If the shoe fits . . .

"We find it to be offensive for us to be on the same list with countries like Iran and China. Quite frankly it's absurd," U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins told The Associated Press. "For us to be on a list like that is just ridiculous."

Oh, really?

Well, maybe if they don't want to be listed with countries like Iran and China, just maybe, they should stop torturing people.

Okay, let me back up a little. TORONTO — A training manual for Canadian diplomats lists the United States as a country where prisoners risk torture and abuse, citing interrogation techniques such as stripping prisoners, blindfolding and sleep deprivation.

The Foreign Affairs Department document, released Friday, singled out the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay. It also names Israel, Afghanistan, China, Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Syria as places where inmates could face torture.

Apparently the Bush regime is unhappy about this. Never mind that the United States captured and tortured Canadian citizen Maher Arar, released him to find his own way home, refused to compensate him or admit he was innocent, and had their tools in the judiciary dismiss the case to avoid the disclosure of "state secrets". Still, what really makes them upset is being called torturers.

As I said, if you don't want to be called a torturer maybe you should stop torturing people.