Balkinization: Maher Arar, what are you going to do with all that money? Well, I'm not going to Disney World

Maher Arar, what are you going to do with all that money? Well, I'm not going to Disney World

The Canadian government has given Maher Arar a settlement worth 8.9 million U.S. dollars. Arar, a Canadian software engineer, was detained by American officials on the basis of false statements made by Canadian police. He was deported to Syria where he was repeatedly tortured. A Canadian judicial commission exculpated Arar and recommended compensation. The settlement includes payment of his legal expenses.

One thing Arar won't be able to do with that 8.9 million is travel by plane to the United States. Arar is still on the American government's terrorist watch and no fly list.

And that makes perfect sense: We can't have people who have been wrongfully accused of being terrorists and sent off by American officials to be tortured running around the United States telling their stories. It might undermine people's confidence in the War on Terror. And besides, if he really wants to commit terrorist acts in the United States, he can always rent a car and drive across the border like everybody else.

Posted 4:00 PM by JB [link]

Comments:

I was in Canada when the head of the RCMP (Zacardelli) tried to explain to Parliment why they told the US that it was ok to send Arar to Syria.

He finally had to resign, but it took a MAJOR political push to oust the head of the mounties. Ordinary Canadians were horrified and mortified, but both the Tory and Liberal leaders were uncomfortably blase about the case.

And yeah, having Arar speaking at Mosques, Churches and Temples (Hindu, Jewish & Sihk)across the US would cause the US government to squirm, just a tad.

# posted by

calugg : 4:51 PM

y sin embargo, los estados unidos protegen a luis posada carriles, un terrorista.

# posted by

Anonymous : 6:09 PM

When I went to Toronto, I took the bus one way, the train the other.

As an aside, I notice Sandy Levinson has a rejoinder to Elizabeth Holtzman's push for impeachment.

I understand the political and time related concerns. But, I really don't see this problem with trying to obtain some strong charge against Bush. The treatment of Arar alone was a "high crime or misdemeanor" in my book. Others are supplied by EH.

# posted by

Joe : 6:27 PM

Both articles are available on The Nation's website.

# posted by

Joe : 9:12 PM

If one of our hosts would like to post about the "grounds" to impeach Mr. Bush, I am sure we could have a lively discussion.

Personally, as a former prosecutor, I find Elizabeth Holtzman's idea of prosecutorial discretion as disturbing as that of Ronnie Earle, Mike Nifong and Patrick Fitzgerald. Actual evidence applied to actual crimes appear to fall behind politics in their estimation.

# posted by

Bart DePalma : 10:31 AM

y sin embargo, los estados unidos protegen a luis posada carriles, un terrorista.

Sí, pero él no puede volar ahora tampoco! ;) Sin embargo estoy acuerdo que no se hace justicia cuando nos negamos a cumplir con los acuerdos de extradición a favor de ajustar cuentas con Venezuela.

# posted by

Anonymous : 12:33 AM

burnspbesq:

We've all known for quite some time that our "friend" Bart is delusional, but when he assigns Ronnie Earle and Patrick Fitzgerald to the same category as Mike Nifong -- that's not merely delusional. That's downright stupid.

Agreed. And Earle and Fatzgerald are far more prfessional than ... ummmm, Kenneth Starr, ferinstance.

Then there's the Dubya maladministration firing all the U.S. attorneys that did too good a job....

Cheers,

# posted by

Anonymous : 2:06 AM

The person, be it gentleman or lady, who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid.
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# posted by

Unknown : 10:29 AM