My solidarity with Bro. George Galloway, by Bro. Conrad Black

The Guardian
Thursday 26 March 2009

Letter: My solidarity with George Galloway
Conrad Black

George Galloway attacks the Canadian minister of immigration, Jason Kenney, for not allowing him into Canada and says his exclusion by such a “last-ditch dead-ender of Bushism” is “like being told to sit up straight by the Hunchback of Notre dame or lectured on due diligence by Conrad Black” (Comment, 21 March).

Given Mr Galloway’s well-known and often well-founded scepticism about official American sanctimony, I am disappointed he thinks the relentless persecution I have endured in that country in the last six years, 90% of which has already been debunked by its stacked court system, implies any likelihood of unethical behaviour by me. He should also be aware that inadequate due diligence was one of the few false allegations that did not figure among the many charges unsuccessfully made against me in the reckless and at times unlawful actions of the Chicago prosecutors. Despite this donkey kick, and his misrepresentation of the Iraq and Afghan wars, I do agree that Mr Galloway should be admitted to Canada whenever he wishes to come. I have written a column to that effect in the National Post, urging Jason Kenney, an intelligent and capable minister, to revisit his decision.

Being unjustly confined in a Florida prison as I am, pending continuing appeals, is a more unkind deprivation of liberty than being excluded from Canada, but in opposing official oppression by generally democratic countries, Mr Galloway and I are brothers, whether he likes it or I like it. (He is so magnificently ludicrous I do like it, but suspect my pleasure is unrequited.) I strongly support his right to express his mistaken opinions in Canada or anywhere else.

Conrad Black
Coleman, Florida

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