Harper's apology 'means the world': Arar

[Canadian Socialist]

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/01/26/harper-apology.html">Now, If only the U.S. government would take him off the "no fly list"

Maher Arar said his innocence has been confirmed by the formal apology Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued to him on Friday.

"This means the world to me," Arar said during a one-hour press conference in Ottawa on Friday afternoon.

Earlier Friday, Harper apologized and offered a $10.5 million compensation package to Arar and his family, along with money for legal fees, for the "terrible ordeal" they suffered after Arar spent nearly a year in a Syrian jail.

"On behalf of the government of Canada, I wish to apologize to you…and your family for any role Canadian officials may have played in the terrible ordeal that all of you experienced in 2002 and 2003," Harper said.

"I sincerely hope that these words and actions will assist you and your family in your efforts to begin a new and hopeful chapter in your lives," he said.

Great picture of Mr. Arar on the CBC page. More at link.

BTW, a lot of Canadians are more than upset by Wilkins' display of U.S. imperialistic exceptionalism. Just sayin'

[benddem]

1. and the *'s apology

:rofl: :rofl: don't hold your breath Mr. Arar. Glad the Canadians are doing sort of the right thing.

[rurallib]

3. I hope he sues and gets a bundle from the US

[annabanana]

2. WE'RE the ones who owe him (and plenty of others) an

apology. Let's elect Gore, and he can deliver the apology on our behalf..

[bdrube]

4. I Thought Syria Was The Enemy, Too.

So why the hell did we send Arar there to be tortured?

Makes as much sense as the Iraq invasion, don't you think?