(no subject)

[electricland]

So as soon as Paul Martin is crowned confirmed as PM, or whatever it is they do, and chooses his cabinet, I'm writing in to the Solicitor-General and the heads of the RCMP and CSIS and the Minister of Citizenship and whoever else I can think of to demand an inquiry into this Maher Arar business. I have nothing particular against Jean Chretien, but that "meaningless fishing trip" comment made the top of my head blow off all over again.

Let me reiterate in simple language:

Our ally to the south deported a Canadian citizen to be tortured in a Syrian jail for a year.

You know what? I don't really give a damn if he is a terrorist (although I don't believe he is). I want to know what happened, and why, and how we're going to prevent it happening again.

Comments

[mindrobber.livejournal.com]

Go get 'em!

[mindrobber.livejournal.com]

I can barely stand to read about the Arar business. Makes me ill.

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Good. I'll be posting contact info...

Not to mention that

[life-on-queen.livejournal.com]

After being tortured by Syrians for a year, if he was a terrorist, they would know by know.

This is the US gov't practicing torture-by-proxy an is a clear violation of both US and international law.

Re: Not to mention that

[life-on-queen.livejournal.com]

I meant to say if he were a terrorist...I don't believe he is either, because if he was, I don't think we would have gotten him back.

[iagofan.livejournal.com]

since all the facts apparently won't be known, it seems disingenuous at the very least to attribute the egregious treatment of this man solely to the US government. from reading the CBC reports, there is mention of the complicity of the RCMP prior to his deportation. and i think torture by proxy at the hands of the syrians is quite a stretch, unless we all can believe that the syrians are "winky winky" really pro-american and anti-terrorist.

if he were a serious player in the war against terrorism, he would have been in an american jail. however, notwithstanding his legitimacy as person with terrorist ties, it is the inviolable right of the US government, or Canadian government for that matter, to detain or otherwise deny transit to persons who pose a risk.

it seems to me that an educated, wordly man like Mr. Arar, who maintains Syrian citizenship and travels through Arab countries, would have considered it more appropriate to travel back to Canada via another route. actually, come to think of it, it's surprising he was allowed to board a new york bound aircraft if he had such a suspect profile.

i think there is more here than meets the eye.

that's the point

[raithen.livejournal.com]

i think there is more here than meets the eye.

Which is, I think, EXACTLY the point. And finding out what that "more" is would be good, hence the need for a public inquiry. Right wrong or indifferent, a CANADIAN CITIZEN was deported and subsequently tortured - and we don't know why. Many people in this country would like to know more.

Here in BC, there is currently a VERY high profile public inquiry into the way the firestorms that ravaged the province were managed. This was an act of nature, mostly human carelessness did cause at least one of the interface fires that burned homes, and yet there is political and public support to looking into ways it could have been handled better, to learn from the mistakes and ensure that we understand what worked well in fighting the fires.

But there is NOT the political will to look into what happened in the case of Mr. Arar. And the public is frustrated by this. And more than a little suspicious. We still like to think we live in a democracy and my desire to quote Churchill here is strong where our citizens are protected.

Furthermore, WHY should the blame be placed on Mr. Arar? He, as a Canadian citizen is protected by the same close relationship with the US as are ALL other Canadian citizens. Travel via the US is the norm for Canadians going abroad, not the exception, and I must admit that I am offended by your insinuation that this is mostly his fault, his problem. I can't say whether or not he is guilty, innocent, complicit, or a pawn in a greater and may I add VERY scary! game. But the point is that more information would help us to know more and the government is not giving us this opportunity. And I think that is a crying shame.

Re: that's the point

[iagofan.livejournal.com]

My insinuation was that he was naive at the very least and possibly stupid. We can debate the issue of what citizens of both our countries are entitled to expect, but the fact of the matter is that US citizens who are Arabs endure the same mind-numbing scrutiny. Mr. Arar, or anybody else who is a citizen of your country or mine, that carries dual citizenship with an unfriendly country, is not a typical citizen in this day and age. Their civil rights in my country have been abridged and they are subject to actions that others are not. That is the reality. Was he not aware of that reality?

There is another travel norm we are cognizant of. Canada is a transit point into the US for would be terrorists.

Re: that's the point

[raithen.livejournal.com]

Was he not aware of that reality?
Again, this is one of the questions a public inquiry could explore. I am neither endorsing nor condeming Mr. Arar's actions, I would just like to know more.

I have tried to formulate a response to your final statement, which strikes me as intended to be inflammatory. How is this a "travel norm" ? THOUSANDS of Canadians pass through the US EVERY DAY. A handful of terrorists are connected with Canada, and it is all the sudden a "norm" that "Canada is a transit point into the US for would be terrorists." This seems to be a classic non-sequitir, and typical of the types of rhetoric which have perpetuated deteriorating Canada/US relations, and in fact, deteriorating world relations.

Re: that's the point

[iagofan.livejournal.com]

i'm sorry if that premise offends you, but it is not meant to be inflammatory. i meant it as a statement of fact, but not a norm to the exclusion of mexico or our own international airports. it is one of untold numbers of travel norms, such as, it is normal for americans to travel through canada to cuba.

Re: that's the point

[raithen.livejournal.com]

Sorry if I read too much into your statement -- I am just REALLY frustrated with all the rhetoric of blame going around these days, and tend to be sensitive. Have a great weekend!

Re: that's the point

[iagofan.livejournal.com]

i wish we could go back to the way things used to be, but i am afraid we can't get all the way back even under a different administration. i am frustrated too by the rhetoric of blame, and i am especially frustrated about how, in this country at least, individually we blame things on someone else.

incidentally, i could relate very well to your anguish during your wildfires. we had some bad arson fires here about 8 years ago, and the horrific situation in so. california recently serve to remind us how fragile our environment can be. i can't imagine how people who have lost homes and family and pets feel in its aftermath.

have a nice wintry weekend in bc.

[javahousejihad.livejournal.com]

Most of us (your ally)have some severe opinions about his leadership as well.
I for one am surpirsed our flightsuit-in-chief hasn't gotten the rest of my fellow citizens killed yet.
Though he is doing a good job of it, if good can be even used in this situation.