Credibility

Who's more credible, the DFAIT officer who was forced to give testimony at MPCC and committee (not a "whistleblower", technically) and spoke clearly and logically, without extraneous comment, or the three buddies who spent half their testimony praising themselves and their institution. Take their extraneous words and imagine if Colvin had said them: "greatest foreign affairs department in the world, full of brave, smart foreign service officers, etc.etc." He could have: DFAIT's still got a better relative global rating among foreign offices than DND does among militaries. From 1944-1980/90s, DFAIT was considered the best foreign office in the world, hitting way above its weight. But that's all irrelevant. What matters are the facts. What are they? Well, the army-friendly, in camera, MPCC's investigation is seen as so dangerous the Govt has effectively shut it down. Colvin's memos have drastically different interpretations, apparently. An Al-Mashat/Shortliffe type miscommunication? We shall see. But how is it two civilians like Hillier & Gauthier have access to Colvin's unredacted memos and no-one else does? Gee, I wonder if there isn't some rule or something about letting civilians look at apparently top-secret information before committee meetings no-one else gets to see? I wonder. And I wonder when the Opposition will grow a pair and take these abuses head on. Mulroney & the Government gets to dictate when and how he testifies? Crikey! Finally, Opposition, you have the majority on the committee, you have parliamentary supremacy, don't be so chicken. You want names? Oblige Colvin, generals, etc., to tell you. They have to if you make them. And as far as getting the documents post-haste, the clerk may claim "request" is enough, and it may be, but one usually stipulates "requests & requires". I predict the government is going to claim the language isn't enough as stands. BS, of course, but a stronger initial motion would have avoided the ambiguity and subsequent fight and delay. If you want committees to be treated as grown-ups you have to behave as such, and not be so cowed and fearful. You represent us. Don't be chicken. We're not.