On exclusion

The Globe and Mail reports that the Liebermanley Group has made sure to eliminate any danger of actually hearing from any diversity of opinions on Canada's options in Afghanistan. Rather than listening to what Canadians in general have to offer, it's decided to shut out any public input in favour of its own choice of "experts" and political hacks:

The independent panel on the future of Canada's mission in Afghanistan will not hold public hearings but does plan to travel to the war-torn country and to consult widely with experts.

The five-member panel, led by former Liberal cabinet minister John Manley, has already rented office space in downtown Ottawa and is expected to have its first meeting this weekend, according to a source close to the panel...

The panel has been asked to finish its work by Jan. 31, 2008, giving it about three months to research, deliberate and write its report, although the legal mandate extends to March 31. The panel has recruited a half-dozen federal officials who have been seconded from Foreign Affairs, National Defence and the Canadian International Development Agency.

The timing of the visit to Afghanistan is still under wraps for security reasons. The panel is also expected to visit NATO headquarters in Brussels and to get advice from academics and non-governmental organizations active in Afghanistan.

Given how slanted the group's composition was to begin with, it's amazing that it feels any need to further direct itself toward the inevitable end result. But the news that the Canadian public is seen as unworthy to participate should offer yet another reason for the Libs to properly denounce the group now, rather than being pressured to accept its conclusions later.