I am sorry - my American friends - for this being a headline in Canada's biggest newspapers today.

I was no fan of President Bush. I disagreed with him on almost every account.

But - he was your democratically elected President - and your leader.

For this to be the headline in my country's biggest newspaper today is a sad statement of affairs.

Here's the article:OTTAWA � Amnesty International called on Canadian authorities Wednesday to arrest and prosecute George W. Bush, saying the former U.S. president authorized �torture� when he directed the U.S.-led war on terror.

Bush is expected to attend an economic summit in Surrey in Canada�s westernmost British Columbia province on October 20.

The London-based group charged that Bush has legal responsibility for a series of human rights violations in a memorandum submitted last month to Canada�s attorney general but only now released to the media.

�Canada is required by its international obligations to arrest and prosecute former president Bush given his responsibility for crimes under international law including torture,� Amnesty�s Susan Lee said in a statement.

�As the U.S. authorities have, so far, failed to bring former president Bush to justice, the international community must step in. A failure by Canada to take action during his visit would violate the UN Convention Against Torture and demonstrate contempt for fundamental human rights,� Lee said.

A spokesman for the Canadian government was not immediately available for comment.

Bush cancelled a visit to Switzerland in February, after facing similar public calls for his arrest.

Alex Neve, secretary general of Amnesty International�s Canadian branch, told a press conference the rights group will pursue its case against the former U.S. president with the governments of other countries he might visit.

�Torturers must face justice and their crimes are so egregious that the responsibility for ensuring justice is shared by all nations,� Neve said.

�Friend or foe, extraordinary or very ordinary times, most or least powerful nation, faced with concerns about terrorism or any other threat, torture must be stopped.

�Bringing to justice the people responsible for torture is central to that goal. It is the law� And no one, including the man who served as president of the world�s most powerful nation for eight years can be allowed to stand above that law.�

Amnesty, backed by the International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group, claims Bush authorized the use of �enhanced interrogation techniques� and �waterboarding� on detainees held in secret by the Central Intelligence Agency between 2002 and 2009.

The detention program included �torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment [such as being forced to stay for hours in painful positions and sleep deprivation], and enforced disappearances,� it alleged.

Amnesty�s case, outlined in its 1,000-page memorandum, relies on the public record, U.S. documents obtained through access to information requests, Bush�s own memoir and a Red Cross report critical of the U.S.�s war on terror policies.

Amnesty cites several instances of alleged torture of detainees at the Guantanamo Bay naval facility, in Afghanistan and in Iraq, by the US military.

They include that of Zayn al Abidin Muhammed Husayn (known as Abu Zubaydah) and 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, both arrested in Pakistan. The two men were waterboarded 266 times between them from 2002 to 2003, according to the CIA inspector general, cited by Amnesty.

We all know waterboarding is not torture

Is the Canadian government under Amnesty International authority ?


Mike

Who gives a schit what AI thinks or says?

Go ahead and try to do so,.....

Bring yer' Queen",

you will be needing her,...

GTC

[bleep] 'em.

Didn't we already stop that invasion in 1812 already?

Brian does, and that says it all.

Funny, I don't see Amnesty International calling for the US to arrest Achmed Amadinnerjacket when he visits the UN. I also don't recall them complaining about Sadam or Kadaffy. And why didn't they ask us to arrest the entire Chinese delegation when they visited. The hypocracy here is deafening.

Sean

Only the the third world and lefturds.

Brian needs to be water boarded

An enema would work just as well. Wouldn't be anything left.

I will throw in for a ticket from Crawford to Edmonton. Oh I forgot, GWB is from Maine. Lets fly him from Boston to Quebec, it will be faster!

A sad statement of affairs regarding which country?

+1

You're right Brian. It's an insult to decent Canadians. But then, so are most of your posts.

Amnesty International became pretty much a shill for the left a long time ago. To be fair, Brian is saying they're full of schit, not agreeing with them.

AI is the biggest bunch of idiots that ever walked the planet. Who gives a rats Azz what they say. Shame on your newspaper for even giving them any credibility.

Agreed.
I didn't at all get the impression that BC was in support of AI's stance.

Thanks Steve. I didn't read it that way. I was remembering Brian taking the part of the detractors of the Bush Admin policies sanctioning enhanced interrogation for certain Al Queda detainees. So I took his mention of sad state of affairs proceeded by his statements of disdain for Bush to mean it was sad Bush had not been taken to justice yet. If that was wrong, then Brian may be able to count himself among decent Canadians, which are all those I've had the good fortune to meet.

I still have a notion many of his posts are not the high points of some of our Canadian members days, though.

I think we should waterboard AI. May as well bag peta too.

I doubt the secret service will go for that.

Pmc

Let's roll!

I was wondering if it might be too much to ask of AI that the world concentrate on arresting every non-elected dictator when they travel.

I hope Canada disavows AI - in a vocal and public manner.

It's embarrassing, and disconcerting to have to read head lines like the one I posted.

To those who condemned me for posting this - it's OK - reading comprehension can't be everyone's strong suit.

No, that was done by your previous wet-nurse, the British Empire. As to the original post, all I can say is "go ahead, make my day" and a great excuse for a 51st state...

You already tried that in 1812 - and it was (as the kids say) an "epic fail". We still are part of the British Commonwealth of Nations - in case you missed that.

You might want to re-think taking over 33 million voters - the great majority of which would be classified as "liberals" - by your own illustrious standards.

I suspect the result would be rather different today, don't you?

Even if Queen Betty wanted to help out, Cameron is busy moving the UK from a second to a third tier military power. Good thing the Argies are distracted by their own problems.

The result would be an America with 51 states (or 60) where Republicans were relegated to minority status - perhaps forever. 33 million progressive voters would be noticed.

That is - unless you were considering slavery again.

Gotta agree with you there, my friend. Am also guessing that our conservative pro-Israel government under Mr Harper would let AI know in no uncertain terms where they could place the arrest warrant.

hypocrisy by the liberals, surely you jest


look at NOW how they've defended Sarah Palin, oh wait


look at how all the Sharptons and Jacksons have come to the aid of Cain after denigrating racial remarks, oh wait


hmmm maybe you have a point.

And - the story that should never have been a story - comes to a merciful end.

Canada brushed off a call by Amnesty International Wednesday to arrest former U.S. President George W. Bush for human rights abuse, saying the organization was engaging in cheap stunts.

Amnesty said Bush - due to attend an event in Surrey on Oct. 20 - had authorized the use of torture techniques such as waterboarding during his time as president, which ran from 2001 to 2009.

But the Conservative government in Ottawa made it clear there was no chance officials would arrest Bush, who has made at least two trips to Canada since his second four-year term in office ended.

"Amnesty International cherrypicks cases to publicize based on ideology. This kind of stunt helps explain why so many respected human rights advocates have abandoned Amnesty International," Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said.

Kenney noted in an email that in the past, Amnesty had not asked for Canada to bar former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, even though the rights organization itself said he had presided over "arbitrary arrests, detention, and criminal prosecution."

Alex Neve, head of Amnesty's Canadian branch, said earlier in the day that Bush was responsible for a wide range of human rights violations - notably torture - which constituted crimes under international law.

"Canadian authorities must launch a criminal investigation against the former president, arrest him ... and commence a prosecution against him," he told a news conference.

In February, rights groups said Bush cancelled a visit to Switzerland because of the threat of legal action against him for alleged torture.

Bush is speaking at the Surrey Regional Economic Summit on Oct. 20 at the invitation of Mayor Dianne Watts, for a reported fee of $150,000.

"Comprehension" also includes understanding the history of the poster. If someone has constantly bashed America and conservatives in the past, that goes a long way towards intent of his posts.

You fellows "bash" Canadians - and liberals - all the time.

The "bashing" - is just good fun - between neighbors.

I enjoy the resulting conversations.

It's all about having fun exchanging ideas.

Unanimity of thought is a scary thing.

If you don't think so - you'd love China.

The understatement of the year, and I like Brian, I think.

Bill is coming as well.

The 2011 Surrey Regional Economic Summit on October 20th will feature a special conversation with President William J. Clinton and President George W. Bush, two individuals who have, by any measure, played major roles in shaping domestic and international events over the past 20 years. The two former Presidents will share their invaluable perspectives on the new realities facing North America and the world�s major economies.

In addition, this year�s meeting brings together Pam Woodall, Senior Editor with The Economist, and Stephen Moore, Senior Economics Writer with The Wall Street Journal, as they focus on the world�s changing economies and the re-positioning of Asia and America.

who said anything about a vote? All I want is your oil and your game...

????I don't bash Canuckians. I LIKE most of the crazy SOB's I DO detest and bash liberal/left/progressive/commies any chance I get. I don't dislike Brian but some of his ideas bum me out badly. There ain't many good things that come from the state and even the few things that are reasonably decent are [bleep] up like Hogan's goat. Jorge, Canada has some MIGHTY HOT gurls so don't leave them out

And all the single wimmin's between the ages of 20 and 30...

Goes without saying...

If some of what I write didn't piss off some members - it would be damn boring around here.

The only way you get good give and take on topics - is if someone tries to represent an alternative position to the status quo. Adding another conservative post to the 20 straight that proceeded it - is just so damn boring.

Some of my biggest laughs are when I sit around with Canucks and Americans and shoot the bull - in real life. The teasing is merciless - and we wouldn't have it any other way.

The only difference is that in real life - no one gets upset - they just give it back in even funnier and wittier ways.

I like stirring it - I'm not big on actually getting people upset.

Most Americans are good at taking a ribbing - and giving it back - with some extra.

This Canuck hopes that'll never change.

The bottom line is as a society, Canadians are truly the USA's brother's.

Same parentage, just a bit different outcome.
No better (and that is the thing to remember) and no worse, just different.

And should something happen to either country, neither will find better Allies than in the other..

No matter WHAT Amnesty International may say.

and we still get ta drink their beer and whiskey

In their heart of hearts - every American and every Canadian knows what you said is the absolute truth.

Sorry, buddy. You get the oil at the cost of Brian and his rantings as well.

They can have all the oil they want - as long as we get all the $!

I think most Americans would rather deal with us - the "blue-eyed Arabs" of the north, when it comes to deciding where they want to spend their energy dollars.

We are much friendlier - on average.

We waterboard out own troops as part of their training. We wouldnt' do that if it was torture.