Is Conservative Government Guilty Of War Crimes?

[SirJosephPorter]

Why do you equate Conservatives with the Canadian Forces?

Because Conservative Party is the government. If Canadian forces handed over prisoners to Afghan government to be tortured, you can be sure that it was not with the approval of NDP, Bloc or Liberals. It must have been with the approval of the Conservatives. Since conservative party is in power, Canadian forces does equate with the Conservatives.

Since the rest of your responses seem to make the incorrect assumption I support the Conservative position on Human Rights, the Economy, and the Environment, I'm hardly inclined to respond to them.

And just where did I say that I assume you belong to the Conservative Party? On the contrary, I asked you if you belong to the Conservative Party, that is totally different from assuming that that is the case.

 

[JLM]

I think the present CAnadian gov't. was elected to manage affairs here in Canada. When President Bush started "managing affairs" in Iraq, he got criticised for sticking his nose in where it didn't belong. I think Harper would do very well to keep his nose out of Afghanistan (he has lots to do here) and let the military take care of things in Afghanistan. Any questions about Afghanistan directed at Harper should be diverted to his chief military staff. Politicians should stick to what they know (very little) and crawling around in the trenches isn't it.

 

[AnnaG]

I think the present CAnadian gov't. was elected to manage affairs here in Canada. When President Bush started "managing affairs" in Iraq, he got criticised for sticking his nose in where it didn't belong. I think Harper would do very well to keep his nose out of Afghanistan (he has lots to do here) and let the military take care of things in Afghanistan. Any questions about Afghanistan directed at Harper should be diverted to his chief military staff. Politicians should stick to what they know (very little) and crawling around in the trenches isn't it.

Exactly. Pols usually leave military brass to make decisions concerning military issues.

 

[SirJosephPorter]

I think the present CAnadian gov't. was elected to manage affairs here in Canada. When President Bush started "managing affairs" in Iraq, he got criticised for sticking his nose in where it didn't belong. I think Harper would do very well to keep his nose out of Afghanistan (he has lots to do here) and let the military take care of things in Afghanistan. Any questions about Afghanistan directed at Harper should be diverted to his chief military staff. Politicians should stick to what they know (very little) and crawling around in the trenches isn't it.

Sorry JLM, but that won’t wash. We are not talking here of which Taliban stronghold to attack, how many troops should be deployed at a particular outpost etc. In such matters what you say is appropriate, these are he decisions best left to military.

However, the decision to hand over prisoners to another country (in this case Afghanistan) is not a military decision, it is a political decision. It was decided in Ottawa, not in Kabul. So Conservative government is fully responsible for handing over the prisoners to torture, you can’t scapegoat the military for that.

 

[lone wolf]

Sorry JLM, but that won’t wash. We are not talking here of which Taliban stronghold to attack, how many troops should be deployed at a particular outpost etc. In such matters what you say is appropriate, these are he decisions best left to military.

However, the decision to hand over prisoners to another country (in this case Afghanistan) is not a military decision, it is a political decision. It was decided in Ottawa, not in Kabul. So Conservative government is fully responsible for handing over the prisoners to torture, you can’t scapegoat the military for that.

How is it a Conservative problem prior to the Conservatives getting into power?

By all means, don't let facts get in the way of a good editorial....

 

[JLM]

Sorry JLM, but that won’t wash. We are not talking here of which Taliban stronghold to attack, how many troops should be deployed at a particular outpost etc. In such matters what you say is appropriate, these are he decisions best left to military.

However, the decision to hand over prisoners to another country (in this case Afghanistan) is not a military decision, it is a political decision. It was decided in Ottawa, not in Kabul. So Conservative government is fully responsible for handing over the prisoners to torture, you can’t scapegoat the military for that.

Well I think Harper should hone up on his delegating skills, I'm sure there is someone in the military capable of making that decision. Are these not Afghan people being turned over to their own gov't. or do I have something wrong here.?

 

[Francis2004]

Well I think Harper should hone up on his delegating skills, I'm sure there is someone in the military capable of making that decision. Are these not Afghan people being turned over to their own gov't. or do I have something wrong here.?

I think SJP's point is valid in that no one would want to put that burden on our military's plate.. Its not their place to make those choices for a reason.

 

[countryboy]

Well I think Harper should hone up on his delegating skills, I'm sure there is someone in the military capable of making that decision. Are these not Afghan people being turned over to their own gov't. or do I have something wrong here.?

Well, I thought it was their own government too. Maybe I'm wrong on that. I'm sure we'll be set straight on that point by someone here if we're wrong.

I'm sure there are some Canadian taxpayers that would prefer a Canadian-built, Canadian-managed prison for these poor, downtrodden terrorists, but I'm not one of them. I think we have more important issues to deal with here at home.

 

[Francis2004]

Well, I thought it was their own government too. Maybe I'm wrong on that. I'm sure we'll be set straight on that point by someone here if we're wrong.

I'm sure there are some Canadian taxpayers that would prefer a Canadian-built, Canadian-managed prison for these poor, downtrodden terrorists, but I'm not one of them. I think we have more important issues to deal with here at home.

countryboy, was it their military that handed people over to themselves to torture or ours ?

CTV News | Natynczyk makes major reversal on detainee story

Seems even more incredible under the evidence being put forward that we should not look into what happened..

If you feel that way about the people of Afghanistan, we shouldn't spend another penny on them at all..

Why even have our Military there if we are going to hand people over to be tortured ? Bring them home now and shut down the war..

 

[countryboy]

countryboy, was it their military that handed people over to themselves to torture or ours ?

CTV News | Natynczyk makes major reversal on detainee story

Seems even more incredible under the evidence being put forward that we should not look into what happened..

If you feel that way about the people of Afghanistan, we shouldn't spend another penny on them at all..

Why even have our Military there if we are going to hand people over to be tortured ? Bring them home now and shut down the war..

I think that is the plan already announced by PM Harper.

 

[Francis2004]

I think that is the plan already announced by PM Harper.

No I mean today,

Not 2011 that was scheduled.. :roll:

 

[countryboy]

No I mean today,

Not 2011 that was scheduled.. :roll:

OK, I see your point, Francis. But, isn't the reason for the 2011 date partly due to allowing the Afghan govt. more time to get properly set up and functioning smoothly? I'm just wondering if that would include getting their prisons functioning better as well.

 

[JLM]

Well, I thought it was their own government too. Maybe I'm wrong on that. I'm sure we'll be set straight on that point by someone here if we're wrong.

I'm sure there are some Canadian taxpayers that would prefer a Canadian-built, Canadian-managed prison for these poor, downtrodden terrorists, but I'm not one of them. I think we have more important issues to deal with here at home.

No, you've got it right C.B.- these are people who are trying to kill our soldiers.

 

[Francis2004]

OK, I see your point, Francis. But, isn't the reason for the 2011 date partly due to allowing the Afghan govt. more time to get properly set up and functioning smoothly? I'm just wondering if that would include getting their prisons functioning better as well.

Yes it is.. But we cannot have it both ways..

We have choices and when we decided to go to Afghanistan to find Osama Bin Laden, help and protect the people we undertook some degree of liability. This is part of the cost..

We have a choice to leave today or check and see if something happened.. If both Liberals and Conservatives or just one deserve to be slapped on the hands, then so be it..

We don't just pick and choose what we like when it serves our purpose..