Wake Me hen It Happens.......

Ignatieff invited to exclusive Afghanistan meeting
Will attend U.S. talks as human rights expert
Allan WoodsOTTAWA BUREAU
OTTAWA – Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is off to Washington to take part in an exclusive and high-level discussion on the future of Afghanistan, the Toronto Star has learned.
Ignatieff will join Richard Holbrooke, the U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, and other diplomats and security experts at a closed-door, invitation-only meeting tomorrow looking at stabilizing the region through measures such as negotiating peace with the Taliban, reining in Pakistan, shutting down rampant drug production and closer co-operation with Russia, Iran and other neighbouring states.
The Liberal leader is participating as an international human rights expert, said Jill Fairbrother, his spokesperson. But he feels compelled to attend this event in particular because of what he perceives as the absence of the Conservative government in the debate about the future of the country.
"(He's attending) this one because he has something to say and the Canadian government hasn't been participating in this dialogue with the U.S., and he believes we should be," Fairbrother said.
The Harper government has drawn criticism in many quarters for refusing to follow the U.S. lead and name a special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan to better co-ordinate the future of the Afghan mission.
Britain, France and Italy did name an equivalent to Holbrooke, in part to have someone who could discuss the complex issues facing the mission at the highest level. The French defence minister said doing so also gave France more clout in Afghanistan.
"(Ignatieff) believes that we've played a major role in that mission and should have a voice at the table, so he's going to participate in the discussion," Fairbrother said.
Ignatieff flew into Kabul in 1997 on one of the first flights after the Taliban took power.
He has since penned magazine articles about how governments can deal with a group that cares nothing for human rights or its international reputation.
He has also written scholarly articles on applying humanitarian law in Afghanistan and building a viable state.