The Mahar Arar Affair
One thing I don't understand is why the United States would deport a suspected terrorist to Syria. Has the U.S. administration not declared Syria to be a sponsor of terrorism? If that is the case, would not the Syrians welcome him with open arms instead of jailing and torturing him for a year? I may be naive when it comes to international politics and skulduggery, but is it possible there is a working relationship between the two countries? Why would the Syrians want to interrogate Arar? If some one can help me here, please click on "comments" below.
Arar is a Syrian born Canadian and was traveling on a Canadian passport, returning to Canada when he was apprehended on a stopover in New York and shipped to Syria, via Jordan. Misinformation provided to the CIA or FBI by the RCMP may have been responsible. (We used to be so proud of our national police force!) A commission set up by the government has cleared Arar of any suspicion and the Prime Minister has issued a public apology and provided him with $10 million compensation. The commission had requested any incriminating evidence the U.S. may have had, but none was forthcoming. Our foreign minister McKay recently traveled to Washington to look at what the Americans had on Arar but came away empty handed.
For all that, the U.S. refuses to take Arar off their watch list, citing independent evidence which they will not share. When McKay suggested Arar be removed from the watch list, in jumps U.S. ambassador Wilkins telling McKay to mind his own business, the U.S. will decide for itself who can or cannot travel to the U.S. He is technically correct of course, but the insult to McKay and Canada is hardly diplomatic. Prime Minister Harper, to his credit, has replied that the Canadian government has every right to protect its citizens. U.S. ambassadors have often been known to stick their noses into Canadian affairs. If Wilkins opens his mouth again I would hope we would request his recall.
One thing I don't understand is why the United States would deport a suspected terrorist to Syria. Has the U.S. administration not declared Syria to be a sponsor of terrorism? If that is the case, would not the Syrians welcome him with open arms instead of jailing and torturing him for a year? I may be naive when it comes to international politics and skulduggery, but is it possible there is a working relationship between the two countries? Why would the Syrians want to interrogate Arar? If some one can help me here, please click on "comments" below.
Arar is a Syrian born Canadian and was traveling on a Canadian passport, returning to Canada when he was apprehended on a stopover in New York and shipped to Syria, via Jordan. Misinformation provided to the CIA or FBI by the RCMP may have been responsible. (We used to be so proud of our national police force!) A commission set up by the government has cleared Arar of any suspicion and the Prime Minister has issued a public apology and provided him with $10 million compensation. The commission had requested any incriminating evidence the U.S. may have had, but none was forthcoming. Our foreign minister McKay recently traveled to Washington to look at what the Americans had on Arar but came away empty handed.
For all that, the U.S. refuses to take Arar off their watch list, citing independent evidence which they will not share. When McKay suggested Arar be removed from the watch list, in jumps U.S. ambassador Wilkins telling McKay to mind his own business, the U.S. will decide for itself who can or cannot travel to the U.S. He is technically correct of course, but the insult to McKay and Canada is hardly diplomatic. Prime Minister Harper, to his credit, has replied that the Canadian government has every right to protect its citizens. U.S. ambassadors have often been known to stick their noses into Canadian affairs. If Wilkins opens his mouth again I would hope we would request his recall.
posted by puzzled @ 5:36 AM
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