I Just Don't Get It

Canadian police informed the U.S. that a Syrian-born Canadian, Maher Arar, was suspected to be involved with Al-Qaida. The U.S. deported the Canadian to Syria after he was apprehended at a JFK Airport on a return flight from Tunisia to Canada in 2002.

Arar claims that the Syrians tortured him before allowing him to return to Canada in 2003 where he was cleared of any connections to terrorist organizations. His side of the story can be found at his website.

What I don't get:

Why would the U.S. deport a Canadian citizen to Syria? Did Canada OK the deportation?

Why would the Syrians, of all people, torture someone the U.S. considered to be a terrorist? You would think that the Syrian government would proclaim Arar a hero. Perhaps they thought he was a U.S. spy posing as a deported terrorist? (Wacky Conspiracy Theory Alert! - could this be an elaborate ruse by the Syrians to remove suspicion from Arar so he can maintain his "cover?")

Why would Syria even accept a deportee from the U.S.? I thought they didn't cooperate with our government on any issue.

Canadian PM Stephen Harper is demanding an explanation from the Bush Administration. I'd like to know what the heck is going on, too!