Kerry Pither

If he were, we might be able to believe that he’s been holding back on issuing a formal apology to Maher Arar — as called for by the New York Times on the day Obama came to Canada — because the case was before the courts.

If he were, he’d read today’s decision by the US Supreme Court and immediately move to ensure his administration public takes responsibility for its role in sending Arar to be tortured, and invite him to the White House for a formal and public in-person apology.

And if he were, he’d use the occasion to announce the launch of a full-scale independent and public inquiry into all the other Arars — into the role the CIA and FBI and other US agencies have been, and still are playing, in the rendition, detention and torture of so many others since 9/11.

I, for one, won’t be holding my breath.