US Tells Canada No Laws Broken in Deportation Case

[Spazito]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft (news - web sites) assured a Canadian Cabinet minister on Wednesday that no laws were broken in the case of a Syrian-born Canadian who was handed over to Syria, where he says he was tortured.



Solicitor General Wayne Easter told reporters he discussed the case of Maher Arar, which has triggered criticism of the U.S. actions by top Canadian officials, during a lunch meeting at the Canadian Embassy.

<snip>

They noted Syria has denied that Arar was tortured, and said the United States had received assurances from Syria before he was sent there that he would not be tortured.

<snip>

"The information didn't just come from Canada alone. The information comes from a number of agencies globally, and that's the bottom line," Easter said.

more

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=840&e=7&u=/nm/canada_security_usa_canada_col

[Media_Lies_Daily]

1. No laws were broken because the U.S. no longer has any laws...

...to protect those that are arrested in this country.

And that includes U.S. citizens.

[dArKeR]

2. I couldn't have said that any better or clearer myself! Thanks!

[dArKeR]

3. U.S. trusted Syria's assurances on Arar: Ashcroft

Ottawa — U.S. Attorney-General John Ashcroft says the Bush administration received — and believed — assurances from Syria that it would not torture Maher Arar before deporting the Ottawa man to that Middle Eastern country.

His statement Thursday was met with derision by human-rights groups because it appears to be at odds with official U.S. government reports that say torture is a routine interrogation tool in Syria.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20031121.arar21/BNStory/Front/

Why should our top officials made to take Lie Detector Tests so that we can see that they are lying/honest? And why should a person who drives a public bus with only 20-40 peoples lives at stake have to take drug, alcohol, and psychological tests but our 'leaders' with millions of lives and trillions of our tax dollars at stake are exempt?

Plus, eveyone knows Asscroft is a filthy person. And this is the GOP Christian Model Man! What a sorry religious group!

[Tommy_Douglas]

5. That's kind of odd...

Isn't Syria one of those evil countries with weapons of mass destruction? Bush didn't care what anyone in Iraq had to say about disarming, why would they care what the Syrians have to say about torture? Oh wait they don't care at all now I understand...

[Spazito]

4. Here is CBC's take on the US claims...

Despite U.S. denials, Graham believes Arar was tortured, spokeswoman says

WASHINGTON - Canada and the United States have very different views about whether Canadian Maher Arar was tortured in Syria after the U.S. deported him there last year.

<snip>

But a spokeswoman for Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham told CBC News Thursday that Arar had provided the government with a compelling account of his treatment, and despite what Ashcroft said, Ottawa had no reason to doubt the Canadian's story.

Ashcroft has refused to explain why Arar was sent to Syria instead of to Canada after being detained at an airport in New York last year.

<snip>

It's bizarre that Washington would believe any assurances from Damascus, especially since the U.S. State Department lists Syria as a country that routinely tortures prisoners, says one of his lawyers, Stephen Watt. He's working on a lawsuit against American authorities.

more

http://www.cbc.ca/storyview/CBC/2003/11/20/arar_ashcroft031120

[Lisa]

6. wow, so they're going behind Bush's back to make deals with Syria?

Meanwhile Bush is making all those speeches about how they can't be trusted.

[gratuitous]

7. So why'd they send him to Syria?

Syrian-born, I understand that. But a Canadian citizen. That means he's supposed to go to Canada if they deport him. He'd hold a Canadian passport, wouldn't he? Yet, Crisco Johnny's "Justice" Department sent him to Syria. For no real reason. And yet, they had enough compunction, apparently, to ask the Syrian authorities whether Arar might be tortured. What an interesting question to ask! I wonder why they asked it?

[ConcernedCanuk]

8. Hmmm -"Syria a terrorist Centre" - Gov't supports terrorism in Syria ??

. . is not what this has been what the USA has trying to be selling us for ages ??

.. so to ask a terrorist "please don't torture this Canadian prisoner we're going to send you"


. . - ah feck it - I don't need to explain the insanity of that claim ?


. . oh yah, one SMALL detail, he was a CANADIAN citizen.

Are we neighbours or not ?

So -- if the "twins" trip across across the CANADIAN border, and Paskistan wants them

- on lets say an illegal drug charge (ya I know, knowing the family - how outrageous ! ! )

- We ship them off to Pakistan !!

(I know there are legal logistical arguements here - just trying to make a point !! )