Jordan or Syria?
La Rana | Homepage | 01.26.07 - 5:07 pm | #

Jordan or Syria?

From the NYT article I linked to:

The Syrian-born Mr. Arar was seized on Sept. 26, 2002, after he landed at Kennedy Airport in New York on his way home from a holiday in Tunisia. On Oct. 8, he was flown to Jordan in an American government plane and taken overland to Syria . . .
Glenn Greenwald | 01.26.07 - 5:10 pm | #

I imagine that contemporary Americans are morally the equivalent of Germans under the Third Reich. The Germans then, even the Nazis, were generally kind and considerate people who took care of their families, met their civic responsibilities, cared for the less fortunate, helped lame animals over stiles, etc. The trouble is, the Germans then had one little flaw in their character, which you knew at once if you were a Jew. The Americans are just like that now. Friendly folk you'd be pleased to have a beer with and welcome as your neighbor. But God help you if you are perceived to be a Muslim and an official enemy of the state. And Americans now, just like the Germans then, allow a clique to take over that brings out this dark side of their character.
Farmer John | 01.26.07 - 5:14 pm | #

I wish I could say something coherant about this whole affair. However, all that happens when I read accounts such as this is that I find I need to keep myself from screaming. January 20, 2009 can't get here fast enough.
David Hunt | 01.26.07 - 5:16 pm | #

first sentence: Maher Arar is a computer engineer and Canadian citizen who was abducted by the U.S. Government in 2002 and sent by air(?)to Jordan for a year to be tortured despite having no terrorist ties of any kind.

Excellent post. As a Canadian I am very grateful for the publicity you and Senator Leahy are giving this appalling miscarraige of justice.
spark | 01.26.07 - 5:17 pm | #

The Arar case is a travesty, and it's good to see that Harper finally apologized, and ponied up, for the Canadian government's betryal of their own citizen.

I live in Canada, and one of the saddst things about cases like the Arar case is that traditionally the American court system offered a much better shot to 'the little guy' than the Canadian. Conrad Black wouldn't be facing trial and jail time (maybe a month, for the sympbolism of it) in Canada. Canadian libel laws are much like the British-if you're important, nobody can damage your reputation, even if they're telling the truth as they see it.

The Canadian justice system is admirable, it is a testament to western democracy. But the American justice system, based on constitutional law and a bill of fundamental human rights far more powerful than the vagueries of common law is a truly noble achievement. Arar's rights were violated in the most reprehensible and blatant manner. Padilla is the same only moreso in almost every respect.

The real story here is on that Canada did something right, it's that America did something awful. Not just to Arar, but to itself.
Bullsmith | 01.26.07 - 5:17 pm | #

Didn't Leahy ask Gonazales to get back to him within a week with evidence about the warrantless wiretaps? How's that coming? Hope Leahy keeps up the pressure.
todd | 01.26.07 - 5:18 pm | #

At least the Canadian Government seems to be run by people with a minimal sense of conscience and decency

Ah yes. We are a decent bunch are we not ?
Please bear in mind that Harper's is a minority government and he must rule by concensus. Failure to stand up to the Bush administration would have led directly to a vote of non-confidence which he would have lost and then Canada would be sent back to the polls at which point I am sure that the tory administration would be trounced.

See how that works ?

You ( America ) should try it sometime.

I am convinced that if Harper's was a majority government, the results would not be so just.

Absolute power and all that.
Echo | 01.26.07 - 5:19 pm | #

Farmer John,

I've heard that prior to Hitler's rise to power, Germany might well have been the best place in Europe to live as a Jew. I've heard that France was much worse. It was only after the Nazi Party demonized them that Jews found out how bad things could get.

When I heard this, it helped make sense of the fact that so many German Jews thought the anti-Jew ferver the Nazi's were kicking up would blow over. The Germans were arguably the most civilized people on the Continent and they were used to occasional boughts of bad press. Plus, Hitler was such an obvious clown...
David Hunt | 01.26.07 - 5:21 pm | #

And Americans now, just like the Germans then, allow a clique to take over that brings out this dark side of their character.
Farmer John | 01.26.07 - 5:14 pm | #

That's a pretty broad brush you've got there.
.
greenchilecheeseburger | Homepage | 01.26.07 - 5:28 pm | #

I imagine that contemporary Americans are morally the equivalent of Germans under the Third Reich.

Would that include you Farmer John?
greenchilecheeseburger | Homepage | 01.26.07 - 5:30 pm | #

"We've found a troll, may we burn her?"
dontkillwhitey | 01.26.07 - 5:33 pm | #

If they refuse to take him off the no-fly list, and they refuse to provide Canadian authorities with evidence justifying that decision - the Canadians should announce that they have no trust in the American security system and that all Americans intending to fly to Canada should expect lengthy delays in their travel to Canada while the Mounties perform exhaustive checks to ensure that the US isn't spitting out false negatives as well as false positives.

A few weeks of the 16 hour lines for US passport holders and I suspect some accomodation will be met. If not, they can extend it to car and truck traffic at the border.
Pudentilla | 01.26.07 - 5:39 pm | #

As an addendum, the US Ambassador to Canada criticized the Canadian government for asking that Arar be removed from the US security watch list, saying that the US had its own reasons for keeping him on their watch list. http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/20...24/us- arar.html
Our RCMP commissioner resigned over his role in this and the investigation was thorough and conclusive. I'm sure the US has their reasons for not wanting to change their position. Those reasons have nothing to do with justice, truth or Arar.
Canadian | 01.26.07 - 5:45 pm | #

That even our (Canada's) right-wing, authoritarian government is outraged by the Arar case should say a lot about how injust it is.
Simon | 01.26.07 - 5:47 pm | #

This new normal scares me. Government renditions like these should result in jail time for the perpetrators. Instead, Arar and El-masri continue to be victimized OUR government. Other than writing this comment, letters to my legislators and a few diaries on DailyKos, I have done nothing. Am I a good American as tyranny sprouts?
Kenevan McConnon | 01.26.07 - 5:48 pm | #

[i]"I'm sure the US has their reasons for not wanting to change their position. Those reasons have nothing to do with justice, truth or Arar.
Canadian | 01.26.07 - 5:45 pm |"[i/]

As an American, I wisht that I could catagorically refute that, but I fear that the current Administration has taken us down a very dark road, and Congress and the American People themselves have simply let them do it. I'm afraid I can't think of a way to write further on this at this time without invoking Godwin's Law. I will close by saying that I love my country but I'm ashamed of my Government.
David Hunt | 01.26.07 - 5:54 pm | #

Quadrillage--Stunning stupidity!
Nobody | 01.26.07 - 5:57 pm | #

I never imagined I'd have anything good to say about Stephen Harper, but kudos to Stephen Harper for doing the right thing.
dave | 01.26.07 - 6:01 pm | #

I suspect that one reason they're not climbing down (other than the embarassment factor) is that Arar was induced by his Syrian torturers to make statement on which they've based other detentions.
Aaron | 01.26.07 - 6:06 pm | #

It's incredibly sad and disturbing that I can no longer think of several US government agencies without thinking of bloody ears and "Stuck in the Middle with You."

Know what I mean?
dontkillwhitey | 01.26.07 - 6:09 pm | #

For what it's worth, had Stephen Harper been Prime Minister of Canada during March 2003 there's little doubt that he would have sent Canadian soldiers into Iraq. The 'proof' the US was offering was enough for the sycophantic Harper, always worrying about what the Americans would say. He spent most of his time as leader of the opposition trying to kiss Bush 43's behind. Bush 43, of course, has always snubbed him, and continues to do so.

Harper is no prince, but at least Maher Arar has been compensated in a fair court settlement for his treatment in this disturbing episode.

How much torture would you endure for $10 million?
Redwretch | 01.26.07 - 6:10 pm | #

"I'm sure the US has their reasons for not wanting to change their position. "

Oh, no doubt. Probably that we've fucked up in this way so many times that we can't possibly afford to make the needed number of $10MM payouts. Christ.
anon | 01.26.07 - 6:13 pm | #

Actually Drum made an excellent (if semi snarked) point about his remaining on the "the list."

Because we disappeared him to be tortured, he has a very very VERY good reason to want to "fuck us up" in a violent way. Terrorist before? No. Did the torture we subjected him to scar him so badly he might want revenge? Not beyond the realm of possibility.
MNPundit | 01.26.07 - 6:20 pm | #

Glenn -

Did you see this?
Ugh | 01.26.07 - 6:28 pm | #

This is what needs to be done, in part, to resolve the Gitmo issue. Those who are actually guilty should be prosecuted. The rest should be paid off and sent home with a sincere apology. I don't know what else could be done for them besides that at this point.
Stook | 01.26.07 - 6:33 pm | #

I have a sick suspicion that Arar's continued presence on the no-fly list is due to the perfectly understandable argument that "if he wasn't a terrorist sympathizer before, he probably is now."
Justin | 01.26.07 - 6:34 pm | #

Farmer John,

I don't believe that more than a handful of Germans really hated and feared the Jews and would have condoned what their government was doing, if confronted with it. But in the end it was Somebody Else's Problem. Most Germans just didn't want to know.

I think the same thing happens in many countries, including the US. I don't approve, but it is Somebody Else's Problem.

Conservatives had an old jeer that a liberal is someone whose immediate interests are not at stake, meaning if your interests were at stake you wouldn't be so high-minded. I say it is time to turn that old jeer into badge of honor. A liberal is someone whose immediate interests are not at stake -- who cares anyhow.
Enlightened Layperson | Homepage | 01.26.07 - 6:59 pm | #

Harper is a major Bush supporter and holds some fairly extreme right-wing views; don't be fooled.
Canada would be in Iraq today if his government had been in power (and been a majority) in 2003. Harper is just fairly good when it comes to PR stunts like this.
Harper is also very secretive like the Bush administration - he pretty much holds a gag order over his cabinate not allowing them to say anything but the official party line in public while he micromanages everything in the background.
I'm a little surprised at Harper's actions here but then again he has been constantly accused of not standing up the Americans so now he gets a chance to look independent.
CBBB | 01.26.07 - 7:05 pm | #

I remember this story; just before the Iraq War began and while Harper was still Opposition Leader he tabled a motion in the House of Commons to issue a formal apology to the Bush Administration for not supporting the invasion of Iraq and also apologizing because some Canadian MPs criticized George Bush in publics.
Believe me Harper is really one of the biggest Bush suck-ups ever - he's just really, really good at politics and plaicating the masses.

Here's the an article about the story:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/Articl...s_name=& no_ads=
CBBB | 01.26.07 - 7:15 pm | #

This current government is the most dangerous government in the world simply because they continue to talk freedom and liberty all around the world while out of the other side of their mouth they seek torture.

This is not surprising to me as I have read the Military commissions act passed in the last congress that gave this president the permission to do the same thing to Americans that the president decides is supporting terror.

That definition of supporting terror is defined by the president and not courts.

If you say something the "decider in error" thinks gives aid and support to the terrorists you could get kidnapped in the middle of the night by this criminal and never be seen again.

The bill calls for secret detention secret trials and secret execution.

Before you start calling me a troll go and read the bill.

If this congress does not stop this president there will be no 08 presidential elections as he will declare martial law in order to protect all of us from the mean ole terrorists.
Gabe | 01.26.07 - 7:29 pm | #

To Canada, and to Canadians:

Please bear with me, this anecdote takes a bit of telling:

I'm an old army brat. When I was 15, my father was assigned to the Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. One of my best friends at the time was a Canadian, the son of the Canadian Military Attache. We were passionate golfers, and spent most days that summer on the Fort Leavenworth golf course.

One afternoon, we were standing on a tee somewhere on the back nine, when retreat sounded. We missed the cannon shot, and were bantering with each other, instead of standing at attention for the lowering of the flag.

A U.S. Army colonel, coming off the nearby green, and mistaking us for U.S. enlisted men, came over and tore a strip off us, purple-faced and foaming. I was intimidated, in part because my Dad was only a major at the time.

My friend, though, was nothing short of magnificent. This is not exact, but it's pretty close.

I am sorry, sir, but I am Canadian, and being Canadian, am in no way obligated to salute your flag. If you persist in this abuse, you run the risk of creating an international incident. Will you apologize, sir?

To my utter amazement, he actually got an apology. From that day to this, I've had a special place in my heart for our neighbors to the North.
William Timberman | 01.26.07 - 7:30 pm | #

Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

Article 3

1. No State Party shall expel, return ("refouler") or extradite a person to another State where there are substantial grounds for believing that he would be in danger of being subjected to torture.

As a ratified treaty, this is the law of the land. Makes it easy to see why the US opted out of the International Criminal Court after they decided to invade Iraq. Since the US refuses to offer redress or prosecute the offenders, is there an international court that has jurisdiction?
Frankly, my dear, ... | 01.26.07 - 7:36 pm | #

Because my trackbacks don't seem to be working, here is a manual link: Intervention.
whig | Homepage | 01.26.07 - 7:40 pm | #

While the Canadian government responded kindly to Mr. Arar, really if anyone should be paying this fellow money, it should be the American government who abducted him and sent him to Syria.
Herman | 01.26.07 - 7:50 pm | #

The reason the Bush admin won't take his name off the flying list is that would mean an admission of mistake. God knows they can't ever admit when they are wrong. The link to the NY Times article about the Justice dept's lengths to maintain secrecy of their documents was truly frightening. Make sure you read the article. The prosecutor threatened a federal judge if he didn't rule the way they wanted. Hello? What the hell is going on in our country? Something is terribly wrong with this picture.
Conservative Slayer | 01.26.07 - 7:50 pm | #

Tsk tsk Glenn, still the same "For the past ten years I was..." intro. First of all, it's gramatically incorrect. Second of all, hasn't it been a year since you stopped being a litigator?

Maybe you should say "For the past ten years minus one," at least that would be somewhat Lincolnesque.

'Course, he was a Republican and all...
Who'd 'a known | 01.26.07 - 7:53 pm | #

WT,

My soft spot for our northern neighbors doesn't go back as far as yours and I wasn't personally involved, but I still feel it strongly.

When the US embassy in Tehran was overrun by Iranian "students" in 1979, six Americans were outside the embassy at the time and were stranded in Tehran. They sought refuge at the Canadian embassy. The Canadians took them in, gave them shelter, and eventually got them out of the country on falsified Canadian passports. For this I have ever since felt gratitude to Canada as a country and Canadians as a people.
Frankly, my dear, ... | 01.26.07 - 7:56 pm | #

With all those lawyers and diplomats out there, is there nothing more to do in these cases, once a US court dismisses a case on state secrets grounds? How about Canada indicting US officials for Arar's rendition under Canadian and international law and treaty, then submitting an extradition request to the US so Canada can put those CIA officials and US DOJ personnel on trial? Who knows what might happen -- under a Democratic president? Or at least the US would have to explain why it won't honor extradition treaties.
alex | 01.26.07 - 7:57 pm | #

American dissenters will be welcomed here ( Canuckistan ) should the need arise. Once you've crossed the border, the rest is easy.

Hope for the best but plan for the worst.

It looks like things will get worse before they get better.


/Cuz it's a brand new game, and I don't want to play
echo | 01.26.07 - 7:58 pm | #

One thing I'm sure of - this administration will never, ever back down - not on this, not on war, not on warrantless spying, not on any other manifestation of executive authority they think they have. Now, they're moving to dismiss the ACLU v. NSA lawsuit (Judge Taylor's), because the original program "no longer exists."

Some day in the future, people may marvel at these machinations, but for now, we need to figure out a way to combat them.
ej | 01.26.07 - 8:07 pm | #

Frankly:

Since that day, which was almost fifty years ago, I've had other occasions to be grateful to Canada and Canadians, as a number of my friends became landed immigrants there under pressure from the Viet Nam era draft. I had no idea at the time whether or not their new nationality would stick, but I'm happy to report that they became as good and loyal Canadians as they had been Americans, and a damned sight better appreciated.
William Timberman | 01.26.07 - 8:09 pm | #

I'm so proud to be an American.
TruthProbe | Homepage | 01.26.07 - 8:27 pm | #

I'd rather be a Mexican. Much better access to cheap labor, plus I can get nice and crispy once global warming sets in. ;)
Stook | 01.26.07 - 8:38 pm | #

William: We missed the cannon shot, and were bantering with each other, instead of standing at attention for the lowering of the flag.

My husband was also an Army brat and when he told me of this practice (everyone freezing at the lowering of the flag), I thought he was joking. It seemed so... un-American to me. Have you seen the documentary Brats? It talks about this and lots of other stuff he could relate to as well:

http://www.bratsourjourneyhome.c...e.com/ index.htm
Susan | 01.26.07 - 8:45 pm | #

Andrei Markovits wrote

http://chronicle.com/temp/reprint.php? id=5cm8m89n8bpb099csz9qn8p6z7nzj8xp
THE CHRONICLE OF HIGHER EDUCATION
From the issue dated January 19, 2007
Western Europe's America Problem
...Any trip to Europe confirms what surveys have been finding: The aversion to America is becoming greater, louder, more determined. It is unifying Western Europeans more than any other political emotion — with the exception of a common hostility toward Israel. Indeed, the virulence in Western Europe's antipathy to Israel cannot be understood without the presence of anti-Americanism and hostility to the United States. Those two closely related resentments are now considered proper etiquette. They are present in polite company and acceptable in the discourse of the political classes. They constitute common fare not only among Western Europe's cultural and media elites, but also throughout society itself, from London to Athens and from Stockholm to Rome, even if European politicians visiting Washington or European professors at international conferences about anti-Americanism and anti-Semitism are adamant about denying or sugarcoating that reality.

There can be no doubt that many disastrous and irresponsible policies by members of the Bush administration, as well as their haughty demeanor and arrogant tone, have contributed massively to this unprecedented vocal animosity on the part of Europeans toward Americans and America. Indeed, they bear responsibility for having created a situation in which anti-Americanism has mutated into a sort of global antinomy, a mutually shared language of opposition to and resistance against the real and perceived ills of modernity that are now inextricably identified with America. I have been traveling back and forth with considerable frequency between the United States and Europe since 1960, and I cannot recall a time like the present, when such a vehement aversion to everything American has been articulated in Europe. No Western European country is exempt from this phenomenon — not a single social class, no age group or profession, nor either gender. But the aversion reaches much deeper and wider than the frequently evoked "anti-Bushism." I perceive this virulent, Europewide, and global "anti-Bushism" as the glaring tip of a massive anti-American iceberg...

...Because of its association with the United States, Israel is perceived by its European critics as powerful, with both countries seen as mere extensions of one another. To be sure, there is something else at work here as well, because America has many other powerful allies that never receive anywhere near the hostile scrutiny that Israel confronts on a daily basis. Clearly, the fact that Israel is primarily a Jewish state, combined with Europe's deeply problematic and unresolved history with Jews, plays a central role in European anti-Semitism. But today we are witnessing a "new" anti-Semitism that adds to traditional stereotypes: It is an epiphenomenon of anti-Americanism...

The Canadian government has absolutely no credibility in the Arar case. The Royal Canadian Mountain Police asked the US government to detain Arar and send him to Syria, since they lacked the intestinal fortitude to do it themselves. After Syria decided to ally themselves with Iran and released Arar back to Canada, the cowardly Canadians are now backtracking and blaming the US. I'm glad the US is not putting up with this PC nonsense.
soMebodY | 01.26.07 - 8:52 pm | #

Susan:

No, I've never seen the film. When you've lived something, the film portrayal of it is -- how to put it -- awkward.

I never minded facing the flag and saluting, even when I couldn't hear the bugle, or see the flag, much the way Muslims face Mecca from half a world away at prayer. It seemed a small gesture of respect for a great gift bestowed on me. On the other hand, I've never liked bullies, and I've always respected courage, which is why, much as I love my country, I despair of it today.
William Timberman | 01.26.07 - 8:57 pm | #

From soMebodY at 8:52 pm:

The Canadian government has absolutely no credibility in the Arar case. The Royal Canadian Mountain Police asked the US government to detain Arar and send him to Syria, since they lacked the intestinal fortitude to do it themselves.

You have documentation this request was made?

I'm glad the US is not putting up with this PC nonsense.

May such thoughts keep you warm when its your turn to be rendered and tortured. And let's not be naive, your turn IS coming.
Iokanaan in the Well | 01.26.07 - 9:00 pm | #

A useful resource for those who wish to know more about this case is this synopsis from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation CBC.ca: Arar timeline.

I wrote a piece similar to Glenn's this morning, contrasting the Canadian government's relatively responsible actions in this case to those of the US regime. Maher Arar Update Unsatisfied, I wrote another piece this evening, considering one crucial fact that has thus far been ignored. Maher Arar, Jose Padilla, Khalid al-Masri and other known names have had it good in comparison to the dozens, perhaps hundreds of nameless individuals who have been similarly treated. It was Arar's good fortune that the Canadian government knew that he was in American custody. Otherwise there is no reason to believe he would not have simply disappeared. Night and Fog.
Arar Revisited

By the way, I have never been happier to have been born in Canada than I have been lately. My sympathies to the vast majority of decent, freedom loving Americans.

SadButTrue | Homepage | 01.26.07 - 9:05 pm | #

"all Americans intending to fly to Canada should expect lengthy delays in their travel to Canada"

This is the wrong time to get in a pissing contest with the US. Harper is not the guy to do it either.

Harper has recently caved on the softwood lumber dispute to the disgust of most Canadians. This is all just PR for local consumption.

After we skipped out of "the Coalition of the Willing" for Iraq he went stateside and apologized on Fox news (ugh).

Harper is a locally grown rightwing idealogue and Bush sychophant. We need to remove him at the earliest opportunity.
Rob Sommerville | 01.26.07 - 9:21 pm | #

HERMAN - While the Canadian government responded kindly to Mr. Arar, really if anyone should be paying this fellow money, it should be the American government who abducted him and sent him to Syria.

The Canadians cooperated every step of the way in detaining Arar, and all of the information the U.S. had that led to Arar's detention came from Canadian intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
Glenn Greenwald | 01.26.07 - 9:22 pm | #

Chris Floyd :

http://www.chris-floyd.com/index.php? option=com_content&task=view&id=331&Itemid=1
Sacred Terror: The Global Death Squad of George W. Bush
Written by Chris Floyd
Friday, 09 December 2005

It's hard to believe that any genuine democracy would accept a claim by its leader that he could have anyone killed simply by labeling them an "enemy." It's hard to believe that any adult with even the slightest knowledge of history or human nature could countenance such unlimited, arbitrary power, knowing the evil it is bound to produce. Yet this is what the great and good in America have done. Like the boyars of old, they not only countenance but celebrate their enslavement to the ruler.

This was vividly demonstrated in one of the revolting scenes in recent American history: Bush's State of the Union address in January 2003, delivered to Congress and televised nationwide during the final frenzy of war-drum beating before the assault on Iraq. Trumpeting his successes in the Terror War, Bush claimed that "more than 3,000 suspected terrorists" had been arrested worldwide – "and many others have met a different fate." His face then took on the characteristic leer, the strange, sickly half-smile it acquires whenever he speaks of killing people: "Let's put it this way. They are no longer a problem."

soMebodY | 01.26.07 - 8:52 pm

Lie #1: The Canadian government has absolutely no credibility in the Arar case.

The Canadian government did a full investigation of the case and released an 822-page report on it on September 18, 2006.

Lie #2: The Royal Canadian Mountain Police asked the US government to detain Arar and send him to Syria, since they lacked the intestinal fortitude to do it themselves.

The RCMP provided information (erroneous) to US authorities that led them to detain Arar. Once detained by the US, the Canadians had no further control over the matter the RCMP expected Arar to be returned to Canada

Lie #3: After Syria decided to ally themselves with Iran and released Arar back to Canada, the cowardly Canadians are now backtracking and blaming the US.

Syria allied itself with Iran during the Iran-Iraq war. The RCMP Commisioner resigned on December 6, 2006 over the Arar affair. Canada, as has been shown repeatedly, has no control over what the US does, but please, please, walk up to a Canadian and call him cowardly (leave a note identifying your next-of-kin first).

I'm glad the US is not putting up with this PC nonsense.

The truth at last.

Frankly, my dear, ... | 01.26.07 - 9:31 pm | #

Jeebus I'm disgusted by what is happening here.

Great anecdote WT.

Great link, ugh. The quotes from that story may be the most frightening shit I've heard yet from this administration and its squadrons of drones.

...the government lawyers said, “The F.B.I. is on its way to the courthouse to take possession of the document from the judge.”

But Judge King, at a hurriedly convened hearing, would not yield it, and asked, “What if I say I will not deliver it to the F.B.I.?”

A Justice Department lawyer, Anthony J. Coppolino, gave a measured response, saying: “Your Honor, we obviously don’t want to have any kind of a confrontation with you. But it has to be secured in a proper fashion.”

The document was ultimately deposited in a “secure compartmented information facility” at the bureau office in Portland.

In the meantime, copies of the document appear to have been sent abroad, and the government concedes that it has made no efforts to contact people overseas who it suspects have them.

“It’s probably gone many, many places,” Judge King said of the document at the August hearing. “Who is it secret from?”

A Justice Department lawyer, Andrew H. Tannenbaum, replied, “It’s secret from anyone who has not seen it.”

He added, “The document must be completely removed from the case, and plaintiffs are not allowed to rely on it to prove their claims.”

This is America?

Someone else mentioned this above, but Leahy seemed really pissed when he acceded to Gonzalez' "I hope to have something for you in a week..." timetable. Hasn't it been a week? Any updates on this?
nick | Homepage | 01.26.07 - 9:33 pm | #

The Canadians cooperated every step of the way in detaining Arar, and all of the information the U.S. had that led to Arar's detention came from Canadian intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
Glenn Greenwald | 01.26.07 - 9:22 pm

But the Canadians had no part in sending him to Syria to be tortured. They expected him to be returned to Canada. The information they provided to the US was false and misleading:

"The U.S. decision to send Maher Arar to Syria was 'very likely' based on inaccurate and misleading information from the RCMP, according to an inquiry report released Monday, but there is no evidence Canadian officials played a direct role in his detention or deportation."

The Canadian government owes him compensation for providing inaccurate information to the US. The US government owes him compensation for rendering him for torture in violation of international and US law.
Frankly, my dear, ... | 01.26.07 - 9:44 pm | #

The Canadian justice system is admirable, it is a testament to western democracy. But the American justice system, based on constitutional law and a bill of fundamental human rights far more powerful than the vagueries of common law is a truly noble achievement.

I would agree with this comparison, but only as regards the respective development of the legal systems prior the adoption of the Charter of Rights in 1982. Granted, the US experience was certainly provided a great spur to the desire for an an explicit Constitutional guarantee of civil liberties (a desire sadly borne out by the downward trajectory of human rights in the U.K. and Australia over the past decade.)

I find it rather telling that the Charter is the favorite bette noir of the Canadian branch of Neoconservatism, the ostensible source of almost all that ails the nation. It makes one rather apprehensive about how their US counterparts' truly regard the Bill of Rights.
XPM | 01.26.07 - 10:00 pm | #

Disgusting tale that make one ashamed of our country. Canada did well to apoligize.

At the foreign policy level, what kind of skill does it take for the US to seriously piss off Canada? Canada, for gods sake. It boggles the mind that, in addition to screwing up every other goddam place in the world, we've managed to piss off Canada.

I'm trying to think now--is there anyplace left in the world where they are not totally pissed off at Americans?
casual observer | 01.26.07 - 10:05 pm | #

I heard an insightful comment from a member of the Canadian Muslim community. In his opinion, Arar is being kept on the US no-fly list in order to prevent him from testifying before the US congress. At this point, everyone from the Conservative Prime Minister on down is saying there is no justification for keeping Arar on the US no-fly list.
Le Jackel | 01.26.07 - 10:09 pm | #

Hey soMebodY,

Please double check your facts. The reason the Cdn government just made Arar a wealthly man is because they are admitting fault.

The US government (Executive branch), with your support, is determined to admit no wrongdoing in Arar's treatment whatsoever.

Glenn's entire blogging history has been based upon his experience with the law, and the constraints (checks and balances) it supposedly puts on those in power to provide evidence in support of their actions on behalf of US citizens and residents. What the Arar and El-Masri episodes clearly demonstrate, to this very minute, is that this administration, unlike any previous administrations save Nixon, claims, behaves, and cloaks in secrecy whenever possible its flagrant lawbreaking. US citizenship is no protection against this unprecedented assault on a person's purportedly inalienable rights, as Padilla's treatment demonstrates. US soil is also no guarantee of good behaviour, as Padilla's treatment again confirms.

This administration, in your name, has been treating people inhumanely. That is the thin edge of tyranny, stranger.

Can you not see this?
Redwretch | 01.26.07 - 10:14 pm | #

That should have been "bête noire", sorry.
XPM | 01.26.07 - 10:19 pm | #

I see it, Redwretch.
Farmer John | 01.26.07 - 10:21 pm | #

Please double check your facts. The reason the Cdn government just made Arar a wealthly man is because they are admitting fault.

The US government (Executive branch), with your support, is determined to admit no wrongdoing in Arar's treatment whatsoever.

The hapless Canadian government is being pushed around by its extremist Islamist minority. This is not an isolated instance. They have also given official recognition to Sharia Law in Canada. We constantly read of Islamist terror plots being hatched in Canada. It would not surprise me in the least that sometime in the not too distant future we will have to send armed expeditionary forces to rescue the Canadians, like we did for the Afghans and the Iraqis.
soMebodY | 01.26.07 - 10:25 pm | #

Is soMebodY another "parody troll"?
XPM | 01.26.07 - 10:30 pm | #

AND ANOTHER THING...

To Mr. Timberman, and all Americans, We love you MAN!

Canada and the USA share more than a border. We share a great deal of culture, our families often have relatives in both countries, as I do, and we own far more of each other than any other nation on this little planet.

Our economies are woven together, and that trade benefits both countries. We share common dreams and goals for a better world, and not in some Wizard of Oz fantasy that can be sold to gullible people around the world, but in high standards for foreign aid, human rights, and responsible development for other countries.

Canada really is the USA's best friend, and vice versa. As goes one, so goes the other.

That's why watching this administration lie and obfuscate day in, day out, is so painful for us. Where have they not sold out to financial interests over workplace safety, or reasonable drug prices, or local democracy vs the ideology of lunatics? Please tell me.

Where has the leadership in US news organizations been? There are some, but so many were fired by March 2003 that I must wonder if the decision makers have a united agenda. Blogs like Glenn's are a real treasure, as they clearly show that civilized, independent thinking Americans still want to participate, not just smile and nod.

I have great optimism due to the netroots, of which Glenn is a valuable member.

Coulter, and equivalents, have blabbered on about how insignificant Canada is to the US, but they don't see the forest for the trees. Seal the border and the auto industry, home builders, and yes, seniors who need medicines at reasonable prices will march on Congress, because we all need that border open. When the Millenium bomber was caught entering the US from Canada it was a wake up call to all of us. That opportunistic politicians (on both sides) take pot shots at the easy targets across the border they do so almost always from rank ignorance. Examples such as the entry points for the 9/11 attackers (not from Canada), or the origin of the August 2003 blackout (not from Canada), or mad-cow disease (cases on both sides, and not just from Canada), and gun smuggling (not just from the US) are just a few.

I've felt for a very long time that the Bush 43 administration is not representative of the American people. While the same might be said about Stephen Harper's Conservative government, it's at about the same ratio as our populations, that is, 10 to 1.

I think today's settlement is a clear demonstration of that.
Redwretch | 01.26.07 - 10:46 pm | #

and gun smuggling (not just from the US)

To be fair, the issue there was more one of comparison to the hysteria surrounding marijuana smuggling from Canada into the U.S.
XPM | 01.26.07 - 10:57 pm | #

and gun smuggling (not just from the US)

To be fair, the issue there was more one of comparison to the hysteria surrounding marijuana smuggling from Canada into the U.S.
XPM | 01.26.07 - 10:57 pm | #

They have also given official recognition to Sharia Law in Canada

Wow, is that ever wrong.

First of all, there was never any talk of that happening on the federal level in Canada; there was only talk of it happening in the province of Ontario.

Second of all, the province of Ontario specifically decided NOT to recognize sharia law. That's NOT to.
Chet Scoville | Homepage | 01.26.07 - 11:09 pm | #

Casual Observer

It's not just that you have pissed off Canada - you have even pissed off the Harper government. Had they been in office, they would have supported the Iraq war. They did a deal on softwood lumber that eviscerated the appeal process in NAFTA. They are GOP light (lite?). But the Arar case has injected some spine. I dont think that they can do any more but maybe Senator Leahy can.
lurcher | 01.26.07 - 11:20 pm | #

Haven't you heard? Bush doesn't make mistakes. Just ask him.

Repeatedly...

I watched some of the SOTU, until I couldn't stand it anymore. The guy is a fucking moron. Absolutely, without a doubt, the WORST president ever. And that is quite an accomplishment, if you consider ineptitude, stupidity, and shallowness, actual goals.

The guy is totally incompetent. He's only vetoed one bill in 6 fucking years. To stop federal funding of stem cell research. And he thinks "Intelligent Design" has something to do with science?

He and his Repugnican cohorts have bankrupted this country, in more ways than one. It will take us years, if not decades, to recover from this debacle. Tax breaks, during a fucking war? Oh yeah, have to give those "corporate donors" their due. Meanwhile, this week, Repugnicans attached stupid tax break amendments to a bill that was intended to raise the minimum wage for the first time in over 10 years, just to kill the thing. The rich are rolling in dough, but giving people living at or below the poverty line a slight raise would ruin profitability, and some CEO might only get $22 million instead of $28 million next year. Jesus fucking Christ!

But, there are no lobbyists for a "Minimum Wage Earners Association," are there?

Assholes. Finally, though, it looks like some Democrats are growing balls. They may seem small now, but we can only hope that over the next year, they get to be huge.

At least I hope they do.

I would like to apologize for the behavior of my country, and I'm doing the best I can by sending letters to my representatives, working for the campaigns of Democrats to bring our government back into balance, and contribute to campaigns and causes that hold promise to reverse the (off) course that the U.S. seems to have taken. I did not vote for this, but at the same time, I am not sitting still for it, either.

With everything I've done in the past few years, it wouldn't surprise me if I found myself on the "no fly" list. I haven't tried to fly anywhere in three years or more.

The comparisons to Nazi Germany made in comments above are not completely "out of line." The mislabeled "Patriot Act" is enabling many atrocities in the name of my country.

I say "my country," even though it no longer feels like the one I grew up in...
Ranger Jay | 01.26.07 - 11:28 pm | #

The US doesn't want to apologize to the innocent man they rendered off to be tortured because then it might draw attention to how many hundreds of others have been rendered and not released because they weren't determined to be innocent.

Maher Arar is just collateral damage and if only 2 out of a thousand are mistakes, then they figure that what they're doing is hunky-dory!

Move along...Nothing to see here!
Paul Dirks | Homepage | 01.26.07 - 11:33 pm | #

Is Bush a sociopath?
See Digby on his daughter's hospitalization. See the story about how he treated his mother (bicycle ride). You have read this account from Glenn. Also consider his "kill" order on Iranians in Iraq. Now, taking all that and the rest of his sorry life into account, I ask you, is Bush a sociopath?
Afterthought | 01.26.07 - 11:42 pm | #

Is soMebodY another "parody troll"?

Yes.

As Atrios would say - this was another instance of an easy answers to an easy question.

On a side note: Having lived as a German national in the US I recently moved to Canada. The atmosphere in the states was getting to opressive for me to tolerate any more.
quax | 01.26.07 - 11:46 pm | #

I dont think that they can do any more but maybe Senator Leahy can.

With all due respect to the hon. Mr. Leahy--

To depend on the machinations of a foreign government for the defense of my rights and dignity as a person, a government that has officially declared that it does not consider me to have any rights or dignity whatsoever, a government that is not accountable to me in any meaningful fashion, is not a circumstance I find remotely tolerable.

This is disenfranchisement.
XPM | 01.26.07 - 11:46 pm | #

Is Bush a sociopath? Yes, as he is a psychopathic individual affecting society.

It's a simple formula, really:

(PsychopathicPresident + NeoConVicePresident) X (MilitaryIndustrialComplex + RepublicanMajority) X (9/11) = Madness

In the future, this formula will be found in the index under "worst case scenario."
Ranger Jay | 01.26.07 - 11:51 pm | #

So why hasn't Bush been impeached? What is everyone waiting for? Martians to arrive for the trial?
James | 01.26.07 - 11:51 pm | #

Ranger Jay - "In the future, this formula will be found in the index under 'worst case scenario.'"

Or under "trifecta"
naelum | 01.27.07 - 12:06 am | #

Impeachment is VERY difficult. For a reason. That reason being that the founding fathers set up the "balancing" act between the three branches of government. No single one has all the power, and no single one can remove the power of another.

In an ideal world, the three branches would be functioning normally, but over the past six years, this has become a perverted situation (and with the recent Supreme Court appointments, there now exists the opportunity for further degeneration). A "no holds barred" presidency, with no checks and balances, is the exact nightmare that was supposed to be avoided, according to the Constitution.

However, the three witches of Fear, Ineptitude, and Power have gathered around the old cauldron.

Mix in the collapse of competent journalism, the rise of the religious fervor, Faux News, and xenophobia, and you get yourself a fine recipe for a disaster of historic proportions. This is "Fall of Rome," rise of Nazi Germany kind of shit. And it ain't pretty.

I could go back and reference the fact that the 2000 election was stolen, but that is beside the point. Certain things were set into motion, and certain people had power at a critical point in time. Decisions were made. Wars were started. Balance was lost.

I do not see any sort of "happy ending" to this story. It's gonna get really ugly in the next couple of years, no matter what happens.

As truths come to light, the U.S. is gonna look really, really bad on the world's stage. And we rightfully deserve it.

I shudder when I think of exactly how ugly it might get...
Ranger Jay | 01.27.07 - 12:13 am | #

"That even our (Canada's) right-wing, authoritarian government is outraged by the Arar case should say a lot about how injust it is." Said Simon

I am a Canadian who certainly has a fair bit of disagreement with the Conservatives and Stephen Harper, although I was happy that they won the last election with a minority as after 12 years of Liberal hegemony we needed a change. Let's not descend into hyperbole however. The Conservatives are right-wing for Canada, but are ideologically closer to the Democrats in the U.S. than the Republicans. As for them being authoritarian: WTF are you talking about? What creeping authoritarianism have you seen in the last year? As has been mentioned already in this thread Harper has a different, and less compliant, policy towards dealing with the press than his recent predecessors did, but this is hardly evidence of him being an authoritarian. Being the leader of a minority government means he doesnt have the power to do hardly anything without the support of at least one of the more left-leaning parties anyways.
He did the right thing and though his reasons are to me inscrutable, I am glad he did.
Mel Backstrom | Homepage | 01.27.07 - 12:45 am | #

Isn't it odd that the White House et al ranted about Syria - while Syria was tormenting on demand for them?
zozie | 01.27.07 - 12:50 am | #

but one's anger is renewed each time there is a further development.

Yes, Glenn, and one''s confusion, too.

Syria: useful when Bush needs someone tortured.

Syria: compelled to support 40,000 Iraqi refugees in the past year, due to the botched US occupation.

Syria: a country Bush won't speak to because he says they support terrorism.

That Syria supports Hizbollah is undisputed. So Bush's two-faced use of and repudiation of Syria can only mean Bush is with us, AND against us.

Doesn't such a duplicitous and blatant use of aa enemy state amount to treason?
Kevin Hayden | Homepage | 01.27.07 - 12:59 am | #

US Forces Massacre Iraqi Civilians, Pregnant Women

Americans seize, lock down city of ar-Ramadi, shoot dead 32 civilians including nine pregnant women in 24 hours. Women appeal to tribes in al-Fallujah to break deadly US siege.

In a dispatch posted at 9:19pm Makkah time Wednesday afternoon, Mafkarat al-Islam reported that in the previous 24 hours the US troops in ar-Ramadi had killed 32 civilians after beginning to shoot at anything that moves in the city.

The correspondent for Mafkarat al-Islam reported that US troops seized control of government buildings and private houses that overlook the main streets in the city. The Americans also took over the al-Mustafa Hospital after throwing the sick and injured patients and the doctors and staff out into the street.

Persons wounded in the latest American rampages have no way to get medical care, since anyone who so much as opens his door and steps into the street is shot at by US snipers atop tall buildings or by American tanks......

And get this. After they've hung Ahmadinejad, they can go after Jimmy Carter.

Netanyahu in London: Ahmadinejad must be tried in Hague

LONDON- Likud Chairman Member of Knesset Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently visiting London, met with Canadian and British members of parliament in order to harness their support for his initiative that calls to put Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on trial for inciting genocide. Former Israeli ambassador Dore Gold and MK Danny Naveh also participated in the meeting.

Netanyahu and an international organization of leading lawyers are trying to drum up support for an initiative to put Ahmadinejad on trial in The Hague for inciting genocide.

The initiators are also pushing to impose strict economic sanctions on Iran that will hurt the country's citizens. According to them, "This is the only way they will understand that Ahmadinejad is dangerous for them no less than he is for the rest of the world."

Irwin Cutler, a Canadian member of parliament and the former justice minister who also backs the initiative, said to Ynet that he and his group of expert lawyers – both Jews and non-Jews – are taking action to push through an indictment against Ahmadinejad. Cutler noted that among those backing the initiative are an Iranian professor and the dean of the University of Toronto's law school.....
EWO | 01.27.07 - 1:55 am | #

..Any trip to Europe confirms what surveys have been finding: The aversion to America is becoming greater, louder, more determined. It is unifying Western Europeans more than any other political emotion — with the exception of a common hostility toward Israel. Indeed, the virulence in Western Europe's antipathy to Israel cannot be understood without the presence of anti-Americanism and hostility to the United States. [...] even if European politicians visiting Washington or European professors at international conferences about anti-Americanism and anti-Semitism are adamant about denying or sugarcoating that reality.

Since when is antipathy to Israel, a nation state with a habit of invading its neighbours and occupying their territory, identical to "anti-Semitism"?

Not that it's unique to Israel in the area, of course - but people don't get labelled "anti-Arab" for criticising Libya, Syria or pre-Bush Iraq.
Phoenician in a time of Romans | Homepage | 01.27.07 - 2:30 am | #

Impeachment is VERY difficult. For a reason. That reason being that the founding fathers set up the "balancing" act between the three branches of government. No single one has all the power, and no single one can remove the power of another.

Oh for fuck's sake - SOMEONE give Bush a blowjob!
Phoenician in a time of Romans | Homepage | 01.27.07 - 2:41 am | #

I prefer berberians to barbarians.
Marty Peretzel | 01.27.07 - 3:09 am | #

Mel Backstrom -- I'd say Harper's government's gagging his ministers from speaking to the press, kicking the press out of the usual media scrum, and changing the name on the government-issued documentation from "The Government of Canada" to "Canada's New Government" smacks just a bit of authoritarianism. Right now, the Harper government is behaving, but woe betide us if he gets a majority in the next election.

If we'd had another Liberal government, we would have had a change anyway, because most of Martin's dead-enders were gone, and we likely wouldn't still be in Afghanistan, the media could still talk to Cabinet Ministers without PM-level censorship, we wouldn't have rolled over for the US on the softwood lumber trade war, our government-issued paperwork would still look dignified, and Maher Arar would have gotten the $400M compensation he asked for originally. $10.5M is a shitty buyout for having spent ten months in a hole in Syria being beaten with electrical cables.

I mean, really. If someone asked you whether you'd take $10.5M in exchange for being kidnapped, taken by force to a country halfway around the world from where you live, thrown in a tiny cell, and then beaten every day for 10 months, would you say yes? That's one hell of a deal Harper got, really.
Interrobang | Homepage | 01.27.07 - 3:12 am | #

Bush Is About to Attack Iran. Why Can't Americans See it? by Paul Craig Roberts

.....The entire world knows this and is discussing Bush's planned attack on Iran in many forums. It is only Americans who haven't caught on. A few senators have said that Bush must not attack Iran without the approval of Congress, and postings on the Internet demonstrate world wide awareness that Iran is in the Bush Regime's cross hairs. But Congress and the Media – and the demonstration in Washington – are focused on Iraq.

What can be done to bring American awareness up to the standard of the rest of the world?

In Davos, Switzerland, the meeting of the World Economic Forum, a conference where economic globalism issues are discussed, opened January 24 with a discussion of Bush's planned attack on Iran. The Secretary General of the League of Arab States and bankers and businessmen from such US allies as Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates all warned of the coming attack and its catastrophic consequences for the Middle East and the world.

Writing for Global Research, General Leonid Ivashov, vice president of the Academy on Geopolitical Affairs and former Joint Chief of Staff of the Russian Armies, forecasted an American nuclear attack on Iran by the end of April. General Ivashov presented the neoconservative reasoning that is the basis for the attack and concluded that the world's protests cannot stop the US attack on Iran.

There will be shock and indignation, General Ivashov concludes, but the US will get away with it. He writes:

"Within weeks from now, we will see the informational warfare machine start working. The public opinion is already under pressure. There will be a growing anti-Iranian militaristic hysteria, new information leaks, disinformation, etc.... The probability of a US aggression against Iran is extremely high. It does remain unclear, though, whether the US Congress is going to authorize the war. It may take a provocation to eliminate this obstacle (an attack on Israel or the US targets including military bases). The scale of the provocation may be comparable to the 9/11 attack in NY. Then the Congress will certainly say 'Yes' to the US president."

The Bush Regime has made it clear that it is convinced that Bush already has the authority to attack Iran. The Regime argues that the authority is part of Bush's commander-in-chief powers. Congress has authorized the war in Iraq, and Bush's recent public statements have shifted the responsibility for the Iraqi insurgency from al-Qaeda to Iran. Iran, Bush has declared, is killing US troops in Iraq. Thus, Iran is covered under the authorization for the war in Iraq.

Both Bush and Cheney have made it clear in public statements that they will ignore any congressional opposition to their war plans. For example, CBS News reported (Jan. 25) that Cheney said that a congressional resolution against escalating the war in Iraq "won't stop us." According to the Associated Press, Bush dismissed congressional disapproval with his statement, "I'm the decision-maker."

Everything is in place for an attack on Iran. Two aircraft carrier attack forces are deployed to the Persian Gulf, US attack aircraft have been moved to Turkey and other countries on Iran's borders, Patriot anti-missile defense systems are being moved to the Middle East to protect oil facilities and US bases from retaliation from Iranian missiles, and growing reams of disinformation alleging Iran's responsibility for the insurgency in Iraq are being fed to the gullible US media.

General Ivashof and everyone in the Middle East and at the Davos globalization conference in Europe understands the Bush Regime's agenda.

Why cannot Americans understand?

Why hasn't Congress told Bush and Cheney that they will both be instantly impeached if they initiate a wider war?
.
EWO | 01.27.07 - 3:34 am | #

---

Yo, Nancy:

Mr. Roberts asked you a question.

Why hasn't Congress told Bush and Cheney that they will both be instantly impeached if they initiate a wider war?

"So this is how liberty dies... with thunderous applause." - Padme.
Averting eyes---iceberg ahead | 01.27.07 - 3:58 am | #

Phoenician,

Markovits doesn't claim that antipathy to Israel is identical to anti-Semitism.

But would you claim they're completely distinct and unrelated?
sysprog | 01.27.07 - 3:58 am | #

Reading some more about Markovits, I find that he does have a disturbing tendency to blur the distinction between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism.

I disagree with many of his views on Israel.

I disagree with many of his views on the USA.

However, I agree with Markovits that some so-called "anti-Zionism" isn't just about Israel's policies, but is also anti-Semitism about Israel's "essence".
sysprog | 01.27.07 - 4:31 am | #

http://www.dailykos.com/story/20...9/20/01627/ 5989

A Canadian Commission on the extraordinary rendition case of Maher Arar has recommended that the RCMP withold information from countries with "questionable human rights records"
TreadingWater | 01.27.07 - 4:54 am | #

Everybody. Sleep'st not never?

Rising up early in America to feel how cold, dark, and even a bit scarey it is outside...Shivers.
To come hereupon the inter-Net site in the dark is to notice a bit of good moonlight that's shed There/Here and share what we can share in common...A Moon. A yearn and long for peace with you...
Can the blog be a campfire light that flickers some hope, a teepee, and not a brain-sucking booby-teevee? It's the best we got for serious/playful discussion that I know of...
William Timberman can show us his fine verbal sharp sword. He can cut via the wind and get at the liver for liver-dumpling soup? He's just singled out by me, for a nomination/commendation, (rather than a pop to the snout) to represent us-all who get tongue tied or stutter with a beautful sound a a bird in flight.
The more quiet (You) persons' don't have to speak/type. A people can feel the message of support. A person can feel it. A virtue is evident and can 'say' all that's important without a word. It's support.

Mr. Timberman, I'd never engage you unless I was seeking early retirment. You kindly toss critters out to sea. Once, at Fort McClellan Alabama, after basic "grunt" training, I met a Army-brat who was going to be a nun, but followed family tradition and joined-up to serve in the USA's Army. She was strangly likable and I met her out on the 9th green on a cold winter night. Nothing interesting happened. The conversation was memorable. I did get yelled at the next morning for my "gig-line," the zipper and shirt line didn't match up on, and I was on a Sunday stroll to the PX. A Officer-Lifer went crazy-beserk for a crooked gig-line? That was before the war. After war, I was walking up to Generals anywhere, and pulling up my pants legs to show & tell, and ask, "why hunks lopped off my body--Sir?"...'Sir--- Do jump-jacks-you-clowns!' 'Dammnit--You want a article-15 or a dish-honorable discharge? Wash the latrine! Burn 50gal dung-piles with diesal-fuel stolen from the Iraqi's!

I started to say howdy to Canadians. The luckiest thing I did a long time ago was buy ocean property when it was affordable near Shelbourne N.S. I go there each year to count the waves of the sea. America's host of the News-Hour, public radio, even has land in N.S. A good pastry shop is in that beautiful 'ole former fishing village town. Anyway, what is a disgrace can always change for better/worst--I hope for the better. We do need to haul on a ship some human weasels to row...and then get-dumped at sea? Then, after that chore is complete...We can find a good hoe, do daily honest work, and sit around the campfire at eve to keep telling true experiences/stories. Some stories must be whispered to each other in secret. Tell one wrong person sitting on your 'right,' and it's 'to tell' the world. Right/Left hand salute? A little bow of quiet respect to....
clownsense | 01.27.07 - 5:00 am | #

Those who ask if anyone would accept being tortured for 10 months in exchange for $10M, are not considering what in some ways must be the worst for these victims. If you went along with that bargain, and were capable of keeping track of the calendar somewhat, you'd know when you were halfway. You'd know that this someday would end. People renditioned and imprisoned at Guantanamo etc. don't know if it will ever end.
nbm | 01.27.07 - 5:55 am | #

Wake up. It's a beautiful Saturday. Before I pay a visit to our local market. I need to unburden a thought.

I just read a excellent article by David Swanson at Atlantic Free Press. The article 'pierced' me deeply. I'd known about the Tower 'stuff' and never could find proper words. Briefly, the dates David Swanson mentions are dates that re-Call memory. On Feb. 10th, 1970, a grenade blasted next to me. On the dates David brings up as contempory info. gets 'my goat because during the incident mentioned, I was traveling with my Southeast Asian friends I once tried to help. If one is bored, I invite you to read a letter (Sandra Day O'Conner) I once wrote that's included in my contribution thought as a 'writer.' I can not figure out how to comment at ATF to thank David...a wild day in DC. I'll be there in spirit.

My thoughts as a guest at Atlantic Free Press are under:

Respect,
Art James (brotherbruz, clownsense)

Thanks.
clownsense | 01.27.07 - 7:25 am | #

in the land of allegedly free and the supposedly brave, there would not be a 'secrets priveledge' defense, it is used as nothing but a stay of of jail free card

the only sources and methods that they are protecting are the illegal acts they committed, if we were truly a 'free', open society, the light of day would burn those 'brave' men and women using that defense

from the first time i heard of it being used, back in the 60's (??) when an air force wife tried to sue the gov't to find out why her husband died in a plane crash, the gov't used that defense to protect the plane manufacturer reguarding it's design of putting flight control wiring too close to a heat source to sibel edmonds whistle-blower lawsuit regarding 9/11 related transcriptions and hasterts 'campaign contriubtions', the 'states secret' defense is nothing more than a last line of defense to impede the prosecution of defenseless acts
tofubo | Homepage | 01.27.07 - 8:28 am | #

The amount awarded to Arar was obscene.
Even if he was tortured....he is getting 10 million on his word that he was.
The Atheist Jew | Homepage | 01.27.07 - 9:23 am | #

This morning's Toronto Star has the story of Maher Arar's settlement with the Canadian Government, which includes $10 million and an official apology from the Prime Minister.

Arar's wife insisted on an apology in writing from the Prime Minister from the beginning, "so that when her children are old enough they have written proof from the Prime Minister of Maher's innocence."

"No one should have to prove their good name to their children. That is simply abominable. The Prime Minister and his government deserve credit for helping to restore these people's lives," Falconer [Arar's Lawyer] said.

SadButTrue | Homepage | 01.27.07 - 9:29 am | #

Impeachment is VERY difficult. For a reason. That reason being that the founding fathers set up the "balancing" act between the three branches of government. No single one has all the power, and no single one can remove the power of another.

Oh for fuck's sake - SOMEONE give Bush a blowjob
-Phoenician in a time of Romans

LOL!!
spark | 01.27.07 - 9:47 am | #

OT
(Because nothing, including Iraq


This too (in addition to emptywheel and FDL) is top notch analysis of the Libby trial:

Joe Wilson Vindicated by Larry C Johnson

The Bush/Cheney acolytes keen on smearing Joe Wilson took a couple of gut shots at the Scooter Libby trial today. One of the documents released to the public confirms Wilson's account of how he came to be sent to Niger, what he found, and what he reported to CIA debriefers.

Part of the smear effort, which was led by Kansas Senator Pat Roberts from his perch as head of the Senate Intelligence Committee (SSCI), insisted that Joe's trip to Niger actually revealed that Iraq was trying to buy uranium. According to p. 46 of the July 2004 SSCI report on Iraq, the Republican's reported hearsay about what Joe found:

[document]

Not so fast boys and girls. During yesterday's testimony key documents were introduced into evidence. One of these was the INR memo about the Niger affair.

Download inr_memo.pdf

Buried in the appendix of the this document is the redacted intelligence report, known in CIA parlance as a "TD". Take a look for yourself at what the CIA debriefers reported:

....The INR memo records that Joe Wilson supported the INR position that the Embassy was quite capable of reporting on this matter without his intervention. Joe was not advocating to go to Niger and his wife, Valerie, was not in the meeting when this issue came up. (She had only introduced him at the start of the meeting.) The CIA ultimately prevailed and sent Joe to Niger. In coordination with the U.S. Ambassador to Niger, Joe agreed to meet with only former officials who were witting of the uranium program.

So what did Joe learn? Here's the reader's digest version (you can read the full report for yourself below).

[recap of report's findings]

There is nothing in this report to support the notion that Iraq had succeeded evading UN sanctions and purchased large quantities of yellowcake uranium. NOTHING! You can also see for yourself how the Republicans on the SSCI tried to mislead the American people in the July 2004 report. After you read the following report could you brief the President of the United States that Iraq had acquired yellowcake uranium and had restarted its nuclear program? No way in hell!

That's why Cheney and Libby were so intent on trying to shut up Joe Wilson. He told the truth.

[Marked up photo of the redacted intelligence report (TD) provided]
Averting eyes---iceberg ahead | 01.27.07 - 10:13 am | #

---

Should have included:

Nothing including Iraq and the Libby trial and the Washington protest should take the focus off Americans citizens trying to stop the start of WW3.
Averting eyes---iceberg ahead | 01.27.07 - 10:23 am | #

the 'states secret' defense is nothing more than a last line of defense to impede the prosecution of defenseless acts

Actually, it's a first line of defense. It is used to simply have a case dismissed out of hand because even hearing the case would jeopardize "state secrets". If that defense is breached then the government has to work out some other way of preventing judicial review of its activities.
Frankly, my dear, ... | 01.27.07 - 11:13 am | #

soMebodY, you have been misled, and continue to be.

Your comments are so far from reality I don't know where to start...let's see...

The Canadian people were disgusted when it came out that one of our citizens was tortured in Syria thanks to the US government. Not just our Islamic minority, who btw have politically active members (as all groups do) with no means to push our leaders around. The extremists among them get nowhere, however. Our same-sex marriage law has enough widespread support (but not Harper's, I might add) that it won't be altered. We are, overall, proud to have been one of the 1st forward thinking countries to allow SS marriage, and we owe much of our point of view to the late Prime Minister, Pierre Elliot Trudeau, who famously said in the 60s that "The government has no place in the bedrooms of Canadians." Amen. As that SS marriage law nears its two year anniversary, I'd like to note that the sky hasn't fallen, and marriages between heterosexuals have continued without a loss of enthusiasm. "Traditional" marriage defenders are, and always have been, intolerant of homosexuals, so they're bigots, plain and simple. If Muslim extremists are controlling Ottawa, how could this law be enacted? Pray tell!

As for your assertion that you're always reading about Islamic plots in Canada, I'm here and I know of only one that is homegrown, and it was under surveillance for over a year before they tried to by amonium nitrate, and were arrested very publicly. The only other one that was announced publicly was one man with ties to a British cell...wasn't he extradited? And of course the Khadr family, whose males are either locked up, killed (the father), or exonerated (and even tried to help the CIA as a mole) like Abdurahman Khadr. The Khadrs are well known, and the mother is as psycho as they come, but she's also busy raising her children and using our single-payer health care system. The Khadrs have never been accused by authorities of planning terrorist attacks.

If a new terrorist attack does hit North America, Canada will stand with the US and work to bring those responsible to justice, just as we work with you now to prevent such attacks. They can't win. The numbers, and resources, are on our side.

The flirting with Sharia law in Ontario was never close to being enacted (as pointed out above), mainly because any disgruntled loser from the 'other' system would be able to sue in the established system, thereby rendering any ruling or decision from the religious court (it was aimed at mainly marital breakups anyway, but women's groups came out very publicly against a religious system often perceived as, well, unfair to the fairer sex) as not actually binding, and therefore a waste of time and money. Public support was not forthcoming, I believe mainly due to the inevitable demands for all sorts of parallel court systems for every religious sect and group...a nightmare scenario for a government to fund, let alone support.

Other commenters have asked for your sources, but some ranting Peretz-like bigots spouting lies and conjecture are really fact-free, aren't they?

Thanks to Glenn for writing about Canada, and our government's admission of fault. It should be noted that Harper's team was not in power when Arar was unjustly sent to the middle east in handcuffs and 'terrist' written on his forehead (by our friends), so it's not the political anvil to him that Bush 43's people believe they'd have to tread water with.

And thanks to all who wrote these comments, I've really enjoyed reading them.

Best wishes to all.
Redwretch | 01.27.07 - 11:54 am | #

This case reminds me of what I've been saying ever since the wingnuts here have been pushing to ban gay marriages here while the Canadians were legalizing it--

Interesting that the descendents of the 'liberty-loving freedom fighters'
on this side of the border are busy amending their Constitution to DENY RIGHTS to its people, while the authoritarian 'boot-licking royalty lovers' north of the border are changing their Constitution to devolve MORE rights.

Brings up the all-important question==who REALLY won the American Revolution? The Revolutionaries, or the much-maligned Tories who were sent packing North across the border.?

Sad to say, as the Aher case proves,
it seems to be the Tories who got the best of it.

Wish I were Canadian (I've said this every day to myself since the 2000 election). I'd be a real person with real rights.

Say what you want about Harper--he backs off from going too far and knows he can be voted out tomorrow.
We're stuck for two more years of this nightmare.
twit | 01.27.07 - 11:58 am | #

With us or against us, unless you'll torture our prisoners for us.

The Syrian cell Arar was kept in was about the size of a coffin.

I don't think anyone should mention "extraordinary rendition" without linking to this article by Salman Rushdie.

BEYOND any shadow of a doubt, the ugliest phrase to enter the English language last year was "extraordinary rendition". To those of us who love words, this phrase's brutalisation of meaning is an infallible signal of its intent to deceive.

...

In other words, the question isn't whether or not a given individual is "good" or "bad." The question is whether or not we are - whether or not our governments have dragged us into immorality by discarding due process of law, which is generally accorded to be second only to individual rights as the most important pillar of a free society."
m.b.f. | 01.27.07 - 12:21 pm | #

Markovits doesn't claim that antipathy to Israel is identical to anti-Semitism.

But would you claim they're completely distinct and unrelated?

Oh, they most certainly overlap - I've spent enough time watching Holocaust Revisionists to see that. Indeed, almost certainly all anti-Semites are anti-Israeli.

However, I've also been on the other side where legitimate criticisms of Israel (the place which, you know, sends tanks over international borders?) was immediately met by screaming about "anti-Semetism" - which rolled off my back for the simple fact that I'm a Kiwi, and therefore don't have the same trigger points as Europeans or Americans.

IMArrogantO, there are a large number of people who not only equate criticism of Israel (not "anti-Israelism") with anti-Semetism, but deliberately do so as a political tactic, playing on the sore nature of the subject in Europe and the US. I think this is more obvious to those of us who don't share those histories.

Application of this to the New Republic is left to the reader.
Phoenician in a time of Romans | Homepage | 01.27.07 - 1:08 pm | #

Interrobang | Homepage | 01.27.07 - 3:12 am | #

He (Marar)should get the 400 million he was asking for?!
10.5 million wasn't a fair settlement?!

One question.....

What are you smoking?
Anonymous | 01.27.07 - 1:22 pm | #

Torture is horrible. Completely unnecessary and immoral, it causes worse side effects than the information gathered, if there was any at all.
Simmons | Homepage | 01.27.07 - 1:57 pm | #

Thank you for this Mr. Greenwald.

Other Canadians have come into the comment section and helped clarify facts -

Canadian government and Canadian officials were culpable, we need to be very clear about that.

Arar was held 11 days in the US, the plane that took him to Syria landed in Italy: and the EU has given Italy a month.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/s...y/National/ home

A journalist for the Ottawa Citizen had her home raided (Juliet O'Neill) over this case. That took until 2006 to resolve.

Of course there are Canadians who will always thing Mahar Arar is guilty of something, because the US government says so, or it suits them to believe it.

Our internal wrangling over any partisanship of the annoucement yesterday, is just that...domestic, and it is something Canadians need to deal with. We also need to deal with accountability, justice and policy guidelines.

Senator Leahy has asked US AG Gonzoles give the information to the committee by next Thursday, if I am reading things correctly.
Our thanks to the Senator.

Canada's Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day (the guy Ambassador Wilkins was curmugeonly with) says he has seen 'the file.'

Day is:
a) lying
b) has seen an incomplete file of some sort
d) is telling the truth

Thank you for your posts, thank you for keeping facts, information and humanity forefront.

A Canadian commenter above quoted Trudeau, here is another quote - 'we are the mouse beside the elephant'.
Like it or not, that means occasionally we will be heard.:^)

Appreciate you listening.
Blog on!
Bene Diction | Homepage | 01.27.07 - 4:09 pm | #

CBBB is absolutely correct. Harper is completely in awe of Bushco and will be a good little bush-lite when needed. Listen to Peter McCay denouncing Iran. We'll be able to check Harper's government's honour out on the upcoming attack on Iran. This is what I'm terrified of; I think Harper will happily drag our nation into hell following the Bush Derangment path.
Emily | 01.27.07 - 4:14 pm | #

Are all anti-semites anti-Israel? I would argue no.

There is a very large contingent of millenialist Americans who are overtly or implicitly anti-semitic in their outlooks and beliefs, but who are unabashedly pro-israel.

In their world view, the Jews are the people who killed Christ, people who by virtue of their not accepting Christ are inexorably destined for hell.

On the other hand, they are rabidly pro-Israel because they see Israel's existence and activities as crucial to their own millenialist prophecies.

By the same token, I would draw distinctions between being anti-semitic, anti-zionist and anti-Israel. It is, of course, possible to be all three.

But it is as irresponsible and offensive to suggest that one implies others as it is to suggest that being young, black and male implies criminality.

Ergo, we have the example of anti-semitic, pro-Israel, pro-zionist christian fundamentalists.

By the same token, one could be anti-zionist without being anti-semitic. Zionism is a nationalist philosophy which originates in Vienna in the 19th century and was of a par with the pan-german, pan-italian, pan-slavic movements of the time. These movements were all founded on conceptions of nationalism and ethnicity that verged on racism and which produced decades worth of pogroms, ethnic cleansings, savage wars and outright genocides. It is not unreasonable to cast a sceptical eye upon such a lineage.

Moreover, Zionism in practice has involved the displacement and subjugation of large native populations of Palestinians in order to impose a settler state upon the landscape. The moral and political issues that arise from this practice have never been resolved.

Indeed, the tensions created between settler and native populations in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Rwanda, Algeria, and throughout North and South America continue to be problematic for each nation involved.
Each nation must wrestle with the defects in its underlying existence, the fact that it sits upon stolen land. Reconciling this is an ongoing problem.

Finally, setting aside the grand philosophical questions as to Zionism and the rights of a subjugated people, it is perfectly legitimate to question the policies and decisions of Israel's government and society.

* Was killing Sheikh Yassin truly justified? Was using a fighter jet to blow up an old man in a wheelchair on the steps of a mosque truly a wise and just act?

* What's with all these settlements and expropriations on the west bank, what's with this wall which seems like thinly veiled expropriation?

* Can Israel truly justify a fleet of 400 nuclear weapons?

* Is it a war crime to fire a rocket into a building full of children during the invasion of Lebanon?

* Invasion of Lebanon, either version - shit idea or fiasco?

etc.

It does not make me an anti-semite or even an anti-zionist to ask any of these questions, although they might arguably be considered anti-Israel.

But even then, is it anti-Israel to assess Israel based on its conduct and actions? Based on Israel's own failures to adhere to western ideals that it claims to uphold as its own?
Den Valdron | 01.27.07 - 6:05 pm | #

A final thought - all too often, the term 'anti-semite' is applied as a whip to silence people who have legitimate criticisms of Israeli policies and actions. Such usage, in my view is dishonest and disgraceful.
Den Valdron | 01.27.07 - 6:06 pm | #

Besides immorality of US actions, looks like we are losing the cooperation of Canada, one of closest allies, and closest neighbor with longest border, in sharing informaton on potential terrorist threats. Bush/Cheney: they are bad and bad for you too. Way to go Dub and Shooter: both disgrace the country and make it less safe! Wonderful job! Important to remember we have to impeach convict and remove Cheney first. Then Bush.
commentor | Homepage | 01.27.07 - 6:30 pm | #

Dave at 5:01

I never imagined I'd have anything good to say about Stephen Harper, but kudos to Stephen Harper for doing the right thing.

... only because he had to, he knows that if he did not he would not be Prime Minister for much longer.

Self-interest. He is as right-wing and as authoritarian as CheneyBush, but smarter.
Jon | 01.27.07 - 8:33 pm | #

Den, you sound like you have bought into a lot of rhetorical nonsense.

Maybe you should read this to the end.
The Atheist Jew | Homepage | 01.27.07 - 11:22 pm | #

Hey, notice that Harper and his close political allies (like Stockwell Day our current Security Minister) had a quite different view of Arar when the arrest first took place while they were in opposition.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/ 200...arar021119.html

I think, Mr. Greenwald, you should think twice about painting our (Canada's) current government as a beacon of justice and democratic ideals.
CBBB | 01.28.07 - 12:34 am | #

I think, Mr. Greenwald, you should think twice about painting our (Canada's) current government as a beacon of justice and democratic ideals.
CBBB | 01.28.07 - 12:34 am

Personally, I think it speaks well for democracy when the people can force the government to do what is right when the government doesn't want to.
Frankly, my dear, ... | 01.28.07 - 11:08 am | #

Just a quick note: when discussing this case, it is always worth noting that it is the official position of the Bush Administration that Syria is such a bad actor on the world stage that she and the U.S. cannot have normal diplomatic relations. Yet the Bush Administration DOES have diplomatic relations with Syria, when it comes to torture.

Please don't think too hard about this, however. It will make your head explode.
owenz | 01.28.07 - 1:39 pm | #

"The Canadians cooperated every step of the way in detaining Arar, and all of the information the U.S. had that led to Arar's detention came from Canadian intelligence and law enforcement agencies."

Glenn: this is false. Some of it almost certainly came from Syria.

I have been trying to publicize this for over a year but everyone fucking ignores it.
Katherine | 01.28.07 - 4:49 pm | #

I'm pleased with the apology. Arar deserves at least that. I'm glad that I'm not just being patriotically blind to think this reflects well on Canada. Coming clean about the government's misdeeds always works better than denial and coverup.

Sadly, the incident has opened my eyes to serious misconduct and insular thinking at the RCMP. The commissioner shouldn't be the only head to roll over this. There is talk of appointing an outsider to lead them, and I hope it happens. A Military Police officer, or maybe a former leader of the two big provincial forces.
Dan D | 01.28.07 - 11:37 pm | #

Almost 9 million? Shit, sign me up!
Cecil Franklin | 01.30.07 - 6:23 pm | #

As a Canadian I am relieved that the government has acknowledged the mistreatment of Arar and has given some compensation. ( $10,000,000 does not seem toomuch when the head of Ontario hydro got $3,000,000 settlement after proof of misuse of funds of a public utility) Unfortunately, I fear that Mr. Harper is no champion of human rights. His government has abolished the court challenges program which assisted in the costs of litigation onthe Charter of Rights. The supreme Court of Canada has been proactive when Parliament is afraid to take the lead.
The Conservatives have infringed on the tradition of an independent judiciary by making the appeal judges subject to a approval by a committee. Judges selection at a lower level now have a police member whereas before the bar councils presented evaluations for appointments. There are major delays in the justice system because appointments are not being confirmed promptly. This can lead to justice denied giving grounds for cases to be dismisssed for lack of timely trials. There is a pattern here that US citizens might recognise. It is causing concern amongst those who follow politics closely but is largely off the radar screens of the general public. Mr. Harper is very astute in knowing what the average person will ignore and picks his targets carefully.
francesca | 01.31.07 - 11:41 pm | #