U.S. refuses to reverse its ban on Arar

[CHIMO]

Source: The Canadian Press

The Obama administration is refusing to end the U.S. ban on Maher Arar, dashing the hopes of those looking for a policy shift.

The Syrian-Canadian computer engineer remains on a U.S. terrorism watch list, despite having been exonerated and winning a multimillion-dollar settlement from the Canadian government.

American officials said their policy on Arar — who was extradited by the U.S. and tortured in a Syrian prison — hasn't changed with the arrival of Barack Obama as president.

"Mr. Arar is not welcome in the United States," Terry Breese, a senior U.S. diplomat, told Canadian reporters Thursday in Ottawa.



Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/04/16/arar-us-ban016.html

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Sounds like a guy named Harper talking.

[bemildred]

1. Does he want to come here?

I mean I don't know. But I wonder why him coming here is an issue. If I was him, I would not be in a hurry to come here.

[CHIMO]

2. Remove Him

From the list and you you would find out!

Why is he now in the wrong?

Perhaps one trip might be for an interview? Or for some other reason that we might not think of!

The issue is not him coming here. The issue is freedom of travel and support from your own government when you travel!

Not everyone is the captain of a ship that happens to be the flavour of the day.

[bemildred]

3. I'm OK with that, I favor that.

I'm just wondering why it's News right now. I don't think these stories crop up at random.

[CHIMO]

4. That I Don't

Know.

I can only wait for Democracy Now to pick up on it.

It may be combined with the water boarding news today. I don't know.

Maybe they are scratching the back of the Canadian government for preventing a Canadian from returning to Canada. Who knows who and how these announcements are made or why they are made.

But we have to be aware of the drifts that may become policy.