Liberals bristle at being called 'unpatriotic'

OTTAWA - The Opposition Liberals say they're tired of being painted as unpatriotic whenever they ask questions about the war in Afghanistan.

Deputy Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff says Prime Minister Stephen Harper's persistent, partisan attacks are undermining support for the mission.

On Friday, Harper told a rally for the troops in nearby Petawawa, Ont., that the uproar in the Commons over the treatment of detainees has overshadowed the good work troops are doing in Kandahar.

The former Liberal defence minister, Bill Graham, accused the Conservatives of trying to stifle democratic debate by using such tactics.

But Government House Leader Peter Van Loan says, unlike the previous Liberal government, the Tories brought the matter to the Commons for a vote last year.

When the mission to Kandahar was authorized in 2005, the only debate that took place under the Liberals was a so-called "take note'' debate.