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Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: DuckTapeSunroof who wrote (761624)	4/25/2007 2:12:27 PM
From: GROUND ZERO™	Respond to of 769670

The french... GZ™

To: DuckTapeSunroof who wrote (761624)	4/25/2007 7:42:56 PM
From: Hope Praytochange	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 769670

Troop Pullout Bill Defeated in Canada By Doug Struck Washington Post Foreign Service Wednesday, April 25, 2007; Page A12 TORONTO, April 24 -- Canada's House of Commons on Tuesday defeated a bill to withdraw the country's troops from Afghanistan in 2009, but the government faced new questions over the treatment of Afghans captured by those soldiers. The bill was brought by the opposition Liberal Party after eight Canadians were killed this month, bringing to 54 the death toll since the country's military first deployed to Afghanistan in 2001. The Canadian force is pivotal to NATO combat operations in southern Afghanistan. Save & Share Article What's This? DiggGoogle del.icio.usYahoo! RedditFacebook The measure was defeated in Ottawa 150 to 134 when the ruling Conservatives formed an unlikely alliance with staunch opponents of Canada's military involvement, the New Democratic Party. Its leader, Jack Layton, said his party sided with the government because he favors an immediate pullout. "When can Canadians finally have a clear plan for an end date to the mission?" asked Diane Marleau, a Liberal member of Parliament. Parliament last year narrowly approved a commitment to keep the force of about 2,500 soldiers in Afghanistan until February 2009. The government has been keeping mum about whether it wants to extend that NATO duty. But the government faced new pressures over persistent allegations that Afghans detained by Canadian troops and handed over to local authorities are later beaten and tortured by Afghan interrogators. "According to the Geneva Convention, the transfer of prisoners is prohibited when there is a risk of torture or mistreatment," said Gilles Duceppe, the leader of Bloc Quebecois, during the debate. "The prime minister is not supporting the Geneva Convention." The issue has embarrassed the government. Minister of Defense Gordon O'Connor had said the welfare of Afghan detainees was being overseen by the Red Cross, only to have the Red Cross publicly deny that last month. O'Connor then said Afghanistan's Independent Human Rights Commission is ensuring that there is no torture. But the Globe and Mail newspaper Tuesday quoted the Kandahar chief investigator of that commission saying he had only seven staffers and they were barred from entering jails to inspect for abuse. Liberal Party member Michael Ignatieff led a call for O'Connor's dismissal, calling the government's explanations a "sickening charade." "The honor of Canada is at stake," Ignatieff said. "We need to ensure that the military follows the best traditions of upholding the Geneva Convention." O'Connor and Prime Minister Stephen Harper both insisted Canadian authorities had heard "no complaints" from the Human Rights Commission. Harper lambasted critics for accepting "the allegations of Taliban suspects" that they were abused at the hands of Afghan intelligence service interrogators. Despite the latest fatalities, a poll for the National Post newspaper Tuesday showed that 52 percent of Canadians supported the military role in Afghanistan, though nearly two-thirds said they want the troops out in February 2009.