Ignatieff on the defensive

[CHIMO]

VANCOUVER — Michael Ignatieff is on the hot seat for his support of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

At the last of the Liberal leadership debates Sunday, the Harvard scholar-turned-politician was forced to defend his support of the Bush administration in ousting Saddam Hussein.

Stephane Dion began the debate by pointing out that Ignatieff also voted with the Harper government to extend Canada's military mission in Afghanistan by two years.

Bob Rae says Ignatieff has never apologized for his stance, even though the reason for invading — weapons of mass destruction — proved to be false.

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[CHIMO]

1. VANCOUVER — Liberal leadership candidate Michael Ignatieff was put sharply

VANCOUVER — Liberal leadership candidate Michael Ignatieff was put sharply on the defensive by his chief rivals Sunday and forced to disavow U.S. President George Bush's Iraq strategy.

“I don't stand with George Bush. I stand with the independence and freedom of the Kurdish and Shia people and believe that one day they will push this country out of the ditch.”

Mr. Ignatieff made no apologies for supporting Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government in its decision to extend Canada's Afghan deployment by two years.

Raising again the image of a purple-fingered woman voting in the country's first free election, Mr. Ignatieff said Canada made a promise to the Afghans that it needs to keep.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060917.wleadership17/BNStory/National/home

Iggy plants both feet into it this time.