Tow the line on CIA landings

Allegations have recently arisen that Canada has offered the CIA a hand in transporting suspected members of al-Queda and other terrorist organizations to and from an international network of alleged interrogation centres. The Canadian press claims that a particular Hercules craft in question flew from Newfoundland to a Scottish airport that's under scrutiny as an apparent destination for numerous covert flights, and that said plane is registered to Rapid Air Transport, an alleged shell company controlled by the CIA.

No doubt these allegations will make their way into the crossfire of heated accusations among campaigning political leaders. The Feds will deny any knowledge of any such activity. The Tories will call for greater transparency while also aligning closer with the U.S. in curbing terror. And of course the NDP will call this an abomination of justice, where the people’s right to know and judge for themselves has been stolen by the technocracy in office.

Instead of putting into motion a predictable series of shots across the bow, I suggest a unified approach that puts the matter to rest, keeps it out of this election, and maintains the focus of this election on what really, truly matters to Canadians. More to the point, when pressed I hope each of the leaders looks to the U.S. for guidance on this matter; not cuddling up to the Americans, but learning from them how to deal with an issue that is best left out of a general election, something like:

“We’re not at liberty to speak to issues like this of utmost national security. Suffice it to say that your elected officials are acting in the best interest of both Canadians at large, and overall human rights. This is our mandate, our responsibility, our duty to Canadians.”

To enter into a debate about minutia detail surrounding clandestine counter-terrorist operations will do nothing to help any of the parties, nor anything to help quell international insurgency. The only thing that will come from opening up this can of worms is more anger, a blip in the polls, and another squeeze of lemon on the open sore that is our relationship with our neighbors.