pops_fire
Joined: 31 Dec 2003 Posts: 25
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2004 12:31 am Post subject: Go Tell the Syrians |
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Go Tell the Syrians
By M. Andre Moore, Journalist
Finally, after months of lobbying, the federal government has agreed to a public inquiry into the Maher Arar case. Solicitor General Wayne Easter quashed the first attempt in early October of last year and later that month, when a commission that handles complaints against the RCMP tried their hand, they got no further. Outgoing PM Chretien, although calling Arar's deportation "unacceptable," wouldn't touch an independent inquiry with a ten-foot javelin. Then when Justice Minister, Irwin Cotler, who was acting counsel to Arar, removed himself from the case, amidst rumors of threats from US intelligence staff, it seemed as though the truth about what happened during that fateful September in New York would never be uncovered.
The Martin government, buckling from public pressure, has granted Maher and his wife Monia, a semblance of justice long over-due. The ace in the deck is Justice Dennis O'Connor who presided over the Walkerton inquiry. Although much of the information will be blotted in the interest of national security and crucial evidence from US officials will be lacking, any light on this case is better than the grim darkness lingering over Maher Arar's head.
Was he part of an Ottawa-based terror cell, plotting to demolish the US Embassy? Or was he code-named Abu-Dujan while he attempted to recruit fresh chum for a bloody Jihad? These are just some of the questions that will surface when the crucible stirs.
Meanwhile, in Washington, former chief weapons inspector in Iraq, Dr. David A. Kay, called for an independent inquiry into prewar intelligence on Hussein's antiquated weapons program. Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Dr. Kay, called the information that precluded the incursion into Iraq "out of date." Bush, in no hurry to scuttle his re-election bid, scattered any hope of an independent inquiry until the Iraq Survey Group finished its work. Too bad he couldn't afford the same latitude to UN inspectors.
British PM, Tony Blair, on the other hand, following results of the Hutton inquiry, got off light, receiving a formal "unreserved" apology from the BBC. The public broadcaster, accused Blair of "sexing up" intelligence on Iraq's chemical weapons capability based on alleged information from weapons expert, the late Dr. David Kelley.
The omnibus anti-terror laws, armed with far-reaching tentacles, was bound to snag the innocent as well as the guilty. Only the intrepid efforts of the few can hack through this mess.
Edmund Burke nailed it when he said:
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
Go tell that to the Syrians.
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