Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Bush names new World Bank head...alphabetically
Wolfensohn, Wolfowitz...now Zoellick. He did it. He named him alphabetically.
Gordon O'Connor - heartless liar
Canadian Press reports that the frustrated and heartbroken parents of a Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan are set to speak out today to contradict Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor's claim that the military is paying the full cost of soldiers' funerals.
The couple, who say they were short-changed on the cost of burying their son said that they'll reveal their identity at a news conference on Parliament Hill. Their son was killed last year in a roadside bombing and they say they have been reimbursed less than half the cost of his funeral.
The whole experience has been painful and excruciating, said one family member. ``We've been more than patient,'' he said. ``We don't want our names revealed until (Wednesday) because we don't want the phone ringing off the hook.''
Steve, take my advice, after lying about detainee abuse and now this, FIRE HIS ASS!
The couple, who say they were short-changed on the cost of burying their son said that they'll reveal their identity at a news conference on Parliament Hill. Their son was killed last year in a roadside bombing and they say they have been reimbursed less than half the cost of his funeral.
The whole experience has been painful and excruciating, said one family member. ``We've been more than patient,'' he said. ``We don't want our names revealed until (Wednesday) because we don't want the phone ringing off the hook.''
Steve, take my advice, after lying about detainee abuse and now this, FIRE HIS ASS!
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
New Tory negative ads
The new Tory negative ads are out. In general, they're a piece of crap. I did enjoy the spoof blog by his dog Kyoto.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Congrats to Rob Ghiz
Robert Ghiz returned to Prince Edward Island from Ottawa and is now Premier Ghiz. All I can say is "Hey Buddy. How ya doin?"
Jean-Pierre Blackburn: how many strikes before you're out?
Ooops. Whaddaya mean you can't double dip? Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn granted a $25,000 contract to a staffer in his riding office who was already a full-time employee on the federal payroll, documents show. First the hidden travel claims, now this. How much of this old time politics will Steve put up with?
Interview with Bernie Sanders
Back from a weekend in Vermont and thought I'd share an interview with the state's junior Senator, Bernie Sanders from the Washington Post.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
There shall be no criticicsm of my government Part II
The Province shows how Steve likes to control the spin cycle.
There shall be no criticism of my government Part I
A June 2 meeting between Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Canada's provincial and territorial leaders has been postponed indefinitely. Mr. Harper surprised many by letting it be known he wanted to have the premiers over for a meal on June 2 before he heads off to this year's G8 Summit in Germany.
But I guess the era of federal-provincial peace announced in the Federal budget did not work out too well and we have seen the intolerance for debate or dissent from this minority government recently. I guess Steve's psychic image consultant told him that this one would end badly with Gordon Campbell passing out in his gazpacho and Shawn Graham giving PM Steve an atomic wedgie.
But I guess the era of federal-provincial peace announced in the Federal budget did not work out too well and we have seen the intolerance for debate or dissent from this minority government recently. I guess Steve's psychic image consultant told him that this one would end badly with Gordon Campbell passing out in his gazpacho and Shawn Graham giving PM Steve an atomic wedgie.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Oh what a perfect day
On a beautiful long weekend in the Nation's capital: The BBQ is humming, the Ottawa Senators are in the Stanley Cup finals, The The is playing and PM Steve's chicken's are coming home to roost...pass me a cold one - life doesn't get any better.
Friday, May 18, 2007
So much for snap elections
Remember when Yushchenko called snap elections for May 27? Remember when people doubted his resolve? Remember when yours truly thought that the Ukrainian President had grown a backbone? Well...
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT SAYS EARLY POLLS TO BE HELD BEFORE OCTOBER.
President Yushchenko said at a forum of investors in Kyiv on May 18 that pre-term parliamentary elections will be staged earlier than in October. The Party of Regions led by Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych has suggested October as the most probable period for early polls.
Yushchenko's decree of April 26 scheduled snap elections for June 24. "The elections will not be held in October, we should not play with this [idea]. We need a rapid and democratic reaction to the crisis," Yushchenko said. "[Ukraine] will surprise Europe and the world by how wisely and correctly, with respect to the political realities and without even a hint of a forcible scenario, it can hold fair pre-term parliamentary elections," the Ukrainian president added.
Meanwhile, parliamentary speaker Oleksandr Moroz said at a conference of legal experts in Kyiv the same day that early elections in Ukraine can be staged no sooner than in November, and only after the introduction of amendments to the constitution.
UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT SAYS EARLY POLLS TO BE HELD BEFORE OCTOBER.
President Yushchenko said at a forum of investors in Kyiv on May 18 that pre-term parliamentary elections will be staged earlier than in October. The Party of Regions led by Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych has suggested October as the most probable period for early polls.
Yushchenko's decree of April 26 scheduled snap elections for June 24. "The elections will not be held in October, we should not play with this [idea]. We need a rapid and democratic reaction to the crisis," Yushchenko said. "[Ukraine] will surprise Europe and the world by how wisely and correctly, with respect to the political realities and without even a hint of a forcible scenario, it can hold fair pre-term parliamentary elections," the Ukrainian president added.
Meanwhile, parliamentary speaker Oleksandr Moroz said at a conference of legal experts in Kyiv the same day that early elections in Ukraine can be staged no sooner than in November, and only after the introduction of amendments to the constitution.
The Obstructionists Handbook
Don Martin, in today's Calgary Herald describes in a secret handbook on committees for Conservative MPs how to unleash chaos while chairing parliamentary committees.
Does someone remember them pining about decorum? A minority government acting with arrogance as though it reflects the will of the majority of Canadians.
Their secret manual runs some 200 pages, the document given only to Conservative chairmen tells them how to favour government agendas, select party-friendly witnesses, coach favourable testimony, set in motion debate-obstructing delays and, if necessary, storm out of meetings to grind business to a halt.
Government Whip Jay Hill called Tory chairs to his office for a refresher course on advancing the government agenda over opposition objections. A source at that meeting told Martin that Hill "lavished praise on the chairs who caused disruptions and admonished those who prefer to lead through consensus."
The Cons new campaign slogan, "Not getting things done for Canadians."
Does someone remember them pining about decorum? A minority government acting with arrogance as though it reflects the will of the majority of Canadians.
Their secret manual runs some 200 pages, the document given only to Conservative chairmen tells them how to favour government agendas, select party-friendly witnesses, coach favourable testimony, set in motion debate-obstructing delays and, if necessary, storm out of meetings to grind business to a halt.
Government Whip Jay Hill called Tory chairs to his office for a refresher course on advancing the government agenda over opposition objections. A source at that meeting told Martin that Hill "lavished praise on the chairs who caused disruptions and admonished those who prefer to lead through consensus."
The Cons new campaign slogan, "Not getting things done for Canadians."
Springtime nudists arrive in Vermont town
Associated Press reports that spring has arrived in the southeastern Vermont town of Brattleboro known for its live-and-let-live culture. The trees are less bare, and some local residents are more so.
Resident Theresa Toney said she was dining at a downtown restaurant when she spotted this spring's first naked person. She looked out the window "and saw a man in his 60s walking up and down Main Street totally nude," she told the Brattleboro Reformer newspaper. "This is indecent exposure where it doesn't belong."
Vermont has no state law, and Brattleboro no ordinance, against public nudity, although police charged a man Wednesday with lewd and lascivious conduct.
Someone videotaped Adhi Palar "performing acts of lewdness involving his genitals and some clothing" while he danced nude on a downtown street, police Capt. Gene Wrinn said, without elaborating. "He was getting some looks, and we got some complaints."
Palar, 20, of Brattleboro, could receive up to five years in jail if convicted.
There was no phone listing for Palar, and Wrinn said he did not know whether he had an attorney.
Last year, Toney became one of the town's most vocal critics of allowing people to bare it all in public after a groups of young people caused a stir by stripping naked in a downtown parking lot.
This week she was back before the Select Board, demanding to know what the town was going to do "about this behavior."
Audrey Garfield, chairwoman of the board, said she had spoken with the town manager, and that a log of complaints would be compiled.
Some are worried about the town's image.
"How do you want to be viewed as Brattleboro?" asked the Rev. Kevin Horion. "We want to welcome families with small children."
Nudists could pop up anywhere, he said. "I am concerned we don't know where they are going to strike."
Resident Theresa Toney said she was dining at a downtown restaurant when she spotted this spring's first naked person. She looked out the window "and saw a man in his 60s walking up and down Main Street totally nude," she told the Brattleboro Reformer newspaper. "This is indecent exposure where it doesn't belong."
Vermont has no state law, and Brattleboro no ordinance, against public nudity, although police charged a man Wednesday with lewd and lascivious conduct.
Someone videotaped Adhi Palar "performing acts of lewdness involving his genitals and some clothing" while he danced nude on a downtown street, police Capt. Gene Wrinn said, without elaborating. "He was getting some looks, and we got some complaints."
Palar, 20, of Brattleboro, could receive up to five years in jail if convicted.
There was no phone listing for Palar, and Wrinn said he did not know whether he had an attorney.
Last year, Toney became one of the town's most vocal critics of allowing people to bare it all in public after a groups of young people caused a stir by stripping naked in a downtown parking lot.
This week she was back before the Select Board, demanding to know what the town was going to do "about this behavior."
Audrey Garfield, chairwoman of the board, said she had spoken with the town manager, and that a log of complaints would be compiled.
Some are worried about the town's image.
"How do you want to be viewed as Brattleboro?" asked the Rev. Kevin Horion. "We want to welcome families with small children."
Nudists could pop up anywhere, he said. "I am concerned we don't know where they are going to strike."
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Power, corruption and Lies
More from your friendly neighbourhood Tory crappy government:
- What is the Parliamentary term for bottom-feeding Senator Marjorie Lebreton in her latest fiasco? Can't think of anything that doesn't rhyme with bum scucket...
- You know you're in trouble when Arnold Schwarzenager's environmental advisor nails your bag to the wall, as CP reports.
OTTAWA -- Arnold Schwarzenegger's environmental adviser suggests the Canadian government's climate-change plan should be terminated -- or at least significantly improved.
Terry Tamminen will accompany the California governor during a three-day trip that begins later this month to Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa, where Schwarzenegger is expected to meet Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
He says the Conservative government is making the same mistake as the
Bush administration in the U.S. by failing to take urgent action.
"I don't think the plan itself is commensurate with the threat," Tamminen said in an
interview. "Our federal governments are, frankly, asleep at the switch."
His criticism of the plan follows rebukes from former U.S. vice-president Al Gore, Canadian environmentalist David Suzuki, and from the head of the international body that oversees the Kyoto treaty. "Both of our countries ... need to take this problem more seriously and we've got to develop more aggressive targets."
Tamminen said state and provincial governments have succeeded where national ones have failed, and applauded examples set by Manitoba and British Columbia.
B.C. plans to join several U.S. states under a carbon-trading system proposed by Schwarzenegger.3. Susan Riley laments the abuse of power by the Conservative front bench in today's Citizen.
4. PM Steve likes to talk a lot about accountability, but that is for everyone else. The Globe and Mail notes that he is evoking Parliameentary privilege rather than appearing in court to explain some shady backroom deals.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Ready, fire, aim...
A day after slamming his own government for having a so-called`"race-based" West Coast Fishery, Conservative MP and certified wingnut John Cummins called on Trade Minister David Emerson yesterday to kill the Pacific Gateway Transport corridor project aimed at improving transportation in British Columbia. Anyone who has spent time in the Lower Mainland knows the absolute need for adequate infrastructure, apparently Cummins thinks products should be airlifted or teleported to the ports.
Cummins said Ottawa should launch public consultations and bring in world experts to ensure all steps are taken to mitigate the project's impact on the environment and quality of life in Delta, Surrey, Langley and other parts of B.C.'s heavily-populated Lower Mainland.
"It makes no sense to push ahead and spend all of this money on a port that makes the communities adjacent to it little more than doormats on which passing freight wipes its feet and leaves nothing but misery and disruption behind," he said in a statement.
Cummins, increasingly at odds with Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government, issued a news release shortly after B.C. Tory MP James Moore rose in the House of Commons to extol the Tory government's latest installment of $360 million.
Umm, err, what he said...
Cummins said Ottawa should launch public consultations and bring in world experts to ensure all steps are taken to mitigate the project's impact on the environment and quality of life in Delta, Surrey, Langley and other parts of B.C.'s heavily-populated Lower Mainland.
"It makes no sense to push ahead and spend all of this money on a port that makes the communities adjacent to it little more than doormats on which passing freight wipes its feet and leaves nothing but misery and disruption behind," he said in a statement.
Cummins, increasingly at odds with Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government, issued a news release shortly after B.C. Tory MP James Moore rose in the House of Commons to extol the Tory government's latest installment of $360 million.
Umm, err, what he said...
CONSERVATIVE SLEAZE UPDATE
The Conservative Party is trying to put the boots to a trial that could shed light on secret backroom deals that paved the way for the candidacies of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Public Works Minister Stockwell Day.
Mr. Harper has hired a lawyer to represent him at a proceeding being held this week to determine whether there was implied confidentiality in the Conservative Party's agreement with Alan Riddell, who gave up the nomination in the riding of Ottawa South so the Tories could run a high-profile candidate.
The Conservatives are recommending that the trial should be adjourned — a position Mr. Riddell's lawyer says may have been influenced by the fact that details of similar agreements made for Harper and Day could be called as evidence.
I love the smell of sanctimonious hyprocisy in the morning...
Mr. Harper has hired a lawyer to represent him at a proceeding being held this week to determine whether there was implied confidentiality in the Conservative Party's agreement with Alan Riddell, who gave up the nomination in the riding of Ottawa South so the Tories could run a high-profile candidate.
The Conservatives are recommending that the trial should be adjourned — a position Mr. Riddell's lawyer says may have been influenced by the fact that details of similar agreements made for Harper and Day could be called as evidence.
I love the smell of sanctimonious hyprocisy in the morning...
Conservative apologizes for calling immigrants "Imports"
Le conservateur Harvey s'excuse d'avoir traité les immigrants d'importés
OTTAWA (PC) _ Le député conservateur de la région de Québec, Luc Harvey, a présenté ses excuses, lundi, à la Chambre des communes, pour des mots qu'il a
prononcés la semaine dernière.
Vendredi, M. Harvey avait traité les immigrants d'importés alors qu'il faisait une déclaration pour vanter des joueurs de soccer de son comté. Le mot "importés" avait soulevé la colère de la députée bloquiste Vivian Barbot qui en avait immédiatement fait un appel au règlement, réclamant des excuses publiques.
C'est ce à quoi le député Harvey s'est prêté, lundi, après la période des questions. Lisant bien attentivement une déclaration écrite, contrairement à vendredi alors qu'il avait improvisé son intervention, le député conservateur a dit regretter sincèrement ce qu'il a appelé une erreur langagière.
Friday, May 11, 2007
That's what happens when you pick the head of the bank alphabetically
European leaders have told the Bush administration that Paul Wolfowitz must resign as President of the World Bank in order to avoid a vote next week by the bank’s board declaring that he no longer has its confidence to function as the bank’s leader.
European officials said yesterday that the board was drafting a resolution reflecting its view that the relationship between Mr. Wolfowitz and the governing body of the bank had “broken beyond repair.” They noted that, if he remained in office, some European countries were planning to reduce contributions to the World Bank that would aid poor countries and instead would channel the money to European agencies and other groups for distribution.
Check out whole story in today's NYTimes piece.
European officials said yesterday that the board was drafting a resolution reflecting its view that the relationship between Mr. Wolfowitz and the governing body of the bank had “broken beyond repair.” They noted that, if he remained in office, some European countries were planning to reduce contributions to the World Bank that would aid poor countries and instead would channel the money to European agencies and other groups for distribution.
Check out whole story in today's NYTimes piece.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
I wonder if he likes pumpernickel...
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Sudanese man forced to "marry" goat
According to the BBC, a Sudanese man was forced to take a goat as his wife after he was caught having sex with the animal. In an unrelated story, the Canadian federal Tories have been caught in several more lies this week, including Transport Minister Lawrence Cannon who hid his travel expenses, John Baird who tried to arrest a whistle-blower who decried his government's laughable environmental policies and this from a government with the gaul to introduce a new accountability bill. I think that the above-mentioned goat probably feels the same way as many Canadians do about this government. Oh yeah, did I mention the Tory 3 amigos impersonator, the psychic and the 9/11 freak? Canadians have every right to be disappointed in the Conservatives, and besides, at least the goat owner got $50!
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
What Brown and Jaffer were discussing...
I linked earlier to a story about Conservative MP Gord Brown watching the planes crashing into the twin towers while his buddy Rahim Jaffer was ogling bouncy girls on a laptop in the House of Commons yesterday. Apparently, this activity was keeping Brown too busy to deal with correspondence from constitutents. He did, however, pick up a pointer from Jaffer on how to get your staffer to impersonate you.
A red-faced Tory MP is apologizing after his assistant impersonated him --and provided false information -- in an e-mail exchange with a constituent over the hot-button issue of Afghan detainees.The turnip truck called, it's missing some bumpkins who fell off. Somebody help these guys before they get hurt.
An e-mail from Gord Brown's parliamentary office, dated May 2, claimed that every alleged case of abuse involving Afghan detainees had been investigated and proven to be unfounded. That despite the fact the Afghan government has yet to finish an
investigation into the torture claims.
Your tax dollars at work
Pain in the Grits describes what Conservative MPs do to keep busy in the House of Commons here, nice
Do as we say...
The Hill Times newspaper reports that former Tory national campaign co-chair and registered lobbyist, John Reynolds, says he can again work on the next national campaign because he is lobbying only on a volunteer basis.
Last month the Conservative Party in an effort to maintain the perception of a get-tough approach to insider lobbying, decided to ban lobbyists from working on its next national campaign.
Reynolds typifies the Conservatives' "Accountability for everyone else" approach to government.
Last month the Conservative Party in an effort to maintain the perception of a get-tough approach to insider lobbying, decided to ban lobbyists from working on its next national campaign.
Reynolds typifies the Conservatives' "Accountability for everyone else" approach to government.
New Scandal rocks RCMP
A consulting company named in an audit of the RCMP pension fund as receiving contracts under an irregular process was benefiting from a $380,000 deal with the national police force as recently as January this year, documents obtained by CTV show.
Casey Computing Solutions Inc. was awarded $3.2-million worth of consulting contracts with the RCMP between 2002 and 2004, the documents show.
But a 2005 audit done by the international company KPMG showed that some of those deals were improperly tendered. One of them allowed the company's owner, Kim Casey, to put her husband, Pat, on the payroll, which boosted the price incurred by the federal government by $675 a day.
Casey Computing Solutions Inc. was awarded $3.2-million worth of consulting contracts with the RCMP between 2002 and 2004, the documents show.
But a 2005 audit done by the international company KPMG showed that some of those deals were improperly tendered. One of them allowed the company's owner, Kim Casey, to put her husband, Pat, on the payroll, which boosted the price incurred by the federal government by $675 a day.
Someone must have a fetish at the RCMP
Maybe it's just me, but this story about a "body parts registry" at the RCMP just struck me as odd. Let's start with registering the guns and enforcing the laws, shall we?
Man caught trying to sell 2 kids on internet
The internet is a good tool for police to catch weirdos who try to sell children.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
PROACTIVE DISCLOSURE
Proactive Disclosure - that is the term that was used to describe the posting on the internet of expenses by politicians and their staff, a practise implemented in Canada by the previous Liberal government and carried over by Canada's New Conservative government...except for Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn who didn't get the memo and racked up another $150k in travel expenses and didn't make them public...oops.
Wow -
Spent the weekend working on a project due tomorrow. Found out this evening that Tiger Woods won in dramatic fashion. Nice to know that there are some things youcan count on: beautiful May/spring weather, political craziness in Ukraine and Tiger Woods winning golf tournaments. To be honest, I am quite glad that weather in Ottawa has improved to allow for more BBQing and walking in the Byward market.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister is in town tomorrow. Will update in the evening.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister is in town tomorrow. Will update in the evening.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Borat's Brother Composes for Kazak Orchestra
Erran Baron Cohen, brother of the actor Sacha Baron Cohen -- who created the hit film "Borat" -- has composed a 16-minute musical piece, "Zere,'' which is debuting at St. James's Church in London today.Here's the kicker: It will be performed by The West Kazakhstan Philharmonic Orchestra.
I wonder what the menu will be?
Queen Elizabeth II will be the guest of honour for a "white tie" event at the White House, I wonder what the menu will be? No pork rinds and pretzels for W...
Friday, May 04, 2007
They knew and they lied
For 2 weeks now, the government has said that they had no knowledge that detainees were being tortured. The below story shows that to be patently false. One of the reasons that we have the Geneva Conventions is to prevent the torture of prisoners captured in military conflict. The government denied knowledge of torture. They knew and they lied. Who knew what and when....
OTTAWA--“Canadian troops in Kandahar were so disturbed by the beating of a prisoner they had just transferred to the Afghan police force that they demanded to have the man returned to their care, a top soldier says in a sworn affidavit.
The testimony of Col. Steve Noonan, a former senior commander on the Afghan mission, casts doubt on the claims of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and senior ministers that they had no specific reports of abuse of prisoners in
Afghanistan.
Noonan tells of at least one detainee who got a rough ride after being handed over to the Afghan National Police (ANP). And he says it's documented in the military's own reports.
"The CF (Canadian Forces) learned that detainee had been beaten by the local ANP. When they learned of this, they approached the local ANP and requested that the detainee be given to them," Noonan said.
"The ANP complied and the CF subsequently transferred the detainee to the Provincial ANP."
In the midst of controversy regarding abuse of prisoners after they are handed over by Canadian troops to Afghan authorities, the two countries signed a new prisoner-transfer agreement yesterday.
Noonan gave his sworn statement this week as part of the government's response to legal proceedings launched by human rights advocates. But in attempting to show how the Canadian Forces use discretion in the handling of detainees he appears to have given ammunition to critics of the government's policy.
In legal proceedings prior to a scheduled court hearing yesterday, the government stymied efforts by the lawyer for Amnesty International Canada, one of two groups seeking an injunction on prisoner transfers, to get more details when he cross-examined Noonan.
Questions to Noonan on Wednesday about the date of the incident, even the medical condition of the prisoner, were blocked by justice department lawyer Sanderson Graham.
"When did that incident occur?" asked Paul Champ, the Amnesty lawyer.
"We object to that question," Graham replied.
"On what basis?"
"On the basis of national security," Graham said.
"It threatens Canada's national security to know when the Canadian Forces observed local Afghan National Police beating a detainee that they transferred to that unit?" Champ said.
"We object to any questions on this incident generally," Graham replied.
Ottawa law professor Amir Attaran, who has been active on the detainee issue, charged yesterday that the federal government is covering up reports of mistreatment of prisoners.
"Canada is aware of specific allegations and even specific instances of torture that are being kept secret," he said. Defence department officials referred queries about the incident to foreign affairs staff, who were not able to respond.
OTTAWA--“Canadian troops in Kandahar were so disturbed by the beating of a prisoner they had just transferred to the Afghan police force that they demanded to have the man returned to their care, a top soldier says in a sworn affidavit.
The testimony of Col. Steve Noonan, a former senior commander on the Afghan mission, casts doubt on the claims of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and senior ministers that they had no specific reports of abuse of prisoners in
Afghanistan.
Noonan tells of at least one detainee who got a rough ride after being handed over to the Afghan National Police (ANP). And he says it's documented in the military's own reports.
"The CF (Canadian Forces) learned that detainee had been beaten by the local ANP. When they learned of this, they approached the local ANP and requested that the detainee be given to them," Noonan said.
"The ANP complied and the CF subsequently transferred the detainee to the Provincial ANP."
In the midst of controversy regarding abuse of prisoners after they are handed over by Canadian troops to Afghan authorities, the two countries signed a new prisoner-transfer agreement yesterday.
Noonan gave his sworn statement this week as part of the government's response to legal proceedings launched by human rights advocates. But in attempting to show how the Canadian Forces use discretion in the handling of detainees he appears to have given ammunition to critics of the government's policy.
In legal proceedings prior to a scheduled court hearing yesterday, the government stymied efforts by the lawyer for Amnesty International Canada, one of two groups seeking an injunction on prisoner transfers, to get more details when he cross-examined Noonan.
Questions to Noonan on Wednesday about the date of the incident, even the medical condition of the prisoner, were blocked by justice department lawyer Sanderson Graham.
"When did that incident occur?" asked Paul Champ, the Amnesty lawyer.
"We object to that question," Graham replied.
"On what basis?"
"On the basis of national security," Graham said.
"It threatens Canada's national security to know when the Canadian Forces observed local Afghan National Police beating a detainee that they transferred to that unit?" Champ said.
"We object to any questions on this incident generally," Graham replied.
Ottawa law professor Amir Attaran, who has been active on the detainee issue, charged yesterday that the federal government is covering up reports of mistreatment of prisoners.
"Canada is aware of specific allegations and even specific instances of torture that are being kept secret," he said. Defence department officials referred queries about the incident to foreign affairs staff, who were not able to respond.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Ukraine's Foreign Minister visits Canada and US
It appears that Peter MacKay's special someone has eyes for Ukraine's Foreign Minister. Wonder how long before MacKay calls Condie a dog as well.In all seriousness, AP reports that Ukraine's Foreign Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk assured U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Ukraine will adhere to democratic standards in resolving its current political crisis.
Yatsenyuk said President Viktor Yushchenko was seeking a compromise with Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych over the president's order to dissolve Parliament and his call for new elections.
Yatsenyuk said that U.S. officials expressed concern that Ukraine maintain the democratic progress it had made since the 2004 Orange Revolution brought Yushchenko to power after another standoff with Yanukovych.
"We have to stick to democratic values, democratic standards -- it's obvious for us," Yatsenyuk said in an interview with The Associated Press.
Ukraine's political stalemate erupted after Yushchenko accused Yanukovych of trying to usurp power by wooing pro-presidential lawmakers over to the majority coalition.
Yatsenyuk said President Viktor Yushchenko was seeking a compromise with Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych over the president's order to dissolve Parliament and his call for new elections.
Yatsenyuk said that U.S. officials expressed concern that Ukraine maintain the democratic progress it had made since the 2004 Orange Revolution brought Yushchenko to power after another standoff with Yanukovych.
"We have to stick to democratic values, democratic standards -- it's obvious for us," Yatsenyuk said in an interview with The Associated Press.
Ukraine's political stalemate erupted after Yushchenko accused Yanukovych of trying to usurp power by wooing pro-presidential lawmakers over to the majority coalition.
In an unrelated story Yushchenko has fired 2 bought and paid for judges appointed by his predecessor to the Constitutional Court for accepting huge bribes.
Yatsenyuk will get to share Condi stories with MacKay during his visit to Ottawa early next week.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Is Tony Clement going to replace John Baird?
I noticed on Canada a.m. this morning that Tony Clement was out stumping on the Tory Green Scam in place of Envoronment Minister John Baird. Vould it be that Mr. Harper is going to change his second ineffective Environment Minister? Hmmn.
Oh yeah, that stuff we said about no torture ...nix that
CanWest News Service reports that torture tales are credible
While the Conservative government continues to deny there is any proof that torture occurs in Afghan prisons, the emergence of a letter to Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay last year asked NATO to curb such abuses.
It also conceded that Canadian officials in Afghanistan had heard allegations of abuse.
New York-based Human Rights Watch copied Canadian Foreign Minister MacKay in a letter dated Nov. 28, 2006, that cited "credible reports" of torture and abuse in Afghan prisons.
The letter blamed Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security, or NDS, which Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor said last week had agreed to grant full access to Canadian officials to monitor the well-being of detainees transferred there by Canadian troops.
O'Connor's announcement of the NDS "arrangement" turned out to be premature; it caught MacKay off guard, and was later found to be a deal that was still being negotiated.
While the Conservative government continues to deny there is any proof that torture occurs in Afghan prisons, the emergence of a letter to Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay last year asked NATO to curb such abuses.
It also conceded that Canadian officials in Afghanistan had heard allegations of abuse.
New York-based Human Rights Watch copied Canadian Foreign Minister MacKay in a letter dated Nov. 28, 2006, that cited "credible reports" of torture and abuse in Afghan prisons.
The letter blamed Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security, or NDS, which Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor said last week had agreed to grant full access to Canadian officials to monitor the well-being of detainees transferred there by Canadian troops.
O'Connor's announcement of the NDS "arrangement" turned out to be premature; it caught MacKay off guard, and was later found to be a deal that was still being negotiated.
O'connor: Dead man walking
CP reports:
Even his spokesperson is not so sure.
Even his spokesperson is not so sure.
After spending last week nailed to his seat in the House of Commons, Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor was nowhere to be seen during question period Monday.
Others took questions directed towards his empty chair on the Afghan detainee issue. Speculation about O'Connor's future has been a capital sport since allegations surfaced of torture in Afghan prisons.
That kind of speculation led to a stern note from his spokeswoman:
``If any of you give credit to the rumour that MND (minister of national defence) will resign, will look studip (sic). It is not true he will NOT resign.''
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