Art Eggleton

[Foreign Affairs, February 5th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the Geneva conventions call for competent tribunals if there is any doubt as to the status.

The United States claims that of all of the people it is keeping there is no doubt as to status, that it is only keeping people who are terrorists. However, continuing discussions are going on with respect to the matter of how in fact those determinations are made.

[Foreign Affairs, February 5th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, as has been said many times in the House over the past few days, the JTF2, for purposes of national security, is not talked about in terms of its operations or in terms of the individuals involved.

[National Defence, February 4th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, I am responsible for the national security with respect to that organization. It follows government policy. Anything relevant to the policy it follows is discussed by the government.

If there is any variance from that policy. it is my duty to bring it to the government's attention. There has been no variance from that duty. It followed the law. It followed the rules of engagement. It is doing the job the government asked it to do.

[National Defence, February 4th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, for reasons of national security I will not do that.

Significant reports are not filed with respect to the JTF2. The reports are given entirely on an oral basis.

[National Defence, February 4th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, we discussed that matter with the chief of defence staff and with the other commanders. They did not feel that was necessary. They were quite satisfied with what they had. In fact, I visited with the troops in Edmonton just before they left. They were quite satisfied with the combat uniforms they had.

[National Defence, February 4th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian Forces commanders are quite satisfied with the uniforms they have. I understand that even some of the Americans noted on the weekend how much better they are in terms of night operations.

It is not a question of funding. We want to make sure that whatever our troops need in that operation they will have it.

The commanders are happy with the uniforms they do have.

[Foreign Affairs, February 4th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, we have had the assurances of the United States government. We continue to seek them because all of the Geneva conventions were written at an earlier time. Not all of them are easily applicable to the conditions that exist today, but certainly the only interest the United States has is keeping the terrorists, not keeping anyone who is a prisoner of war. It has sent numerous people back already to the Afghan government or to governments of other countries from which they originated.

The United States just wants to keep those who are responsible for the September 11 attacks: the al-Qaeda terrorists.

[Foreign Affairs, February 4th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member has to remember that there is a difference in the Geneva conventions between those who are prisoners of war, those who are part of a military, versus those who are unlawful combatants, the terrorists. It is the terrorists whom the United States is interested in keeping, and only the terrorists, to account for what happened on September 11.

We operate in accordance with those laws. The United States will operate in accordance with those laws. We expect anybody else to as well.

[Foreign Affairs, February 4th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, the fact is that we do respect international law. That is the cornerstone of how we are conducting ourselves in this campaign. We respect international law and we respect Canadian law. The United States, to which we have turned over these prisoners, has given us assurances that it respects international law and will operate consistent with the Geneva conventions.

[Minister of National Defence, February 4th, 2002]

Mr. Speaker, one has to wonder if the Bloc Quebecois is more concerned about the plight of the terrorists than it was about the victims of September 11. We certainly would not know it from the way they are going at this.