Liberal Khan to be Harper's advisor in the MidEast

[Canuck E Stan]

Resign post or quit caucus, MPs tell Khan

Citing a possibility that he will spy on the Liberals for the Conservative government, at least three Liberal MPs say Wajid Khan should resign from his new advisory post to Prime Minister Stephen Harper or quit caucus temporarily.

"Wajid's appointment is a slick, sick, calculated move on Harper's part," MP Maria Minna said in a letter to Liberal caucus colleagues yesterday. "Liberals shouldn't touch this thing with a 10-foot pole."

The former minister for international co-operation said interim Liberal leader Bill Graham should have refused Mr. Khan's request on Tuesday to accept Mr. Harper's appointment as a special advisor on the Middle East and Afghanistan. She didn't buy Mr. Harper's explanation that he wants to build a non-partisan consensus.

Mr. Khan, a Pakistani-born former fighter pilot and prisoner of war, approached Mr. Harper's parliamentary secretary this summer to propose a non-partisan initiative to build public understanding of Canada's military mission in Afghanistan.

So here we have a Liberal(Khan) who wants to do something to help Canadians understand the Middle East problem.

A non-partisan initiative,an initiative for his country, and the Liberals get all wonky about it.

When will the Liberals start thinking beyond their party agendas and begin to think(as Khan did) of the bigger picture.

Kudos to Khan and to Harper for thinking outside the political party box.

[geoffrey]

Harper was on thin ice with me for a few weeks, but this at least puts him on a thicker skating surface. Good move, politically and rationally. Let the expert help ya.

[jbg]

When will the Liberals start thinking beyond their party agendas and begin to think(as Khan did) of the bigger picture.

Kudos to Khan and to Harper for thinking outside the political party box.

When the Liberals (and for that matter the US State Department) stop operating one level above treason (as the US State Department has since at least the 1930's).

[Ricki Bobbi]

Khan's decision to step aside and not attend Liberal caucus meetings is a good sign for the Conservatives. Leaves open the option of Khan crossing the floor, and giving the Conservatives a toe hold in the GTA. Further alienates the Liberals on the issue. The only potential issue internally with the Conservatives is with Deepak Obhrai who has been rumoured to have already voiced his displeasure with the move. Obhrai doesn't have a lot of friends in caucus or much support on the issue.

When the Liberals (and for that matter the US State Department) stop operating one level above treason (as the US State Department has since at least the 1930's).

[fellowtraveller]

The petulance of the Liberal caucus makes them look like muppets, not that they needed any help with that.

Any alliance between Harper and any visible minority leader must chill the bowels of the Libs, it is their heart and soul, their politcial heartland....