The Globe and Mail this morning continues to direct a bright light into the murkier recesses of our country's handling of Afghanistan detainee torture and abuse allegations.

Facts relentlessly rising to the surface of this fetid scandal serve only to buttress an inescapable conclusion: Canadians have been lied to directly and through omission by the Harper government.

Backing up allegations former diplomat Richard Colvin has levied against the government, the Globe and Mail today released a redacted document (attached) said to have been censored by Harper political appointee Arif Lalani, the former Canadian ambassador to Afghanistan.

In the International Committee of the Red Cross's experience, 'a lot of abuse happens in the first days.'

Our own records substantiate ICRC's comments about continued delays in notification. For the four-month period of December 1, 2006, to March 30, 2007, the gap from detention by Canadian Forces to ICRC being informed was as long as 34 days. Text from censored component of report by Richard Colvin

Mr. Lalani, a political appointee of the Harper government, followed Christopher Alexander [1] who was appointed as ambassador in 2003. Alexander is a policy hawk who intends to run as a Conservative candidate in the federal riding of Ajax-Pickering.

There is so much smoke circling this scandal that a roaring fire can't be far below the surface. To get to the unvarnished truth of the matter what is needed is an inquiry venue that ensures perjury is rewarded with jail time.