Another Voice

In a lead editorial today, the Globe & Mail lent its support to Richard Colvin, praising his courage in speaking out about the torture of Afghan detainees. It fell short, however, of calling for an independent judicial inquiry. It concluded that

[i]f his research is sound, Mr. Colvin could do nothing but speak out in these circumstances. If he is correct, Canada was engaged in an immoral and illegal exercise, under Canadian and international law. In doing so it was undermining the success of its mission. The Canadian Forces' own manual on how to conduct a counterinsurgency campaign makes clear that breaches of the law of armed conflict will send local citizens over to the side of the insurgents.

As I noted earlier today, neither Canada's image or the success of its counterinsurgency efforts are what is at stake here, as important as these may be. Mr. Colvin's allegations are that Canadian officials have contravened both international and Canadian law. Though he has not said it, Mr. Colvin has in effect accused them of abetting torture and hence of war crimes. It is trite, though sadly necessary, to say that this must be investigated.