HALIFAX, N.S. — Defence Minister Peter MacKay is rejecting a published 
report that Canada defended a former governor of Kandahar who was accused of torturing Afghans.
MacKay was responding today (Monday), to allegations Asadullah Khalid (the torture-Meister) might have been removed from office in 2006 if Canadian officials hadn’t defended him for the next two years.
(Khalid was known to have a torture chamber in the basement of his private residence).
The assertion is contained in a two-year-old report by Richard Colvin, the diplomat who has also said all Canadian-captured prisoners in Afghanistan were likely tortured by Afghan authorities.
Mr. Weasel Speaks
MacKay says he hasn’t seen Colvin’s report, but insists Canada raised concerns about Khalid with the Afghan government. (There doesn’t seem to be a record of those raised concerns).
The minister also says he expressed his concerns directly to Khalid when he was Canada’s foreign affairs minister. (sound of laughter).
However, MacKay says it’s important to remember that Afghanistan is a sovereign country, where the president is responsible for appointing all governors. (Whether they personally engage in torture or not).
(with apologies to Canadian Press).
Poor MacKay ; nary a neo-con defender in sight to help him bafflegab his way out .
With Condoleeza out of office , he cannot even ask rhetorically with whom he might sleep to get outa here .