Principles

In chapter 6 “Basic Rights” under section 6.2.1 “Habeas Corpus” I briefly mention the case of Maher Arar, a Canadian who was abducted in New York and taken to Syria, where he was tortured and detained without any legal justification.  Since then Arar has been cleared by the Canadian government of any connection to terrorism.  His appeal of his case is still pending in US court, after having been twice declined on the basis that simply hearing his case would pose a threat to United States national security.

Today Arar was the guest on Fresh Air with Terry Gross on National Public Radio.  His story is shocking, compelling, and horrifying to people who believe in basic human rights.  For anyone who missed it, this interview is well worth a listen.
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In Principles for a Self-Directed Society Chapter 3 "Creating a Lasting Peace," I advocate a revised vision of the role of United Nations peacekeeping forces. There and elsewhere I maintain that the United States is not an appropriate arbiter of international disputes: such conflict resolution is solely the responsibility of the United Nations. To this end I advocate a strategy under which, in times of ongoing strife, U.N. forces should be empowered to intervene, using lethal force when necessary; not in support of any particular faction, but simply to do their best to prevent any continuation of the violence. I developed this position as a response to the horror I have felt at the unchecked genocides which have taken place in recent history and which are ongoing in Sudan. The world community’s shameful failure to respond to such terrible incidents calls into question the very notion that we are indeed a "civilized" society.

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