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Wednesday, December 13, 2006
A disturbing pattern
Before Prime Minister Harper tried to sell the idea of elected Senators to eastern voters (number of vacancies - and thus affected Senate seats - in the four western provinces: zero), Stockwell Day seemed certain to dominate the news with his announcement of a new probe on the plight of three more Canadians arrested and detained, to put it mildly, by Syria between 2001 and 2004 (Canadian Press).
That the RCMP would try to coordinate anti-terrorism efforts with other nations is no real surprise. How much Canada (or America, for that matter) should cooperate with regimes of questionable character is a matter of heated debate - and given that one of the three gentlemen in question was transferred to Egypt for a time, that debate is not without immediate relevance.
However, and far more importantly to me, these three incidents,when added to the Arar fiasco, show a rather disturbing willingness on the part of the Canadian security apparatus and the Chretien-Martin government to treat the Syrian Ba'athist regime as a partner in the War on Terror. This would be the same Syrian regime that has itself been a sponsor of terrorism for over a quarter-century.
Now, as an American, I still have an unanswered question about Arar's deportation to Syria, but so far, the incident appears to be a one-0ff south of the 49th. In Canada, however, there is a very disturbing pattern on the part of the previous Liberal government to ignore the facts about Syria and terrorism. The Canadian people deserve an explanation for this dangerous short-sightedness.
Posted by D.J. McGuire on December 13, 2006 in Canadian Politics, International Affairs | Permalink
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Comments
O/T but...
Are you all ready for "little Mosque on the Prarie"
http://www.littlemosque.ca/index.php
Only on Canada's CBC!!!
Can we kill this atrocity now?
Posted by: Warwick | 2006-12-13 2:02:12 PM
There is no way this fiasco could be explained to remain at the level of importance in the media today, if it were not for the fact that it provides a massive distraction from the fundamental issues of the terrorist support and financing that appear to be coming out of Syria.
If Arar were actually as sincerely interested in peace, he would stop fighting Canada and Canadians and start to lay the blame where it belongs. Fact remains, we did not deport him to Syria. And, fact remains, it looks to me as though Arar is motivated by money more than this issues he is blaming Canada for. Maybe our system is not perfect. And maybe we know that. But just because there have been flaws, does not mean we should give this rediculously badly aimed miscontstrued fiasco the kind of profile and priority it has been getting, over far more serious issues, of life and death matters, facing our people and innocent souls, around the world.
Oh, like what is still going on in the Sudan.
Posted by: Lady | 2006-12-13 2:28:20 PM
Arar and his terrorist buddies laugh at Canada. Not only that - they get to examine exactly how we track terrorists from the results of the inquiry, and we will end up giving them a big fat cheque from the taxpayers - which they will ultimately use to kill Canadians.
Posted by: Philanthropist | 2006-12-13 4:31:59 PM
So I'm not the only one who's upset about the air time this Syrian-Canadian (as in dual citizenship) is getting, even on our rather conservative talk radio station here in Ottawa. I never thought about how much access to our security this whole inquiry has afforded the Syrians and all the other terrorists. Thanks to the Liberals, our future safety and that of our children has been compromised.
Posted by: R. Moore | 2006-12-13 4:55:04 PM
There really has been nothing to convince me yet that this whole Arar affair (plus the other three now getting the press) has not been one huge sucker punch pulled off by Syria. I'm not one given to conspiracy theories but this one just does not feel right.
It is well known just how adept both Iran, and to a lesser degree Syria, are very astute at using gullible Western media against Western nations via the concept of unintended consequences.
By the time these four people have had their way in the press and all redacted is made public - we may as well just abolish out total security network or whatever is left of it.
After all of this, who is going to be happy with their sons/daughters/grandchildren becoming a member of either the RCMP or CSIS.
To make multi-millionaires of these four people would be a travesty. Not to mention that the total Canadian taxpayers output for the legal fees already is a travesty and getting worse.
Posted by: calgary clipper | 2006-12-13 5:16:01 PM
I'm beginning to understand why Iran and Syria are so arrogant. They make fun of our police and security system. What security? That is why they don't care about Kazemi. If they have the opportunity to do the same to another person like Kazemi, you can count on them.
Why is Canada becoming a sitting duck? Will we need a major disaster more important than 9/11 to wake up?
Posted by: Rémi Houle | 2006-12-13 9:04:04 PM
According to the Ottawa Citizen Maher Arar is an exclusive Citizen of Syria, Syria does not permit
dual citizenships. Arar may not in fact be a Canadian Citizen. The Arar file continues to sink below the surface of accountability (known as Liberal Murk) I do not believe that Arar was incarcerated in Syria, nor tortured. the Arar file with subsequent leaks to Ottawa based national media
was contrived in the Federal Justice Department in my opinion to cause grief for the Harper Government.
Federal Justice inflicted same sex marriage on an unsuspecting Canadian public. MacLeod
Posted by: Jack Macleod | 2006-12-14 7:54:34 AM
ebt you could'nt grant Citizen ship to the Tooth Fairy. Old and stupid Jack thinks Maher Arar was born in Syria, which makes him like all the other assholes born there "Syrian", when I was a kid, we used to call them "Assyrians" there several thousand in Nova Scotia say, in 1946. Arar's Canadian Citizenship is not a matter of plain fact - maybe it is to you, but an Enquiry now in demand by the Toronto Star and the Toronto Ottawa focused MSM
will determine what Arar is, and where he hung out in Damascus (Capital of Syria, look it up) Arar is in it for the money, he would do better buying a 6-49 Ticket. MacLeod
Posted by: Jack MacLeod | 2006-12-14 12:44:26 PM
Hey Jack
When I was a kid in Nova Scotia we called them Jews. We just didn't pick up on the subtle differences, I guess. Of course he's in it for the money, and he'll likely use it against us.
Posted by: dan | 2006-12-14 1:10:21 PM
Jack:
The demands of the NDP and Liberal assholes for Harper to apologize to Arar has not be done, hmmmmm, think there is something we haven't been told here? Will he really get those millions he seeks?
Sure hope there is a bombshell coming on this file and in our favor.
It's a bummer to be called old, but old and stupid really has to be the worst, Jack!
We have to assume "ebt" is young and smart. God help us.
Posted by: Liz J | 2006-12-14 1:21:52 PM
Toronto Star (Red Star) just reported that retired
Ontario Supreme Court Justice Frank Iacobucci, who is also Chairman of the Tor Star Corporation will conduct an Enquiry into the Arar Retention, and
Deportation Case. United States Attorney General
stated that Arar was Deported To Syria because Canadian Security Officials listed him as a person
of interest in their Terrorism files. Arar wants money and the media plus bureaucrats involved in prompting Arar are concentrated on destroying the credibility of the Harper Government. Trusting Federal Bureaucrats who served the Liberals for over three decades, is not too smart. House cleaning is in order. Maybe Arar and his fellow deportees can get a good high paying Civil Service
job (providing they are bilingual) - of course all real Canadians like Arar are bilingual. MacLeod
Posted by: Jack MacLeod | 2006-12-14 1:23:25 PM
In Halifax Nova Scotia in the 1940's all the Jews, Lebanese and Assyrians settled in the predominently Irish Catholic North End of Halifax - The Lebanese and Assyrians were all Maronite Catholics so they went to Catholic Parochical Schools with us. The Jews and all the rest noted had one thing in common
- they all joined the Nova Scotia Liberal Party. The Liberals were in continuous power in Nova Scotia for over seventy years, they invented Patronage. But despite their assimilation into Nova Scotia and Canada, they were not considered Canadian Ctizens for many decades after World War II. ebt you need to get out more into the real world. MacLeod
Posted by: Jack Macleod | 2006-12-14 1:39:06 PM
Don't expect the onus of proof of torture to be placed on Maher Arrar.
This is Canada and heresay and warm and fuzzy are all that count in the Canadian judicial system.
I qualify this statement by referring to the Native Residential School Debacle whereby heresay /emotion was the only real evidence needed to win a settlement.
True,as with all institutions there is bound to be abuse of sorts and I don't condone such.
My point being that when we allow hearsay and emotion to usurp fact and common sense, then any unsubstantiated claim to abuse or otherwise becomes acceptable in a social system that is teetering on a much eroded foundation.
This in itself is unacceptable and paves the way for the unscrupulous to invade and dismantle our courts and hence, our democracy.
I say that Mr Arrar needs to prove his case beyond a shadow of doubt, should he expect any compensation.
Nice rebuttal Jack..something like 'old age & treachery will always overcome youth & daring.
cheers
Posted by: Simon | 2006-12-14 5:15:12 PM
You commentators are REALLY something .. perhaps a secret little enclave to discuss all of YOU would be in order.
Since it wasn't you or yours, you don't think that torture is a horrible crime, nor that it is a serious injury to all when someone is tortured ... but it is ... it keeps the whole (profitable) racket of inhumanity going.
Who CARES if he is in it for the money? That's not the POINT. The POINT is that this is supposed to be a democracy for ALL, not a waiting station to find out if someone can get career points by turning in people to suffer ...
Posted by: Virginia | 2006-12-14 8:12:24 PM
Yes, Virginia. There IS a Santa Claus.
Posted by: bg | 2006-12-14 8:28:57 PM
Mr. Arrar as a professional Engineer cannot now get work in Canada..No one will give him a job..
The Media screwed-up with daming reports from day one..
Look many Islamics are questionable, but if this guy is ok. we are not treating him in the correct manner..
He has a family to support.. Give him a chance..He is now a Canadian..
Posted by: Annmarie | 2006-12-14 10:32:13 PM
Arar is still on the dangerous list in USA. All the noise comes from a a judge most likely used by libs who said Arar was OK.
I ask we put many judges under investigation. A judge of the Québec Superior Court was arrested last week for driving drunk. Right now judges are our no1 problem because they interfere with the law rather than applying it with discernment.
We should launch a comprehensive investigation on all judges in service in Canada now. Don't forget they were lawyers before. Anyone knows a rotten lawyer? How many are rotten politicians? How many are involved in fraudulent activities?
For a starter I would suggest to require all judges to be elected after a thorough investigation about their past and ideas.
I am convinced Arar is related to terrorists one way ot the other.
Posted by: Rémi Houle | 2006-12-15 3:47:42 PM
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