a detailed report which concluded "categorically that there is no evidence to indicate that Mr. Arar has committed any offense or that his activities constituted a threat to the security of Canada."

And even if there was evidence that still wouldn't be justification to torture a defenseless human being regardless of what he/she is accused of doing or did. Period.

4th Amendment a nullity. 8th Amendment a nullity.

Because "providing a damages remedy against senior officials who implement an extraordinary rendition policy [violation of law] would enmesh the courts ineluctably in an assessment of the validity of the rationale of that policy [violation of law] . . .

The "rule of law" a nullity. Murder, rape of women and children, electrocution, hot poker to the eyes, burning, ripping out fingernails, russian roulette, beating with electrical cable, pummel with a phone book, burn with a cigarette lighter, . . . where do you draw the line if all law can become a capricious policy of the "king" subject to zero meaningful judicial oversight or recourse.

"means government miscreants may avoid [] liability altogether through the simple expedient of wearing hoods while inflicting injury"

Cowards in the executive, cowards in the judiciary, no better than the "institutions" of a third world banana republic.

that the citizens completely lose the capacity for moral outrage and horror.

Not true. I'm supremely outraged, disgusted, depressed, and horrified and I'm a citizen. Unequivocally this is dark ages brutality and the banality of evil come home to roost. And people think they "hate us for our freedoms". Absolute freedom to kidnap, rendition, and contract torture people apparently. A freedom any human being would hate.

At the end of the day, it is not the role of the judiciary to serve as a help-mate to the executive branch, and it is not the role to avoid difficult decisions for fear of complicating life for federal officials . . . our role is to defend the Constitution.

Hollow words when 7 out of 11 of your colleagues believe your membership in a co-equal branch amounts to help-mate status rather than the last check on tyranny and the ultimate defender of the Constitution.

The Palestine Branch.

Next will be the American Liberal Branch, and the Jewish Branch, and the Followers of Sarah Palin Branch, and the 2nd Amendment Branch . . .

Gideon Levy may very well be outstanding. But why do you call him courageous? Was his live [sic] in danger after he wrote his latest column? No, it was not at all in danger because you wrote in the same paragraph that criticism in Israel is permitted and tolerated.

To quote Glenn precisely he said "criticism is permitted and tolerated" paradoxically "more in Israel than in America".

Ever heard of professional courage? Or any type of personal courage that doesn't involve ducking bullets. Maybe the Freedom Riders weren't courageous. Or gay rights activists. Or inner city shool teachers and counselors.

Courage is more about the mental and moral conviction to persevere in the face of negative consequences or risk of "harm" be it physical or otherwise.