What can we do to stop this kind of stuff from happening? (1073 hits)
Category: PoliticsRating: 0.65 on 28 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by lush (View user info) at 2005-02-16 18:59:39 EST
This was first talked about in this post: http://www.ubersite.com/m/9489 but I thought I would revisit it since I recently learned a bit about this particular situation.
So basically what happened was this Canadian guy was on his way back home from vacation and was taking a connecting flight where he had to stop in New York before getting on his final plane to Canada.
He was then taken from New York and sent to Syria where he was tortured because he was suspected to be involved with terrorists. The reason for this was because his coworker had a brother whose name was on one of their "lists".
I know I am simply linking this article, but I think it is a good read. Our president was recently elected and some of the important issues involved his morals and I find it interesting that torturing innocent people is A-OK with him.
I am sorry if anyone else has mentioned this, but I thought it was important enough for everyone to read: http://www.counterpunch.org/arar11062003.html
User Reviews
Submitted by DJMattB241 (user info) at 2005-02-17 14:35:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by DJMattB241 (user info) at 2005-02-17 14:35:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
as promised, so delivered.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-02-17 09:38:06 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
I have to say I find this hilarious. Also I had no idea that they're going to ban lighters on planes. What is a smoker to do?
You know I read in the paper that US flights are going to allow people to bring their pets onto planes for the sake of psychological relaxation. Apparently a woman was allowed to bring her pet pig on board. The thing shat mid flight and then went apeshit, cornering a stewardess in the galley...
Submitted by runninginplace (user info) at 2005-02-17 09:16:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2005-02-17 08:30:52 (#)
Ranking: 2
Sometimes I wonder about the news services in the US. This sort of thing is reported routinely in British media. Replies here seem to imply many Americans are spectacularly uninformed about what happens outside their countries.
What are the chances this guy will get some kind of compensation, or even an apology? Zero, most likely.
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You are just figuring this out about the media? Our media doesn't like to make us look too bad and every other country's media hates us. You know he could actually be guilty, but I will place my faith (dubious though I may be) in the justice system. He will/is undoubtedly suing the US.
Submitted by cleanfornow (user info) at 2005-02-17 09:14:49 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
You know who Mr. Arar has to thank for his harsh treatment? The fucking assholes who flew hijacked jetliners into the World Trade Center. Why doesn't Arar or any other Arab speak-out against suicide bombers? Islamic terrorists?
Oh and Mr. Arar can also thank people like the losers in the following examples:
Submitted by ChesterTheJester (user info) at 2005-02-16 21:20:18 (#)
Ranking: 2
I would just like to announce one more time....
I'm ashamed to be an american
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I am ashamed you are an American too. You whimpering asswipe.
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Submitted by hidden101 (user info) at 2005-02-16 20:00:58 (#)
Ranking: 0
nothing. that's why i'm leaving as soon as i get the chance.
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I have bitten my tongue long enough. Hidden you are a PUSSY, a WIMP, a NANCY BOY. You make me sick. You will never "Leave" because you don't have the balls. I dare you to leave, do it, c'mon, PLEASE.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-02-17 08:45:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0119/p11s01-usju.html
Surely the Christian Science Monitor would work....mentioned, along with the Geneva Convention violations (any sort of trial without representation by an official from the consulate) and his torture, near the bottom.
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2005-02-17 08:30:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Sometimes I wonder about the news services in the US. This sort of thing is reported routinely in British media. Replies here seem to imply many Americans are spectacularly uninformed about what happens outside their countries.
What are the chances this guy will get some kind of compensation, or even an apology? Zero, most likely.
Submitted by AlwaysAnEagle (user info) at 2005-02-17 08:19:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh no no no lush, those are all LIBERAL COMMIE SOURCES. So they don't count. DUH.
Dont waste your time.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-02-17 07:19:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Gee, I wonder if Matt will be back to give the +2's he said he would. Or maybe the Canadian gov't isn't a reliable enough source....
Submitted by lush (user info) at 2005-02-17 02:40:00 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
And in case anyone is still suspicious that this kind of thing happens, let me remind you of this similar situation:
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,1406987,00.html
Submitted by lush (user info) at 2005-02-17 01:57:31 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/21/60II/main594974.shtml
http://www.ararcommission.ca/eng/index.htm
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/nov2003/arar-n18.shtml
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/01/04/INGPQ40MET1.DTL&type=printable
Submitted by lush (user info) at 2005-02-17 01:54:06 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
DJ Matt:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/arar/
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?050214fa_fact6
http://www.edelsonandassociates.com/news/Maher%20Arar/Maher%20Arar.htm
I can find more if you want....
Submitted by DJMattB241 (user info) at 2005-02-17 01:42:02 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
can ANYONE find this story ANYWHERE else on the internet at all?
You figure there's all these countries that hate america, they'd be diving on this.
Anyone care to find some backup proof?
If you can find some, i'll +2 this twice to make up for the -2.
Submitted by lush (user info) at 2005-02-17 01:22:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by AlwaysAnEagle (user info) at 2005-02-17 00:10:35 (#)
Ranking: 2
For calling more attention to it.
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I think that is important, and whenever I hear a story like this I let everyone know. Especially around election times, you can bet I will be saying everything I can to everyone I know.
Submitted by Joemama (user info) at 2005-02-17 00:22:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Go getm Dome
Submitted by AlwaysAnEagle (user info) at 2005-02-17 00:10:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
For calling more attention to it.
The FAA is an already conflicted agency (props on reopening DC area airports, you stupid morons) which is being messed with by two other agencies in upheaval, the INS and the TSA, with a little bit of insanity donated by the Department of Homeland Security, all of it being shaken in its little snowglobe by this Administration.
And that, for once, from me, is not a slam on the Administration for the simple reason of its being conservative. You know what, airports have to do something to make the public feel calmer, and more than that, they're a strange point of contact between several government agencies. The result is total insanity, and it's really unfortunate that no one has slowed down - and no one has, democrats included - to think about what will actually guarantee airport and airline security. It's all rhetoric and general crap, and all it's doing is squeezing general aviation airports out of business (hate!) and making air travel the stuff of stand up comedy routines.
I heard from my dear friend Peter Jennings that they are actually trying to outlaw matches and lighters on flights, which is the most retarded thing I've ever heard. It's pure and simple paranoia, and I would expect the opposing party - which in this case is the democrats, who are sucking the fuck out of this whole goddamn stituation - to challenge this stupid crap and illustrate it as the psychotic idiocy tht it is. But nooooo, instead you have whoever that retard is from NC saying how Richard Reid could have blown up a plane if he'd had a lighter. Great idea guys. One lone nut and we ban matches and lighters from flights. My holy fucking god. The security guidelines and bans are getting so ridiculous that no one is going to care any more, or take them seriously. I heard someone in the same news report talking about how they couldn't detect matches and lighters but they were gonna ban them anyway. What are they goign to do, make everyone turn out their pockets? I'm going to start carrying pornography just to give them a thrill. Fuckers. Its so FUCKINGRETARDED I can't even stand it.
Okay, I will say now that this is what happens when you mention airline procedue and secutirty to a pilot while she's drunk, and I hope to god that this rant is at least in some way related to the post but toi be honest I can't really remember what it was about but I am SURE MY RANT WAS JUSTIFIED.
Oh Christ I'm going to bed.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2005-02-16 23:33:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by domenad (user info) at 2005-02-16 22:55:50 (#)
Ranking: 0
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Submitted by hidden101 (user info) at 2005-02-16 20:00:58 (#)
Ranking: 0
nothing. that's why i'm leaving as soon as i get the chance.
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You need someone to drive you, asshole? What the fuck is taking you so long?
You want to stop things like this from happening? How about things like cracking down on militant Islam, quit checking for illegal cheese shipments and look for terrorists, and generally helping out in this war on terror instead of sitting on your dead Canuck asses and bitching like you have done for fifty years? Because if you don't, Bush may decide that Bin Laden is in Ottawa, and I'll be leading the first squad.
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And our country is led into ruin from the international economic sanctions - where we have no allies but one island. No, I take that back. With that kind of shit, Cuba and China might decide to ally with us.
I love your rhetoric, man. It is completely devoid of any logical thought.
Submitted by Rokinroj (user info) at 2005-02-16 23:13:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 for (re)pointing out another one of the hypocrisies of this administration.
Rokinroj
Submitted by domenad (user info) at 2005-02-16 22:55:50 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
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Submitted by hidden101 (user info) at 2005-02-16 20:00:58 (#)
Ranking: 0
nothing. that's why i'm leaving as soon as i get the chance.
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You need someone to drive you, asshole? What the fuck is taking you so long?
You want to stop things like this from happening? How about things like cracking down on militant Islam, quit checking for illegal cheese shipments and look for terrorists, and generally helping out in this war on terror instead of sitting on your dead Canuck asses and bitching like you have done for fifty years? Because if you don't, Bush may decide that Bin Laden is in Ottawa, and I'll be leading the first squad.
Submitted by Bizantine (user info) at 2005-02-16 22:06:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
While i haven't heard other stories like this, a lot of other fucked up things happen at Amerikan airports. Hundreds of British visitors are put in ankle-to-hand shackles and interrogated for hours. Sometimes the reason is an unpaid parking ticket. Sometimes it's because their name resembles another. Mostly this doesn't last for more than 12 hours, before they're deported, but it can be longer. Either way, the embassy there doesn't want to know.
This is public information in Britain, but it's not talked about much.
Submitted by ChesterTheJester (user info) at 2005-02-16 21:20:18 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I would just like to announce one more time....
I'm ashamed to be an american
Submitted by zakalwe (user info) at 2005-02-16 20:03:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I'm no international law expert, but detaining a foreign citizen - particularly from a friendly country like Canada - and deporting them to Syria where they will certainly be abused seems all kinds of fucked up.
I realise that article was the deportee's viewpoint, and he's not going to say anything to hurt his cause, but if the Americans, Canadians or Syrians had any real evidence against him he would never have been freed. Pointing a finger and saying "terrorist" just isn't sufficient cause for this kind of thing.
Submitted by hidden101 (user info) at 2005-02-16 20:00:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
nothing. that's why i'm leaving as soon as i get the chance.
Submitted by garcon_fou (user info) at 2005-02-16 19:53:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Scary, isn't it? They justify all of this stuff because the people concerned aren't citizens - but our constitution specifically does NOT restrict the bill of rights only to citizens.
Vote! Vote early and vote often, at every level of government. Someday the tide will turn.
And when it does, call me and I'll come home.
Submitted by Jimmy (user info) at 2005-02-16 19:30:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
What you have to do is stop paying taxes to your genocidal government - the government will collapse without funding, and a revolution is achieved without firing a shot. America was founded by people who refused to pay taxes to a tyrant government.
Submitted by MANICMOTHER (user info) at 2005-02-16 19:29:02 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I hate this fucking country.
Submitted by WhoLetYouIn (user info) at 2005-02-16 19:24:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
It's true. Going to New York just gives you a smelly, red stamp.
Submitted by DamienX (user info) at 2005-02-16 19:06:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
You gotta know any time you're in New York there's a chance you'll
be taken to SOMEwhere and tortured.