Leahy to Admin: Explain Arar Stance

[tuvor]

Senate Judiciary Chairman Pat Leahy (D-VT) dressed down Attorney General Alberto Gonzales last week over the case of Maher Arar, the Canadian citizen whom the U.S. seized and sent to Syria where he was tortured.

Gonzales stumbled when trying to explain why he couldn't discuss the matter, finally promising Leahy a secret briefing on the matter. Leahy still hasn't gotten the briefing, although he says he expects to have one very soon.

"The question remains why, even if there were reasons to consider suspicious, the U.S. Government shipped him to Syria where he was tortured, instead of to Canada for investigation or prosecution," Leahy said in a statement released today, echoing the sentiments he shared with Gonzales last Thursday. "I look forward to hearing the Justice Department's answer to that question next week."

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/002419.php

[Kagemusha]

1. Note that the Arar case has already been dismissed in the courts

just like that of the German citizen who was abducted by the CIA, which the US actually admits to but says, "So sorry, nothing to be done," and says, national security requires that the case not be tried, so a judge dismissed it.

Yeah, Arar's lawyers are appealing but, if the US really wants to stick its middle finger at the rule of law, national sovereignty does permit it to do so.