of political transparency. I can tell you do not, but the question is can you see why this does alarm many? Where I find we really don’t see eye-to-eye is when you state that the press’ job is not as the opposition. First I never used those words. The press’ job is to be vigilant and be the eyes and ears. Not to just report on what is being said but to question. The famous example of this is the US Watergate scandal and I can assure you Nixon wished the press just sat back and report. So, here we are. To state it a bit simply, it seems you want the press to just rewrite speeches and press releases and I want them to cause some trouble. Fair. That does not stop the fact that the charter section 2, subsection b states every has the “freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication”. The press is within its right to ask and to report it and to say they have no right because you see them as being some de facto opposition is not my problem. The fact that the current government chooses to take this course with the press they will have to answer to at an election.
  73. Bill G from Calgary, Canada writes: The only reason Coderre is upset is that he loses 'ammunition' to prosecute the war against Canada. He's more concerned about the Taliban than his own countrymen. He's more concerned about the next sound bite than his own countrymen. He's pathetic compared to the last 2 or 3 Liberal defense ministers (excluding that ex-NDP'er Dosanjih).
  74. Catherine Wilkie from Canada writes: Pete Kauchak: That is where the rubber meets the road. Your animosity towards the Opposition and the media.
    Harper effectively used the media when in Opposition. His disdain for them seemed to give voice at about the same time that his own actions, when in power, came under scrutiny. Suddenly, he needed a psychic/dress up maven, scripted press announcements, filtered questions from Conservative friendly journalists, and scripted Members of Parliament.
    Harper has entrenched himself as the sole voice of this gov't by his own direction.
    Few Canadians will feel sorry for the guy who scripted his own folly.
  75. Dave Jansen from Canada writes: Wow the neo-cons have their hard ons over this!

    Listen silly neo-cons, Real Canadians demand an open and accountable government. Only the Americans and other religious-fundamentalists do this type of thing.

    DEMAND AN ELECTION NOW!

    CANADA CANNOT AFFORED ANY MORE OF HARPER!!!
  76. Dave Jansen from Canada writes: LOL!!!

    Don Adams thinks he's a centrist. Yes Don, centrists advocate kicking people out of the country because they don't agree with them....

    Centrist's threaten everyone with law suits when they don't agree with them...

    LOL!!! - Hahaha - you keep thinking that there Donnie boy!

    The only one who believes you are centrist is you, R McNulty, J Luft, and Krazy Karol. All of you are true centrists... hahahahaha! You represent the conservative party to a tee!!!
  77. Robert P from Montreal, Canada writes: Bill G from Calgary, I would worry more about Minister O'Connor than MP Coderre. Remember that Minister O’Connor admitted in a press release that he gave incorrect information in parliament. Something that in a time of honour he would have to resign. But politics is politics. I can think of times when Liberals acted similarly. So, forget left/right, liberal/conservative and just ask yourself if you feel this minister and this issue are being handled correctly. At least try to see why so many are upset.
  78. Shawn Bull from Canada writes: Dave Jansen: Wish in one hand and crap in the other and see which one fills up first.

    YOU may WANT a new government but Canadians don't want to go to an election. How angry must the Candian people be if they are saying 'keep the status quo'.

    ...but don't let that stop you from being angry...it appears that all the left-leaners are angry these days....and for the record Canada CAN afford more Harper because the economy has been stronger under this government than the last........oooooooooooooooooohhh that hurt!!
  79. Trillian Rand from Canada writes: mike sty: I remember. I guess Mr Harper uses different definitions of open and transparent and accountable than the rest of us do.

    It's about time we started pinning some of our representatives down. For instance, what did Mr Emerson really mean when he said he would be the worst enemy the Conservatives had? Oh, right. We found out didn't we?

    And what did Mr Harper mean when he talked about Senate reform? Oh, right, he meant appointing unaccountable Cabinet ministers.

    And what did Mr Harper mean when he said we wouldn't recognize Canada when he was through with it? Well, I guess we're learning about that too.
  80. Shawn Bull from Canada writes: Trillian Rand: And what did Mr Harper mean when he said we wouldn't recognize Canada when he was through with it? - Martin said that not Harper.

    And what did Mr Harper mean when he talked about Senate reform? - He meant elected Senators with 8 year terms...you know the bill that the Liberal senate is trying to block.

    For instance, what did Mr Emerson really mean when he said he would be the worst enemy the Conservatives had? - Emerson said that..while a Liberal.

    ooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhh that hurt!!
  81. Don Adams from Canada writes: Robert P. I just re-read your first post and you're quite correct, you never did use the words opposition. Yes, there are more than 'some' bad journalists out there. However, the shutting out of the journalists is not necessarily a bad thing. Yes, it does look that way, because for the past 40 years it's been open....I say, too open. The press certainly didn't have the freedom, the openess to give opinions to the same extent as today, pre Trudeau. Some say this is good, some say it's bad. A matter of personal opinion I guess. But to say Harper is wrong? Again, he's wrong, for some, right, for others. Now we come to my BIG bugbear, the Charter. I do feel we should have a charter, but I've felt from the beginning, this one is broken to the point it can't be fixed.... we need to chuck it out and start fresh. Too many examples to get into here. Finally, to end it, we do agree. Wether this Government is correct or not, wether people accept their