Amnesty tells Canada to arrest Bush when he visits B.C

[Deleted_171835]

Amnesty International wants the federal government to arrest former U.S. president George W. Bush when he visits British Columbia next week.

The human-rights group said both Canadian and international law require Ottawa to detain Mr. Bush and investigate him for war crimes and torture.

“It is incumbent upon Canadian officials to investigate, arrest and prosecute former president Bush for torture when he arrives in Canada a week tomorrow,” said Alex Neve, Amnesty Canada's secretary-general.

Mr. Bush and former president Bill Clinton are scheduled to attend an economic conference in Surrey, B.C. next week.

Mr. Neve said many will argue that arresting Mr. Bush is unrealistic because the United States is a close and powerful ally or that the crisis after 9/11 required extraordinary measures.

“None of those arguments justify inaction under international law,” he said.

Mr. Neve conceded that arresting a former president would likely cause tension with the United States, but “taking a principled step merits that sort of strain.”

The rights advocate said Mr. Bush admitted in his memoirs that he authorized the use of torture against terror suspects.

American authorities used a variety of torture methods, including water boarding, beatings and sleep deprivation, Mr. Neve said. The Bush administration used euphemisms such as “enhanced interrogation techniques,” but these methods constituted torture.

“All of this was authorized and condoned and put in place through his own repeated decisions.”

“This is something the entire global movement stands behind,” Mr. Neve said.

Mr. Nicholson's office did not respond to a call for comment on Amnesty's demand

Source

I wish this would happen but knowing the tension it would cause between Canada and our neighbours to the south, it simply isn't feasible.

 

[AlanJohn]

What did he do?

 

[thaddius]

Hm. I don't think Canada would ever do that.

 

[Raiser]

What did he do?

Bush and his administration have, in the past, carried out "enhanced interrogation techniques" some of which were pretty much torture and violated human rights.

Amnesty is claiming that under Canadian and international law, Canada is obliged to arrest and prosecute the former president.

 

[BlueStar]

There were calls for the Pope to be arrested when he visited Britain as well. Like that, I imagine it's more to bring attention to what he did rather than genuinely thinking it will happen.

 

[impizkit]

Canada wont do this unless they want a war against the US.

 

[Shuji1987]

Canada wont do this unless they want a war against the US.

That's your solution for everything isn't it?

 

[impizkit]

Canada wont do this unless they want a war against the US.

That's your solution for everything isn't it?

No, but let us arrest your former leader and see what you think about it. And its like Bush said, "Don't mess with Texas(US)"

 

[Shuji1987]

Canada wont do this unless they want a war against the US.

That's your solution for everything isn't it?

No, but let us arrest your former leader and see what you think about it. And its like Bush said, "Don't mess with Texas(US)"

I wouldn't care if you arrest some idiot who deserves to be arrested whether he was a prime-minister, president, king or whatever. It doesn't give you a free pass to do everything you please.

 

[impizkit]

Some of us Americans like to act this way to get a rise out of some of you, and guess what, it works! I am a true Libertarian. I just dont care. But in all honesty, this will never happen Canada doesnt want to start beef with their border country to the south.

 

[the_randomizer]

American is such a broad term, as America consists of both Canada and the US, but whatever. The fact there's so much unjustified animosity towards the US is staggering (not to mention retarded). We can't possible be the ONLY country out there that's "evil".

 

[BlueStar]

Canada wont do this unless they want a war against the US.

That's your solution for everything isn't it?

No, but let us arrest your former leader and see what you think about it. And its like Bush said, "Don't mess with Texas(US)"

Wonder how many people who use that phrase realise it's actually a groovy-hippy-environmentalist slogan aimed at "bubbas in pickup trucks" who act like dicks and litter their own state.

 

[Valwin]

so ok is canada nuts ? my canadian friends say canada sux it must be true for what i just read

 

[shadowmanwkp]

so ok is canada nuts ? my canadian friends say canada sux it must be true for what i just read

Amnesty International wants the federal government to arrest former U.S. president George W. Bush when he visits British Columbia next week.

It's amnesty international that wants Canada do this, it's not an idea of the Canadian government itself.

 

[spotanjo3]

I have seen many Canadians people labels America as bad country. I know because my roommate's relatives and one of my relative live there say bad things about America and they think that Canada is better. Oh well. I am sick of label and backstabbers. Immature people.

 

[BlueStar]

so ok is canada nuts ? my canadian friends say canada sux it must be true for what i just read

Amnesty International wants the federal government to arrest former U.S. president George W. Bush when he visits British Columbia next week.

It's amnesty international that wants Canada do this, it's not an idea of the Canadian government itself.

I've donated about $600 to Amnesty International because I've had a standing order set up for about 5 years. Blame me if you like

 

[Vulpes Abnocto]

In all honesty, as an American, I can completely understand the sentiment behind this push.
Many of us have wondered if our former president, and indeed our newer one as well, have gone too far in this seemingly endless "War on Terror".
Extraordinary rendition, enhanced interrogation, remote warfare, cyberwarfare...these are concepts previously unknown to us, and they're quite unpalatable.
For many years before 9/11 the US acted as a global police force,
and now it acts as a global invasion force, without just cause
There are many Americans who would support trial of the Bush cabinet for war crimes,
but if it's ever done, it needs to be done by America itself. Not by another country acting on the world's behalf.
That would only serve to create animosity between our currently friendly neighbors.

While this concept absolutely warrants discussion,
it seems that GBAtemp is not ready to have such a discussion in an amicable fashion.