CSIS Out of Control

[CHIMO]

CSIS wanted Arar left in Syria, document shows

OTTAWA — Canada’s spy agency “made it clear” to the federal government it wanted Maher Arar left in Syria despite diplomatic efforts to free him, a document released today at a judicial inquiry shows.

A draft Foreign Affairs memo, dated some nine months after Arar was deported to Syria and imprisoned, states unequivocally there was insufficient evidence against Arar to have him charged with anything in Canada.

Yet the Canadian Security Intelligence Service “made it clear to the department that they would prefer to have him remain in Syria, rather than return to Canada,” reads the memo prepared for the signature of Scott Heatherington, director of the department’s foreign intelligence division.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_PrintFriendly&c=Article&cid=1117794309470&call_pageid=968332188492

It looks to me that CSIS is out of control. Parliament needs to correct this and fast. It is not working. Air India, destruction of evidence...

[HEyHEY]

1. Leaving documents lying around

[Maple]

2. I agree

CSIS should be dumped...one goof after another, and another major disaster just waiting to happen.

They were meant to replace the RCMP, and be better.

It ain't working.

[JohnyCanuck]

3. On the plus side,

they haven't burnt down any barns yet (that we know about).

[CHIMO]

5. As I Remember

They were meant to do intelligence work and spying that was not permitted by the RCMP. I believe it is similar to the FBI and the CIA in the US.

It seems to me that the oversight on CSIS is not functioning as it should. I think that we need such a force but when the foreign minister says one thing and can't stand up to Powell because he is afraid that someone down the line is giving out info that is contradictory..

When the RCMP tried to do that work it got all screwed up.

[oblivious]

4. Why does it seem that intel services never work for the people?

They always seem to have some sinister agenda that has nothing to do with protecting the country or providing a worthwhile service to its people.

I'm really cynical about CSIS. Above the law. Out of control is right.

[CHIMO]

6. How CSIS botched Arar file

Truth is often stranger than fiction. In the Maher Arar case it is also more twisted and disturbing.

In attempting to satisfy U.S. concerns over border security after 9/11, Ottawa ended the RCMP's two-decade exclusion from security intelligence work.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1118268614220&call_pageid=968256290204&col=968350116795

Seems like expediency and the beaker are the ones to blame here.