23 former diplomats penned an open letter given to the media for distribution, condemning government attacks on diplomat Richard Colvin and his testimony of Afghan detainee abuse concerns.  What is of concern is that they fear the public dressing down by Richard Colvin by the government and particularly his boss Peter MacKay, will discourage diplomats from reporting frankly from their posts abroad for fear of having their judgment becoming politicized.  Mr. Durant, a former diplomat said of MacKay's treatment of Colvin, "he savaged him in public, and ridiculed him. And that's not the way to treat a guy who's doing his job, he is not a whistleblower. He was hauled before a parliamentary committee and had to state the truth."

The letter also added, "A fundamental requirement of a foreign service officer is that he or she report on a given situation as observed or understood.  It is only in this way that any government can draw conclusions knowledgeably and make its considered decisions, even if at variance with the reports received."

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