Which Part of "Maher Arar is not a terrorist" Doesn't the US Government Understand?

Via the Globe and Mail:

Edmonton — American Ambassador David Wilkins is slamming Canada's efforts to have Maher Arar removed from a U.S. security watch list.

Mr. Wilkins says Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day is off side with his efforts and should back off because a U.S. review determined Mr. Arar should remain on the watch list.

Mr. Wilkins says it's “a little presumptuous” for Mr. Day to say “who the United States can and cannot allow into” their country.

The ambassador says the U.S. found its own reasons to keep Mr. Arar on the watch list, although Mr. Day says he's seen the information and found nothing new to suggest Mr. Arar is a safety risk.

It found its own reasons? Like what? Oh we can't know that because it's classified on national security grounds, right?

I think it's more than 'a little presumptuous' for Ambassador Wilkins to slam our government for demanding freedom of movement for Mr Arar after he has been cleared of any wrongdoing and suspicion in our country.

Wilkins is just an apologist for the US government's extraordinary rendition (torture flights) program which he exhibited in a 2005 interview with the Canadian Press:

OTTAWA (CP) - The new U.S. ambassador to Canada is making no apologies for Maher Arar's deportation to Syria, arguing that it's better to be safe than sorry in the fight against international terrorism.

David Wilkins is also warning that other Canadians with dual citizenship could face a similar fate if they fall under suspicion.

"The United States is committed in its war against terror," Wilkins said in an interview with The Canadian Press.

"We're committed to making sure that our borders are secure and our country is safe. Will there be other deportations in the future? I'd be surprised if there's not."
[...]
Wilkins, who took up his post in Ottawa about two months ago, seemed puzzled when asked whether he or his government had any regrets about the affair.

"You talking about regrets by the United States?" he said.

"The United States made that decision (to deport Arar) based on the facts it had, in the best interests of the people of the United States, and we stand behind it."

The ambassador went on to describe the action as an example of the hard-nosed approach that has governed U.S. anti-terrorist policy since the 9-11 attacks four years ago.

"The thing is that tough decisions have to be made every day now in this new environment we're in," he said.

"When you make decisions at the border or inside your country you don't get second chances. You've got to be right all the time in terror, because if you make the wrong choice an act of terrorism occurs."

But when you are wrong, Mr Wilkins, as your government was in the case of Mr Arar who is innocent, you need to admit it. And you can't get away with calling what happened to Mr Arar a 'deportation' when your government knowingly sent him to Syria to be tortured.

It's time for Wilkins and his government to stop smearing this man who has already suffered so mightily as a result of their actions. This has gone on long enough and our government has every right to speak on behalf of its citizens who have been treated unjustly - whether Wilkins and the other bullies like it or not.