Opinion:Democracy is at risk when we ignore the rule of law

Since 9/11 the fight against terrorism has been one of the biggest challenges facing western democracies. Terrorists have the advantage of anonymity, mobility and a loose structure that makes it very difficult to track them down and stop new attacks. When the attacks do happen as they have in Spain and the U.K. since 9/11 the results can be devastating for human life.

But when we ignore some the central tenets of our democracy then the terrorists utimately win. We begin to lose some of the qualities that make for just societies -- ethics and justice to name two. The Harper governments decision to send Mr. Abdlerazik to Sudan's notorious Kober prision where he was possibly tortured and beaten is a significant move down this dangerous path. If Mr. Abdelrazik is really a threat then he should be arrested, tried, and if guilty, sentenced to a lengthy prison terms. The path the Harper government has chosen simply makes us more like our enemies.

Likewise the Bush administration's instructions that it was alright to use torture by telling them that "interrogator's 'good faith' and 'honest belief' that the interrogation will not cause such suffering protects the interrogator."

The admnistration's further instructions "that 'the waterboard,', or simulated drowning, does 'not violate the Torture Statute'" is a clear indication of its willingness to circumvent international and domestic law to achieve its goals. Again, pursuing this dangerous path clearly weakens the central qualities of our democracies and ultimately put us all at risk. We need to put a stop to these practices before it is too late. A change of administration both here in Canada and in the United States would be a good start.