Angry in the Great White North

Karlheinz Schreiber has said that there is no link between Karl Schreiber's fight against extradition and the allegations he has made against Brian Mulroney:

Speaking to The Canadian Press from behind a Plexiglas screen at a Toronto jail, Schreiber expressed confidence about his prolonged fight against extradition, which returns Thursday to the Ontario Court of Appeal.

When asked if he was creating the controversy in a last-ditch effort to remain in Canada, the former arms dealer - who was unshaven, unkempt and clad in the usual orange prison garb - shook his head.

"No, I am not playing games with the system," he said.

He made that statement before the Ontario Court of Appeals denied his request to avoid extradition, essentially clearing the way for Schreiber to return to Germany, where trial and a jail term awaits.

In the light of that disappointment, Karlheinz Schreiber has made it clear there is very direct link between extradition and his allegations:

The man at the centre of allegations against former prime minister Brian Mulroney, Karlheinz Schreiber, served notice yesterday he would not co-operate with a public inquiry if he were extradited to Germany.

Mr. Schreiber's allegation that he discussed a financial deal with Mr. Mulroney during his last days in office that led to $300,000 in cash payments spurred Mr. Harper to call for a public inquiry. But opposition politicians say an inquiry cannot go ahead without Mr. Schreiber's testimony.

And in a telephone interview yesterday, Mr. Schreiber warned that if he's sent back to Germany, the inquiry won't hear from him.

"Not one fucking word would I say," Mr. Schreiber said from the Toronto West Detention Centre. "Not one word," he repeated.

"Why would I care about the country any more? ... Why would I care any longer?"

Right then. His allegations had nothing to do with extradition, until he was about to be extradited, when his allegations suddenly would only be heard if he was not extradited. Some people might think this makes Karlheinz Schreiber a liar.

We could keep him in the country, but then his testimony is worthless. So why bother?

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