An Apology for my Government
Crossposted at Democrats.org:
To Mr. Maher Arar:
On behalf of the American People, I apologize for the actions of our government. Also. I applaud efforts by the Canadian government to acknowledge wrongful actions against you -
A government commission on Monday exonerated a Canadian computer engineer of any ties to terrorism and issued a scathing report that faulted Canada and the United States for his deportation four years ago to Syria, where he was imprisoned and tortured.
- something the US government is side-stepping:
“I am able to say categorically that there is no evidence to indicate that Mr. Arar has committed any offense or that his activities constituted a threat to the security of Canada,” Justice Dennis R. O’Connor, head of the commission, said at a news conference.
As a US citizen, I am shocked and sickened by our heinous actions, causing you suffering and the loss of years of your like to incarceration. Time is perhaps the worst thing anyone can lose. These years cannot be regained, years you lost contact with your loves ones, years they prayed for you and wept for you powerless to do anything to ease your burden.
Perhaps some good will come from your pain. As the world comes to grip with a rouge nation's runaway policies, may your story minimize the suffering of the many still in foreign prisons at the behest of the American government. It is safe to assume others have stories similar to yours:
“The American authorities who handled Mr. Arar’s case treated Mr. Arar in a most regrettable fashion,” Justice O’Connor wrote in a three-volume report, not all of which was made public. “They removed him to Syria against his wishes and in the face of his statements that he would be tortured if sent there. Moreover, they dealt with Canadian officials involved with Mr. Arar’s case in a less than forthcoming manner.”
As there is justice in the world and in the hearts of humanity, so the persons responsible for crimes against you and others will face their rewards. In this most serious time for the world, take heart that you are a hero for persevering, that you will be remembered when the history books are written. Your sacrifice will not be in vain.
Signed with love,
A concerned American citizen.