If you've been following my posts at all you'll know that I'm not a huge fan of conservative politics or their leaders.
But I have to praise Steven Harper and our current government in the way they settled the case of Maher Arar.
Briefly, Arar, a Canadian citizen, was kidnapped for no reason by the US authorities as he entered the United States. He was then sourced out to Syria where he was confined and tortured before being released.
The RCMP was also implicated in the kidnapping by providing US authorities with false information on Mr. Arar. That resulted with the disgraced resignation of the Commissioner of the RCMP.
The story as told by the CBC can be found here.
The Canadian Government has realised the severe injustice that this man has suffered and has compensated him with $10 million Cdn dollars along with a sincere apology for the part that Canadian officials had in the travesty.
While money can never reclaim the horror this man has had to endure, at least he now has the means to restart his family life.
The United States, in their stubborn hysteria over "the terrorists", have refused to acknowledge that they have wronged this man.
Not only that, but they still consider him a terrorist suspect for "their own reasons". Reasons that they refuse to indulge, because there aren't any.
Mr. Arar has been investigated to the ends of the earth. No terrorist link has ever been found other than the fact that he is of Arabic descent.
Does anyone think that the Canadian Government would fork over $10,000,000 dollars to someone suspected of being a terrorist?
I'm glad the amount was so large, because it represents a substantial slap in the face to the United States as much as anything else.
Good for you Canada. Shame on you America.
