If you haven't heard about Maher Arar's extraordinary rendition--the policy by which the U.S. sends non-citizen terrorism suspects to nasty countries where they can be tortured without the scruples of the U.S. Constitution--go
here.
David Wilkins, in his folksy Carolianian way, tells his dear Canadian friends to be a bit more understanding if the U.S. might occasionally see fit to send a Canadian national passing through JFK to a State Department certified hellhole to have his spine elongated, rectum penetrated, and fingernails torn out:
The new U.S. ambassador to Canada is making no apologies for Maher Arar's deportation to Syria, arguing that it's better to be safe than sorry in the fight against international terrorism.
Mr. Arar, a Canadian citizen of Syrian birth, was arrested in New York in September 2002, accused by U.S. authorities of having ties to al-Qaeda and deported to Syria.
He denies any terrorist activity and says he was tortured into false confessions in Damascus -- only to be released without charge after a year in jail and returned to Canada.
[Ambassador David] Wilkins, who took up his post in Ottawa about two months ago, seemed puzzled when asked whether he or his government had any regrets about the affair.
"You talking about regrets by the United States?" he said.
"The United States made that decision (to deport Mr. Arar) based on the facts it had, in the best interests of the people of the United States, and we stand behind it."
The ambassador went on to describe the action as an example of the hard-nosed approach that has governed U.S. anti-terrorist policy since the 9-11 attacks four years ago.
"The thing is that tough decisions have to be made every day now in this new environment we're in," he said.
Oh, and if Canadians don't like it, y'all better get used to it, 'specially you dusty skinned folks who have had the nerve not to have renounced your citizenship of your (conveniently, to the CIA and DOJ) humanity-challenged Middle Eastern country:
David Wilkins is also warning that other Canadians with dual citizenship could face a similar fate if they fall under suspicion.
"The United States is committed in its war against terror," Mr. Wilkins said.
"We're committed to making sure that our borders are secure and our country is safe. Will there be other deportations in the future? I'd be surprised if there's not."
I mean, what's a little torture between friends?
On the bright side, there is an ongoing independent inquiry happening in Canada, and a lot of pissed off attention by the Canadian public and media. When it's all said and done, there's a decent chance that there's stuff that will come out regarding the U.S.' policy that would otherwise not have gotten much attention stateside. And, as much as they piss me off, neanderathal comments by Wilkins in this vein only serve to feed the public and media.