Today’s Talk

I have not talked about Canadian citizen Maher Arar case in which he was abducted on U.S. soil and taken to Syria and tortured based on the belief he was a terrorist.  A little background on Maher Arar is that he was actually born in Syria and became a Canadian citizen in 1991.  On September 26, 2002 he was on a layover at JFK when he was detained by US/CIA officials about having links with Al-Qaeda.  He was then flown to Syria where he was held for 10 months while being tortured. 

Well here it is, in 2007 and we know that the U.S is not going to give a formal apology to what it did to this young man.  This is not the first time that the U.S. has kidnapped someone who has no connection with Al-Qaeda.  In January, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper made a formal apology on behalf of the government of Canada to what happen to Maher Arar.  IN addition, Canada has agreed to pay Arar more than $10 million dollars.
You can read the official report here:

Report of the Events Relating to Maher Arar
- Analysis and Recommendations -

Report of the Events Relating to Maher Arar
- Factual Background - Vol I -

Report of the Events Relating to Maher Arar
- Factual Background - Vol II -