Liberal foreign affairs critic Bob Rae called today for Bernier to be fired, describing him as incompetent and irresponsible.
And the NDP put a motion before a Commons committee demanding the minister appear to explain why he publicly called for the removal of the governor of Kandahar.
Bernier ended his visit to the war-torn country on Monday by effectively calling for the removal of Asadullah Khalid, linking him to the rampant corruption that plagues the impoverished region.
He was quickly forced to issue a "clarification'' after the Afghan government expressed concern about foreign interference in its internal affairs.
Rae says it's just the latest in a series of embarrassing gaffes by Bernier.
In an unusual move, Rae went further, offering up a possible replacement:
At first blush, it would appear a marginal upgrade.
9 comments:
My memory isn't what it used to be but weren't libloggers complaining a month or so ago that the Governor of Kandahar needed to go?
Maybe, but they weren't advocating for the Minister to annouce to all the media that he believes the Governor is corrupt and suggest an independant government fire him.
It is called diplomacy.
"My memory isn't what it used to be but weren't libloggers complaining a month or so ago that the Governor of Kandahar needed to go?"
Just a slight difference between an opposition call and a government representative overriding a sovereign state. Only a partisan Con can't see the massive difference I suppose.
A little dramatic don't you think?
Since when is an opinion considered to be "overriding a sovereign state"?
My point wasn't whether or not it was the most diplomatic thing to say or not. My point was that you folks were crying for this guys head a short time ago but then you complain when a Con has the same opinion. I guess you 'non-partisans' don't see the irony.
Dramatic? Hey, let's see how you would react if another country's representative said Bernier should be replaced. Oh, the howls from the Cons would be deafening.
Why do you think it was clarified before Bernier even got off the plane? Isn't that indicative of how badly he erred?
Alright, have it your way.
I sure hope the Afgans aren't so insulted that they threaten to cut economic ties with us and ask our troops to leave.
So how does this compare to Dion stating, publicly, that NATO should 'intervene' in Pakistan?
In the context of taking it to the Taliban inside the Pakistan border.
If diplomacy means watching our guys getting killed, and only whisper sweet nothings into Karzai's ear, stuff diplomacy.
"So how does this compare to Dion stating, publicly, that NATO should 'intervene' in Pakistan?"
Dion's comment was made as a proposal of what NATO forces need to do in order to get after al-Qaeda targets. Even though he should have thought out better that it would be primarily US and UK troops, it supported the need for a pro-active approach in the War on Terror.
Maxime was representing the Government of Canada. He was in effect supporting a military coup in Kandahar. Not credible, when the only arsenal Maxime had was several dozens of Vachon cream cakes.
"So how does this compare to Dion stating, publicly, that NATO should 'intervene' in Pakistan?"
It doesn't compare. See, last time I checked the leader of the opposition doesn't represent the government abroad, nor does he speak for the government.
Wilson, nobody can possibly believe that Bernier is doing a good job in this post. What a lightweight.
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