Posted on 10/12/2006 5:23:36 AM PDT by Clive
OTTAWA (CP) - Another controversial comment by Liberal leadership front-runner Michael Ignatieff has cost him the support of his Toronto campaign co-chair.
Thornhill MP Susan Kadis withdrew her support for Ignatieff on Wednesday, after he accused Israel of committing a "war crime" during its bombardment of Lebanon last summer.
"Michael is an intelligent person and I would think that he would have a better handle on the Middle East given his years of experience on human rights and international law," Kadis said in a written statement.
Kadis was reacting to Ignatieff's appearance on a French-language television program Sunday, in which he said that Israel's bombing of the Lebanese village of Qana was a war crime. Dozens of civilians died in the attack.
Ironically, the controversy erupted as Ignatieff was attempting to explain a previous gaffe about Qana.
Last summer, Ignatieff was quoted saying that he was "not losing sleep" over the civilian deaths in Qana - an insensitive remark which he later admitted was a mistake.
Kadis condemned Ignatieff's remarks, echoing concerns by Jewish groups.
She said she found Ignatieff's "unprovoked comments very troubling," given that Israel's attack on Qana was a response to the "brazen kidnapping" of Israeli soldiers and missile attacks by Lebanese-based Hezbollah guerrillas.
"This was an attack intended to root out a recognized terrorist group who were raining down thousands of missiles on Israel," she said.
Ignatieff issued his own statement, in which he said he "deeply regrets" Kadis' decision to abandon his leadership bid.
"I think I understand, and respect Susan's decision," Ignatieff said Wednesday during a news conference at his Toronto campaign office.
"Susan is a personal friend and a valued caucus colleague, and her decision causes me pain, but I understand and respect it."
He yet again clarified his position on the conflict, calling himself a "lifelong friend of Israel" and stressing his support for Israel's right to defend itself.
Ignatieff repeated his assertion that war crimes were committed, although without naming either side in the conflict.
"I believe that war crimes were committed in the war in Lebanon, I don't think there's any question about it, and war crimes were visited on Israeli civilians and they were visited on Lebanese civilians," he said.
"We've got to be determined as Canadians to do whatever we can to make sure that military solutions are not sought in this conflict because the consequences are just more civilian death."
The Middle East has brought political grief for a number of the Liberal leadership contenders.
Joe Volpe's campaign manager, Toronto MP Jim Karygiannis, quit over Volpe's unwavering defence of Israel.
Gerard Kennedy was forced to distance himself from one of his supporters, Toronto MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj, who accused Israel of engaging in "state terrorism" and called for Hezbollah to be removed from Canada's list of terrorist organizations.
Wrzesnewskyj resigned as the party's associate foreign affairs critic over those remarks.
They keep falling off on one side or the other,
And sometimes they climb back on only to fall off on the other side.
That is a politician who sits on the fence with his mug on one side and his wump on the other.
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Leni
I note that he was also speaking in Quebec which has a significant Lebanese population.
This is part of what makes sraddling the fence difficult in Canada.
Bob Rea will win, and after they lose the spring election there will be a move to merge the Liberals with the NDP.
Being intelligent and Liberal is possible but being honest and being Liberal is not. I believe Ms. Kadis is no different than Mr. Ignatieff. Here is why: The rabid support for islamic cause is nothing new when Mr. Ignatieff is in question. It seems that Ms. Kadis has spent the last 15 years in a coma when she can trust his "years of experience on human rights and international law".
For example, this scumbag has wholeheartedly supported NATO agression on Serbia in 1999 that was clearly against the international law, UN Charter, NATO charter and Paris Charter. The NATO activities against civilian targets were clearly against Geneva conventions. The activities of NATO in Kosovo are against THe Hague conventions. This rates his expertize in international law as dubious at least. Furthermore, Ignatieff supported invented stories about Kosovo "genocide" but remained silent about real human rights violations going on in Kosovo since then.
I believe that Ms. Kadis and Mr. Ignatieff were hand in glove when they suppoorted islamic terrorists in Bosnia and Kosovo. They have parted only now when Ignatieff smears Israel.
Ms. Kadis, what goes around, comes around!
"Unless they're totally into the Kool-aid, surely a majority of Liberals must realize Rae is as unsaleable in Ontario"
This is the Liberal Party we are talking about. Reality isn't a big deal to them. BR has the looks and glibbness and socialist views they love. I expect a second ballot victory for him.
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