Stephen Hachemi had an open letter in the National Post yesterday to Canada's recently-departed Prime Minister Jean Chrtien. Hat tip to Blog Iran for this one:
"Like many Canadians, I recently learned of your coming visit to Iran as a representative of a Calgary-based oil company. It is reported that the purpose of your trip is to conclude a deal with the Iranian government on behalf of this firm.
I write to congratulate you.
Your failure to ensure justice was served in the case of my mother, Zahra Kazemi -- who was murdered by the Iranian regime while you were prime minister -- has apparently paid off: You are now most welcome in Tehran."
Appallingly typical is the best way to describe this. Somehow, the usual blather from Canada and Europe about morality and human rights seems to get lost when Iran is involved. I wonder why that is? Here's the whole letter.
Just to be consistent, following this logic no one should shake the hand of George W. Bush, now that the abuses at Abu Ghraib are known.
"Just to be consistent, following this logic no one should shake the hand of George W. Bush, now that the abuses at Abu Ghraib are known. "
Not.
It would be analogous, and consistent...
GWB refused to address, investigate and apologise for AbuGhraib offenses.
GWB created policy that specifically condoned and allowed for reservists to abuse prisoners with "systematic violations of human rights that take place" in the US or our holdings overseas.
The purpose of said visitor was coming to shake hands with GWB to complete an oil deal in which GWB was said supplier and handshaker was the consumer.
If consistency is your desire...
CBK
Chretien´s daughter France is married to the son of Paul Desmarais, chairman and largest shareholder of Canada´s Power Corp. which is a large shareholder of TotalFinaElf. Desmarais is also on TotalFinaElf´s board of directors.
Meanwhile, the Iranians have not even returned the body of Zahra Kazemi to Canada.
CBK
How can you equate the savage beating and subsequent death of a photojournalist by the Iranian Prosecutor with the childish behavior at Abu Grahib?
I didn't make that comparison. The previous poster did.