Ottawa's refusal to take Gitmo inmates irks U.S.

By GottaLaff

The Rushpublics will use this to point out what an abysmal failure Obama is, of course. Then they'll cheer and rave and laud their boy Bush's Canadian clone:

An apparent snub by the Canadian government has dismayed officials on the Obama administration's task force who are working to resettle dozens of detainees here and close the prison, a high-ranking White House official told the Star. [...]

But the official, who has intimate knowledge of the negotiations and who spoke to the Star on the condition he not be named, said Canada abruptly stopped talks earlier this year. He said the task force was surprised to learn of Canada's decision through a press release.

Keeping secrets, snubs, being non-communicative... That's not being a very good neighbor, now is it?

"I just found it puzzling," there were no phone calls or diplomatic meetings, the official said. "A public rejection was odd."

Maybe they have a crush on a new country? Anyone know if they've returned our CDs?

Canada's position is in contrast to other countries eager to curry favour with the U.S. administration by helping Obama's apparent Sisyphean task to close Gitmo. [...]

But Prime Minister Stephen Harper's press secretary told the Star that Canada's position under both the Bush and Obama administrations had been consistent.

"We're not interested in bringing detainees from Guantanamo Bay to Canada," said Dimitri Soudas. "In the case of other detainees who are not Canadian citizens and don't have a connection to Canada, there is no justification for us to bring any such individuals to Canada."

Right from the Rushpublic talking points. Those sly foxes. Have they been streaming Boss Limpdong again?

"We're still hoping Canada will help," he said. "We can't do this alone."

That was the message Obama's Guantanamo czar tasked with closing the prison brought to Ottawa this spring.

Okay, there it is. It's that whole "czar" thing. I may have to start a "czar rights" movement. Who's up for a Million Czar March? Hands?

The official told the Star the Canadian government was keen to keep quiet the meeting that U.S. Special Envoy Daniel Fried had this spring. Various options for the detainees were discussed and Obama's task force was told that the meeting had been "promising."

But only a week later, Harper's office told journalists that Canada would not accept any Guantanamo detainees – surprising the task force, the official said.

Advocacy groups have argued that Canada's position on Guantanamo has stained its international reputation as a leader in the field of human rights.

"The Obama administration is trying to do the right thing, the very thing Canada was asking the United States to do for so long. It's pathetic that Canada now won't lift a finger to help, especially since so many other NATO allies are doing their part," said Tom Malinowski, Washington director of Human Rights Watch. [...]

The official would not speculate whether Canada's apparent snub would hinder relations between the two countries.

But Gar Pardy, the former head of Canada's consular programs, said he would be surprised if it didn't create a chill.

"The administration is saying, 'Look, we've inherited all this stuff. We're looking for a solution here and we would expect getting some help from our friends and we're not getting any.' "

Harrumph! Some bff. Maybe we should have started by asking for a simple detainee sleepover and taken it from there.

H/t: Tymlee