Arar to receive multimillion-dollar settlement: CTV
Ottawa will announce a multimillion dollar compensation package for Maher Arar on Friday, CTV News has learned.The package includes personal compensation of more than $10 million, a $2-million payment for Arar's legal fees, and an official apology, CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife reported.
"After months of secret negotiations, a dark chapter in Maher Arar's life is finally coming to a close. CTV News has learned a formal legal settlement has been signed with Mr. Arar and his lawyers," he said.
Fife also suggests we might see some fireworks.
"The prime minister, I'm told, is going to come out all guns blazing. He is furious that U.S. ambassador David Wilkins said that Canada had no business telling them to get Mr. Arar off the list," Fife reported."His view is that if it was an American who was falsely accused and put on a watch list, they would move heaven and earth to get them off. ... Perhaps he will even offer some legal assistance to Mr. Arar who wants to get his name off the list."
That last part is certainly correct. Were the positions reversed, the Bush administration would do more than insist.
I'll be curious to see what Harper has to say. I've already said that I thought Wilkins made an error in judgement by pushing back the way he did but this isn't exactly what I expected. And Harper does have a temper.
Part of me wants to give Harper the benefit of the doubt and accept that he's genuinely been pushed too far by the Shrubniks' arrogance, pigheadedness and thuggery, and is genuinely outraged over the injustice which continues to be inflicted on an innocent Canadian.
The cynical part of me, though, wonders whether "Steve" is just "coming out with guns blazing" so he'll have some "Bush-bashing" to point to in the upcoming election campaign.
You're right. This could get interesting.
I'm cynical along with beluga2. I think Harper is using Arar to try to score some political points in the future: the tough love stance toward Bush.
Also, am getting tired of Thursday night leaks, Friday afternoon announcements and all fluffed up again on Monday.
If Harper had a care about Arar he'd have been kicking chairs, stomping his feet and making calls to Bush long before this.
It's either about money or political points, and Harper is about both.
What a fascinating bit of political theatre we're being treated to. Anyone want to bet that Arar will be taken off the US no fly list--to much triumphant backpatting from the right--during the next federal election campaign?
Harper is damned if he does and damned if he don't.
That's probably because he's basically an untrustworthy, US shill.
Sorry Harpo, old buddy, that's what happens when you piss away all your credibility.
Too f'k'in' bad! :)
Also, am getting tired of Thursday night leaks, Friday afternoon announcements and all fluffed up again on Monday.
Like, yeah, eh? Except this one puzzles me a little -- what is supposed to be all fluffed up again on Monday?
One reason I might believe the hype about PMS: Bush's capital everywhere is sinking very suddenly, very dramatically, and our Steve will be taking that into his calculations. I'm a bit surprised, actually, that Wilkins hasn't been smart enough to take it into his.
A thought experiment:
Imagine that Harper has decided it would be astute to turn on Israel.
You don't suppose Harper is planning a spring election do you? engineering his own defeat in an attempt to get a Majority, or a stronger minority, with the threat of an angry electorate hanging over the head of the opposition for causing yet another election so soon? sigh. I'm hoping we get these clowns out of office before summer. following politics with them in charge is getting too stressful.
Whooee! Looks like Harper's leadin' a fire brigade. He's tryin' t' douse the flames on the environment issue. He's shuttin' up the critics while rightin' a Liberal wrong by throwin' money at pore ol' Arar. Wilkins is helpin' Harpoon look after that little troublem o' bein' too cozy with the Bushman. This whole Arar case is workin' out purty good fer Harper.
JB
I'm rather surprised by the size of the settlement comapred to some others. David Milgaard received $10m in his settlement and that included his legal fees. Thomas Soponow received $2.3m. for his wrongful conviction.
I realize that the time frames are different as are the circumstances but the fact that the feds have agreed to a $12m settlement leads me to believe that the folks that screwed up on this one did so in a truly spectacular fashion. Perhaps far more so than what actually came out in the inquiry.
As for Li'l Stevie coming out with his guns blazing, there would certainly be a strong political theatre component. But it also reflects political reality in the US. Harper no longer derives the supposed benefits from improved relations with Bush. Bush is likely to become the epitome of a lame dork president as even Republicans try to position themselves in a different time zone from his policies. What does Harper really have to lose by appearing to go to bat for Arar?
Well, in a world first, I am actually rooting for Harper to tear Wilkins and the US Administration a new one over this. I hope he does come out "guns a blazing" and frankly, I don't care what he uses it for politically in the coming months. It needs to be done.
The truth needs to be said, and sometimes it doesn't matter who does the saying.
Granted I will wait and see what he actually says before I pass judgment, but one can hope.
Fife neglected to mention that Harper would have silencers on those guns.
Yeah pogge, I feel like I woke up on the wet spot with all the money missing from my wallet....again.
A perfect opportunity to look statesmen-like, to rise above petty domestic partisan politics and do the right thing for a citizen wronged. And what do we get?
A cheap partisan swipe at the previous government and not even the word 'boo' to the Americans.
Perhaps Mr. Harper needs reminding that while the Liberals fumbled with Arar, they at least thought he was innocent, unlike Harper, who along with Stockwell Day, Dianne Ablonczy and the rest of the Alliance caucus, THOUGHT HE WAS GUILTY and did nothing to help him at all.
I am absolutely disgusted that the Prime Minister would use this for a partisan attack. Completely inappropriate and a shadow cast on this.
I think its clear Harper has no scruples.
Disgusting.
Yo beluga2:
"The cynical part of me, though, wonders whether "Steve" is just "coming out with guns blazing" so he'll have some "Bush-bashing" to point to in the upcoming election campaign."
Imagine the phone call that must have gone from the PMO to Washington.
"Er ... George - I got an election com'in up and I gotta get elected. (You don't.)In case you might need troops for Iran I gotta do the 'right thing' and seem to take a shot at you ... hope ya don't mind, but I gotta be one of them Canadians that do not wave at you will all their fingers."
Yep, came out guns blazing shooting blanks.
That's probably the better metaphor.
I see something more sinister unfolding, hope I am dead wrong; before we become all bleeding hearts in the quest for fairness, "STOP AND THINK". Ask yourselves, WHY THIS CASE, WHY NOW, WHY THIS MAN. I DO THIS AND I THINK OF LOT IN BIBLICAL TIMES. Is Christianity disappearing? and WHY.
And by the way, Jesus was up to his ying-yang in the politics of his day
"I THINK OF LOT IN BIBLICAL TIMES"
Good point, Rosemary - the American Empire may be more technologically advanced than that of the Roman - yet the motivations are the same.
Just one example is the Punic Wars ... they were to allow Roman control and access to Egyptian grain supplies, without interference from those pesky Lebanese/Carthiginians. Is this a lot different than modern adventures in the Middle east - either by Britian or the USA?