Canada's Facist Side

Crusader · November 10, 2003

I found an interesting artical in the toronto star. Here it is.

I was quite shocked and dissapointed in the canadian government's behavior. The US also did not help the issue either.

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Published on Sunday, November 9, 2003 by the Toronto Star

We Used to Feel Protected by the Law

by Linda McQuaig

Of all the horrifying things about the Maher Arar case — the beatings, the rat-infested, coffin-like cell — the most horrifying may be Ottawa's refusal to hold a public inquiry.

Here we were, thinking we live in a country based on the rule of law, with our freedoms carefully set out in our much-celebrated Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and then we discover that a Canadian was imprisoned and tortured in Syria for 10 months — and it all apparently happened because of action taken by Canada's own security officials.

If this isn't enough to warrant a public inquiry, what on earth is? It's hard to imagine anything more basic to our rights as Canadians than the right to be free from our own government setting us up for torture abroad.

But that's what appears to have happened in this case.

Of course, it was U.S. officials who diverted the computer consultant to Syria after he passed through JFK airport on his way home to Canada in September, 2002. And it was Syrian officials who repeatedly beat him with an electric cable.

So Canada's involvement seems at least lower down the torture chain of responsibility.

But from what we know — and this is precisely why we need an inquiry — Canada's role was crucial; without the actions of Canadian security officials, the whole excruciating nightmare probably wouldn't have happened. Arar had been travelling to the United States without problem prior to his arrest; Washington had even extended his work permit several months earlier.

Canadian security officials apparently brought Arar to U.S. attention by forwarding to their American counterparts information that Arar was acquainted with another Ottawa man, Abdullah Almalki, whom Canada had been investigating as a possible terror suspect. (Almalki had witnessed Arar's signature on Arar's Ottawa rental lease.)

In forwarding this rather tenuous piece of information to U.S. officials, Canadian security officials should have known — since it had been reported in the newspapers — that the U.S. had adopted the practice of transferring some detainees to brutal countries like Syria to increase pressure on them to talk.

Now, it's true that we can't stop countries around the world from torturing people, nor can we stop the U.S. from sending detainees to such places.

But we do have control over what goes on in this country, including — theoretically, at least — control over our own security agencies. Yet someone inside these agencies apparently made the decision to toss a Canadian citizen to the wolves. And this may not be the only such case, nor the worst.

Almalki, who witnessed Arar's signature on his lease, is also in a Syrian jail on apparently tenuous evidence and undergoing worse torture, according to Arar, who saw him there recently.

Did Canadian security agents play a role in his detention, too?

We urgently need a public inquiry to put the hot, heavy glare of the public spotlight on the actions of our agents as they, apparently recklessly and overzealously, co-operate in the U.S. war against terror. What information about Canadian citizens is being handed over to U.S. authorities? What agreements have our agencies entered into with the U.S. in the post-9/11 world? Did the U.S. violate an agreement with Canada in transferring a Canadian citizen to a torture country, or is there no agreement to prevent such a transfer?

A public inquiry would also send a strong message to Canadian security officials — who seem to operate largely without surveillance; not even Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham appears to know what happened here — that they don't have carte blanche to trample our freedoms, that this is a rules-based country, that we have legal rights.

A generation of Canadians has grown up thinking their rights are protected by the Charter, which has, among other things, been a useful tool for corporations to defend their tobacco advertising rights under the banner of free speech. Yet our government refuses to hold a public inquiry despite compelling evidence that its security agencies may be setting up Canadian citizens for torture abroad. So what's the message — that torture is less serious than restraints on advertising?

If there's not going to be an inquiry, then I hope Ottawa will at least advise us whether it's dangerous to do things like have our rental agreements witnessed by someone with an Arab name, who might just be under investigation by Canadian authorities. If we do such provocative things, should we avoid U.S. airports?

I just want to know what's considered acceptable behaviour in my country. I used to feel that I knew, but I'm not so sure any more.

Linda McQuaig is a Toronto-based author and political commentator.

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dnsfurlan · November 10, 2003

How is the Canadian government's behaviour "facist"? By that, I assume you mean fascist.

Certainly, Canada's role in the deportation of a Canadian citizen should be examined. But fascist? I really don't get that one.

One further note: although I do agree with the outrage over the treatment of a Canadian citizen, I just wonder if people are conferring upon Arar an innocence that one cannot assume because of the lack of facts in this case.

Yes, people are innocent until proven guilty. But I also don't think the Canadian govt. would finger this guy just because they felt like it, or on the basis of a signature on a lease document.

Until we do know all the facts, maybe some people should wait to portray the guy as some kind of a martyr?

Treated unjustly? Absolutely! Hapless victim? We don't know yet.

Lost in Manitoba · November 11, 2003

The guy can turn out to be guilty as hell for all I care. That's an 'after the fact' kind of thing. The entire point is that the US sent a Canadian citizen to a country where he would likely be tortured. The man could be guilty of more crimes against humanity than Hitler, and still, he should not have been sent there. What we need to find out is what role, if any, the Canadian Gov't played.

KrustyKidd · November 11, 2003

That's right Lost. I remember back a few years ago that we couldn't get rid of that scum Charles Ng. Everybody knew he was guilty but no, we coddled that SOB for over a year. And this guy, a Canadian, we throw to the dogs.

SirRiff · November 11, 2003

it is a really bad case of Canadians not protecting their own.

first we give them info on a potential threat, fine, i will give the rcmp or whoever the benefit of the doubt that there was a reason, even if false, to act in that manner.

but having received this cooperation, the US agency must realize that our cooperation is based on the promise that our citizens will be treated with respect, and would obviously be deported back to Canada for us to handle.

if they cant do this, we should stop sharing intelligence until they get their act together.

sirriff

KrustyKidd · November 11, 2003

No Riff, I wouldn't even go that far. We tell them the info in general, if they are interested we get him home then release the man to their questioning here on Canadian soil.

I also do not know if he is guilty or innocent but I will tell you one thing. The fact that this guy is alive says a lot of how much a terrorist he is.

Also, a country like Syria, when you are in jail you are some lucky to get out alive with all your limbs. This man, once (and if) proven innocent will be a millionaire courtesy of our useless Government Foreign Affairs Department.

Morgan · November 11, 2003

I think this case is a perfect example of the power of media to control our views on particular issues by the way they spin the news.

Ironically enough, on Saturday I found an article about Arar written by Juliet O'Neill in the Ottawa Citizen. It presents a VERY DIFFERENT view of the Arar case and picks up on details that the Toronto Star does not. It's almost like you're reading about 2 different cases. The article is long but very thorough in the coverage of all the aspects.

Canada's dossier on Maher Arar

To me it's obvious that the Toronto Star is promoting an agenda...that the USA purposely abused a Canadian citizen by forcing him to be sent to Syria,where he'd be tortured, instead of returning him to Canada. It has a strong anti-American bias.Talk about someone implying guilt before there's a formal investigation...McQuaig is over the top homonal with her emotionally charged writing style.

However, the Ottawa Citizen demonstrates in a more methodical style of writing that the USA had no choice but to deport Arar to Syria, because when they first tried to return Arar to Canada, Canadian authorities said "no." So the only choice available to the USA was to send Arar to Syria. Arar was a dual citizen. The Ottawa Citizen almost gives the Americans bit parts, while it focuses on the machinations within the Canadian levels of government.

Arar had never renounced his Syrian citizenship, and evidently, when a person has dual citizenship, he will be deported to which ever country will take him. The USA tried Canada first, and then they went down the list...Syria was next.

I don't think the USA was under any obligation to let Arar stay in their country. What for? It's their perogative to let visitors in or not. This guy had questionable links with shady characters, so they said thanks but no thanks, just keep moving along.

Ms. O'Neill implies that it was the Canadian government that was acting like doofuses, with the right hand not knowing what the left hand was doing.

Due to pressure from Muslim organizations, Chretien jumped in with both feet into a situation that was complicated by the fact that Cdn. intelligence had a dossier on Arar and didn't want Arar back, but Chretien went above their heads.

Now Chretien is trying to blame the USA, so he can avoid an internal investigation which would show how impulsive and arrogant he was. Even Paul Martin is calling for an internal investigation to be done before anyone starts pointing fingers and trying to put blame on the USA for no reason. Obviously, Paul Martin doesn't want to inherit the mess that Chretien has created.

Based on the facts I read in the Ottawa Citizen, the USA acted properly. I think the problem in this case was that the Canadian political level was working at cross-purposes with the Canadian intelligence agencies.

With regards to Arar's questionable terrorist links, I think the Canadian intelligence agencies did the proper thing by passing along the information they had accumulated to the USA, so the Americans could choose whether they wanted Arar cruising around their country. What's the point of accumulating intelligence information without sharing it with other allies if all of us are supposed to be partners in this war on terrorism?

Just 2 years ago, 3000 people were murdered due to the USA "trusting" nationals from other countries. They're not going to get duped again. Not to mention that Canada has received alot of bad press about being a haven for "bad guys," and letting ever Tom Dick and Harry into the country.

That Syria would drag their feet on responding to Canada's request is no surprise...Canada's a paper tiger. Syria could care less about Canada's posturing.

The poor Iranian dual citizen journalist was innocent, but she didn't make it out alive, so I don't think one can assume that Arar is innocent just because he was eventually released. Maybe Syria got the information it wanted? We'll never know. I don't think Syria is an intelligence sharing type, do you?

Morale of the story is that Canadians should not travel to Third World countries with any illusions that Canda could help them if they were apprehended.

Slavik44 · November 12, 2003

Canada's Facist Side?

Tony Howarth:

-Italian Fascism was an ugly, violent political movement. Unfortunantley, the term 'Fasism' itself has since been used to describe a variety of political movements and forms of government in other countries, in recent times as well as in the 1920's and 1930's. The result has been that the world has become overloaded- it has been made to describe to much- and has ended up as a vague term of abuse. When we hear the slogan fascist these days it usually tells us more about the ignorance of those who shout it out then about the nature of the people, the party, or the government they are against.

SirRiff · November 12, 2003

To me it's obvious that the Toronto Star is promoting an agenda...that the USA purposely abused a Canadian citizen by forcing him to be sent to Syria,where he'd be tortured, instead of returning him to Canada. It has a strong anti-American bias.Talk about someone implying guilt before there's a formal investigation...McQuaig is over the top homonal with her emotionally charged writing style.

i think you are missing the point here...

i am not sure if he is dangerous or not, that comes from investigation, else the RCMP would have already arrested him.

the problem here is that the US knowingly sent him to be tortured as a way to break him. they knew he was canadian, they knew he lived in canada, they knew he requested deportation there, they could have handed him over to us. but instead, they sent him to syria where they knew he would be tortured.

even if he is guilty of something, it is immoral and unethical to throw him to teh dogs in the hopes of finding something.

the fact that teh RCMP hasnt arrested him means its unlikely he is dangerous or they have specific info on him.

regardless, being suspicious of a person is not enough for the US to deport a Canadian citizen for torture. we shouldnt tolerate it.

hell if he was guilty of something, we should be the one to lock him up too, he is our citizen.

SirRiff

Lost in Manitoba · November 12, 2003

Anyone listen to CrossCanada Check-up this weekend? The discussion was great and really good points were made.

Morgan · November 12, 2003

Sir Riff.

I got the point.

It's just that I'm looking at facts that you are choosing to ignore. You claim that the US purposely sent a Canadian citizen to Syria to be tortured, instead of deporting him to Canada.

Arar is a dual citizen - Arar did not renounce his Syrian citizenship after he became a natuaralized Canadian citizen- so he's still considered a Syrian national.

-the USA tried to first deport him to Canada, but Canadian officials said "NO."

- Canadian officials had developed a dossier on Arar and they did not want a person whom they suspected of having Al Qeda links sent back to Canada.

-the USA then deported him to Syria, because Arar was Syrian. Why should the USA get stuck with Arar? The USA had no obligation to keep a suspected terrorist in their country.

-even after Arar was deported to Syria, the RCMP and CSIS blocked lobbying by the Foreign Affairs Department to have Chretien intervene on Arar's behalf

-fyi, I read elsewhere that though Arar claims he was tortured, the Canadian Foreign Office officials who visited him in Syria saw no evidence to support Arar's claim. Go figure.

-the RCMP and CSIS have not charged him with anything because they were developing a case on him and others in the "cell" but then Arar suddenly disappeared for almost a year. The next time Arar re-surfaced was when his name was flagged to the USA as he stopped over in New York on his way to Canada fromTunisia.

Important points from the Ottawa Citizen article by Juliet O'Neill:

-The RCMP had caught Mr. Arar in their sights while investigating the activities of members of an alleged al-Qaeda logistical support group in Ottawa.

-And it was in defence of their investigative work -- against suggestions that the RCMP and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, had either bungled Mr. Arar's case or, worse, purposefully sent an innocent man to be tortured in Syria --that security officials leaked allegations against him in the weeks leading to his return to Canada

-The document also tells of a purported trip by Mr. Arar to neighbouring Pakistan while en route to the Mujahadeen camp. It says he went at the behest of Montreal members of a group named the Pakistani Jamaat Tabligh, described as an Islamic missionary organization not know to be involved in acts of violence or terrorism. It said he had been assigned in the early 1990s, while studying at McGill University, to recruit followers for the Jihad

-When the RCMP called on Mr. Arar in January, 2002 -- the same month that RCMP executed a search warrant against Mr. Almalki, seizing computers and files and interrogating two of his brothers -- Mr. Arar was out of the country.

- He telephoned the RCMP from Tunisia and later agreed to meet them, accompanied by his lawyer. The RCMP never followed up, Mr. Arar says. Mr. Arar had disappeared, says a security source.

- It is the existence of a suspected Ottawa-based al-Qaeda "cell" and what its members were believed to be up to, that a security source cites as the root of why the Canadian government is so fiercely opposed to a public inquiry into the case of Mr. Arar.

-An inquiry might also put the spotlight on allegations of a plot to bomb the U.S. Embassy and on allegations that the plot had been abandoned in favour of apparently easier targets -- on Parliament Hill and elsewhere in the nation's capital.

-And most, if not all the targets of the RCMP investigation into the alleged cell are said to be in prison abroad. Only Ahmed Said Khadr, an Egyptian-Canadian, is said to be at large, possibly in Afghanistan.

-The Foreign Affairs Department has for months had a list of seven Canadian men with alleged links to terrorism in prison abroad. Until a few weeks ago, that list included Mr. Arar.

-after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City, the Syrians had emerged as one of the Central Intelligence Agency's most effective intelligence allies in the fight against al-Qaeda, sharing hundreds of dossiers on al-Qaeda cells throughout the Middle East and in Arab exile communities in Europe. Syria had accumulated much of its information, Mr. Hersh wrote, because of al- Qaeda's ties to the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood, Islamic terrorists who have been at war with the secular Syrian government for more than two decades

-Gar Pardy, the recently retired consular affairs chief from Foreign Affairs, says the RCMP and CSIS persistently opposed Foreign Affairs' efforts to bring Mr. Arar's case to the prime minister for intervention