Article

2003-07-25 Great White North

Small-Town Canadian Police Caught in Iran Dispute

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Posted by Steve 2003-07-25 10:30:47 AM|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 The idea that the two cases are somehow the morally equivalent is foolish. Zahra had her brains bashed in while in Iranian custody, this kid in Canada was brandishing a machette!!!What are the cops supposed to do? Stand around with their dicks in their hands? Crazy!

Posted by debbie 2003-7-25 1:43:55 PM|| 2003-7-25 1:43:55 PM|| Front Page Top

#2 Is the "victim" a Canadian or not? Is this one of asinine dual passport fuckups? If he's a Canadian, then Iran can go shit in their turbans. If he's not, then bury him - sans autopsy or inquiry - as the asshats did with the journalist and STOP ISSUING DUAL CITIZENSHIP PASSPORTS, FOOLS.

Posted by PD 2003-7-25 1:51:03 PM|| 2003-7-25 1:51:03 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 The Canadian govt will have to confront the idiocy of Iran or the govt will remain idiots. The transition is painful.

Posted by Alaska Paul 2003-7-25 2:02:04 PM|| 2003-7-25 2:02:04 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 I'm sure its the Canadians strong stance during the War on Iraq that got them into this mess. Right?

Posted by Yank 2003-7-25 4:20:53 PM|| 2003-7-25 4:20:53 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 DUAL CITIZENSHIP PASSPORTS

Not sure what you mean by that but if you don't include your place of birth in your passport, some countries will demand an entry visa from you, even if normally you don't require one.
As for dual citizenship, it has become too conveniant for governments to disallow it. Most countries subscribe to the idea that you can't make a person "stateless", so dual citizenship makes it easier to boot someone out of their country.

Posted by Rafael 2003-7-25 4:38:51 PM|| 2003-7-25 4:38:51 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 I live in Vancouver and the machete incident was all over the news. Here are a couple of important details that weren't included in the story above:

The machete-wielding Iranian was a problem wating to happen. He didn't have a long rap sheet, but he was "associated" with local Iranian gangs. Iranian gangs don't cause many problems here (just wannabes, compared to the East Indians, Vietnamese, Hell's Angels, etc.), but they all think they're tough shit straight outta Compton.

Anyways, this turd thought it would be fun to intimidate a guy (who turned out to be an undercover cop, stopping them for questioning) by charging at him with a machete raised over his head. Even his buddies in the car admit that he ran at the cop with the machete in striking position. The cop shot him (as anyone would) and he croaked. End of story.

It's a perfectly valid shooting. Just an example of a good cop defending himself after cornering some suspects involved in a crime. There is no story here. Sure, police shootings are rare here, but this is about as cut and dry as it gets. Chasing after ANYONE with a machete is a deadly threat, chasing after an armed cop who is investigating a machete-related crime is suicide.

The fact the Iranian government has something to say about it is what blows my mind. Their idea of moral equivalence is the aforementioned shooting vs. the beating to death of a Canadian photographer who took pictures of a prison. Sounds equitable, right?

Posted by jason 2003-7-25 8:00:09 PM|| 2003-7-25 8:00:09 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 Rafael - I believe it is simple:

If you are granted citizenship in a country, by birth or naturalization, then you are a citizen of that country. Period. No other.

If you are a naturalized citizen, then your country of origin means nothing, IMHO, as you have pledged yourself to the new country - and they have reciprocated for that pledge by granting you rights - including representation and travel rights as evidenced by the passport. Nobody MADE you emigrate from your previous home - it was your choice. Choice made.

Can't make such a pledge? Can't reciprocate the generosity of your new home? Then stay wherever you are. Choice made.

End of story.

"As for dual citizenship, it has become too conveniant for governments to disallow it. Most countries subscribe to the idea that you can't make a person "stateless", so dual citizenship makes it easier to boot someone out of their country."
Aw c'mon. That just doesn't make sense. Too easy? Wha? It's THEIR passport - to give or not. What are you talking about?

As for booting someone, the ONE PASSPORT idea makes this idiot-proof:
If he's YOURS, then you do whatever the law prescribes.
If he's NOT, then you apply your laws, again, as he is subject to them while in your country. If deportation is what the law prescribes, then ship his dumb ass home.

It is far too easy to make the case against all of these divide loyalties and the idiotic crap that passes for diplomatic activity on these issues. You can't be a little bit pregnant - either you is - or you isn't, pardon the grammar.

How easy - or difficult - it is to get a visa is irrelevant. I've been "on the road" for more than 5 of the last 10 years working abroad. I am an American citizen, End of story.

Posted by PD 2003-7-26 12:38:06 AM|| 2003-7-26 12:38:06 AM|| Front Page Top

00:38 PD
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