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Suit demands PM intervene to help Khadr

OMAR EL AKKAD

From Saturday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 3:50 PM EST 08/08/08

It's time to stand up for Canadian terror suspect held at Guantanamo, lawyers say ...Read the full article

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  1. Greg Out West from Canada writes: What if they say no ? After all it was a US soldier he illegible killed.
  2. terry ludtke from red dog ab, writes: scum bag lawyers......pay them a dollar and they will say anything you want them to......how far this once honourable occupation as fallen. Almost as far as politicians i guess eh....;)
  3. ginny ! from Canada writes:
    Every other western country has gotten their people back. This is shameful.

    And he's being tried for what exactly? Fighting on the 'wrong side' isn't a war crime.
  4. joe 6 pk from Canada writes: abuse of process ....

    canadians hard earned money ....

    SQUANDERED/WASTED

    reprehensible ...

    contemptible ...

    stop the abuse of canadians $$$$$$$$$$$$$$
  5. bruce weaver from Canada writes: Many who have left Guantanimo have gone on to commit terror in Iraq, Afghanistan Chechyna and other places. Khadr and his family choose to stay in Afghanistan and fight. He may or may not have killed an American soldier though those who were there are sure he did. If comes back he will be a free man as there is nothing we cna charge him with. He needs to stay right where he is.
  6. Pete Tessier from Winnipeg, writes: Sue the lawyers for wasting taxpayers dollars- this saga is sad and the family has shown no respect for the freedoms they have here. It seems to me that to the being Canadian is a citizenship of convenience, use it when it helps you.
  7. Ghengis Khan from Canada writes: Canada's Criminal Code definition
    High treason
    (1) Every one commits high treason who, in Canada,
    (a) kills or attempts to kill Her Majesty, or does her any bodily harm tending to death or destruction, maims or wounds her, or imprisons or restrains her;
    (b) levies war against Canada or does any act preparatory thereto; or
    (c) assists an enemy at war with Canada, or any armed forces against whom Canadian Forces are engaged in hostilities, whether or not a state of war exists between Canada and the country whose forces they are

    Yes...bring him back, charge him with high treason and let our courts sort it out...
  8. Stephane Harpercrite from Thunder Bay, Canada writes: Sad that it has come to this!! Every other western country with a citizen in Gitmo has requested (and been granted by the US) repatriation to face justice in their own countries. TYhe sole exception is Khadr, let alone that being only 15 at the time, he is AT WORST considered a child soldier, which is a signatory to the Geneva convention, means Canada has a responsibility to recognize him as a victim of war, and afford him rehabilitation (if needed).

    Of course, once repatriated, and facing a prosecutor working under a legotimate justice system, he will likely be released with all charges dropped, because the prosecutor will quickly see there is no good evidence against him (as has already been determined with the recent disclosure of the US military retroactively falsifying documents to match the story they are trying to pin on Khadr); released just like all the British citizens in Gitmo--the prosecutor there took no time at all to conclude there was nowhere near enough evidence for any conviction beyond a reasonable doubt.
  9. Bill Bill from Trenton, Canada writes: I suggest that Harper intervene to have him shipped back to the scene of the crime, and face real justice. You play with the big boys, you pay the price, and don't whimper that the liberal democratic system that you once sought to overthrow now should come to your rescue.
    We don't need this type in Canada, and life in GITMO is a least a life, which is what he denied to that American soldier.
  10. Tim N from Canada writes: How long before Harper counter-sues?
  11. joe 6 pk from Canada writes: khadr clan in toronto ...

    abusing canadian values ....

    CLOWN lawyers aiding and abetting the clan ....
  12. Virginia Crook from United Kingdom writes: The 'British' detainees in Guantanamo weren't. British that is. All, without exception, were either permanent residents, refugees or asylum seekers. And no, the vast majority of us didn't want them back here either. Send them back to their country of origin.
  13. Stan L from Canada writes: Tim N from Canada writes: How long before Harper counter-sues?

    How long beofre they buy him his own chair to use in the courthouse? LOL

    But seriously, we need to bring this guys back this is a disgrace and Harper's excuse sounds weaker everytime we hear it. I am not suggesting that he shouldn't face justice here...only that this is our democracy, our citizen and our job to administer justice.
  14. Buddy Canada from Toronto, Canada writes: Bring him back only if we hang him for treason. Otherwise release him to the Afghani authorities.
  15. Stephane Harpercrite from Thunder Bay, Canada writes: This child (if he was there) was acting at his family's behest. Children can easily be manipulated into child soldiers who believe anything they're told. And why would you not believe your father?? This is exactly why child soldiers were recognized as 'victims of war requiring rehabilitation' at Geneva!!
  16. Carl C. from Montreal, Canada writes: Even though i do not agree how Khadr is treated using the government over this is pathetic...
  17. David Hogg from Canada writes: Some previous writers carry on about this young man as if he were already found guilty. To have a 'good' democracy, one must accord all citizens with the same rights - one of which is the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. The US government, especially under Bush, carefully picks and chooses which laws, national or international, it will follow and be held accountable for. Then they wonder why other countries ignore their pleas to follow laws - the old pot calling the kettle being black syndrome.

    Harper, in ignoring two other Canadain court rulings, is lending legitimacy to an illegal process at Guantanamo Bay.
  18. Mike Sumners from Toronto, Canada writes: Quote from article: ''It is time for Prime Minister Harper to stand up for the rights of a Canadian citizen.''

    I agree that the PM should stand up for the rights of Canadians; but what is the connection to Khadr?
  19. bob saunders from Belleville, ON, Canada writes: The Phantom from Canada writes:

    Free Omar Khadr. He was a child soldier. He committed no crime and certainly no war crime. Even if he did kill the marine he is accused of killing, which seems extremely unlikely given the evidence we've heard so far, he would have committed no crime. The American army committed an illegal act of aggression when they unilaterally invaded Afghanistan and Khadr's action would have been a clear case of legitimate self defense------------------------------ YES he was a child, the US didn't invade- they were invited in by Afghans. Khadr is not a citizen of Afghanistan - therefore not considered a soldier and wore no uniform. If he was a good Canadian boy attending high school i Toronto area we would be having these discussions. Perhaps the Americans should hand him over to the Afghanistan army.
  20. Gronck the realist from Canada writes: Bloody lawyers trying to figure out another way to suck some dollars. leave him where he is and deport his terrorist family
  21. joe 6 pk from Canada writes: if these so called clown lawyers ...

    get khadr ...

    off...

    and ...

    if khadr ...

    kills anyone ...

    charge

    all the clown lawyers ...

    for their DIRTY WORK .........................
  22. Scenic Sask! from Canada writes: ginny ! from Canada writes:
    Every other western country has gotten their people back. This is shameful.

    And he's being tried for what exactly? Fighting on the 'wrong side' isn't a war crime.

    >>>>>>>>

    ginny - when he is fighting on the side against which OUR soldiers are fighting it IS a crime. The crime is TREASON.
  23. puddin and pie from Canada writes: amazing that people want this guy back coz he has a cdn passport, but spent most of his life outside canada (convenient?)

    what about the children born to cdn parents outside the country who were/are denied citizenship? (and who aren't enaged in war, crime, etc)
  24. Stephane Harpercrite from Thunder Bay, Canada writes: Hey Buddy Canada,

    Khadr is a CANADIAN CITIZEN! He was born here, not Afghanistan. He was taken and no doubt brain-washed by his corrupt family. Even if he was there at the end of that firefight and did do something provacative, he was a child acting in self-defense, as he probably should have because he was subsequently shot twice and about to be executed (that's right executed) before a more sensible soldier stepped in.
  25. Bad Bob from Montreal, Canada writes: Bring him back just long enough to put him on a plane back to where he committed the crime. Let them worry about what to do with him.
  26. Thomas D'Arcy McGee from Canada writes:
    Bill Bill from Trenton, Canada writes: I suggest that Harper intervene to have him shipped back to the scene of the crime, and face real justice. You play with the big boys, you pay the price,

    Buddy Canada from Toronto, Canada writes: Bring him back only if we hang him for treason.

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I agree.

    Bring him back.

    The Supreme Court of Canada has already determined that holding this boy is a violation of the charter.

    He was a minor at the time and heavily influenced by his family and others around him.

    He'll be free in ten minutes.

    You two don't really know much about this case do you?

    But you'd have him on a gallows regardless.

    Bill & Buddy, fortunately your types never get near the corridors of power.
  27. diane marie from calgary, Canada writes: Good. It's time to fish or cut bait on the matter of citizenship and banana republic courts.
  28. Mike B from Canada writes: He's not Canadian. Just bought the passport. Treat him accordingly.
  29. Yvonne Wackernagel from Woodville, Canada writes: Mr. Harper has to do his masters' wishes; if not, they may not contribute to his next election expenses. He has sold his soul to the devil, in my opinion. The same reason why he did not go to China for the Olympics; even George Bush went. Poor, poor Stephen Harper!
  30. Fake Name from Canada writes: ' Stan L from Canada writes: But seriously, we need to bring this guys back this is a disgrace and Harper's excuse sounds weaker everytime we hear it. I am not suggesting that he shouldn't face justice here.'

    Facing appropriate justice for treason is no longer an option under canadian law.
  31. Daniel Cunningham from Victoria, writes: ROLMAO - how many lawsuits are the Theo-Cons now involved in? What a pathetic disgrace of a governing party!!!!!!!! Boot them out on their collective assets already!
  32. Conservatives Lie from Canada writes: Good. It's about time that Stephen Harper and the rednecks in his Conservative party realize they have a responsibility to represent Canadians, even the ones that aren't white.
  33. James O'Keefe from Toronto, Canada writes: Yes we should bring this poor boy home so that he can resume his Allah given duty of killing non-Islamic Canadians. You infidels should be ashamed!
  34. The Globe and Mail editors censor free speech from Canada writes: Where did this kid get the money for these lawyers to sue everybody in every court they could think of?
  35. bill johnson from Quebec, Canada writes: what a colossal waste of ambulance chasers.
  36. I_Hate_David Miller from Toronto, Canada writes: Lets not only deport the entire family but the lawer too. If they love Afghanistan so much ship them all back there.
  37. Stephen Best from Penetanguishene, Canada writes: From reading the above posts, one can only come to the depressing realization that there is very large segment of the Canadian population that would rather the courts and the rule of law were replaced with lynch mobs.
  38. Pamphleteer . from Canada writes: Canada's Criminal Code definition High treason (1) Every one commits high treason who, in Canada, (a) kills or attempts to kill Her Majesty, or does her any bodily harm tending to death or destruction, maims or wounds her, or imprisons or restrains her; (b) levies war against Canada or does any act preparatory thereto; or (c) assists an enemy at war with Canada, or any armed forces against whom Canadian Forces are engaged in hostilities, whether or not a state of war exists between Canada and the country whose forces they are Yes...bring him back, charge him with high treason and let our courts sort it out... --- I highly doubt rebel taliban forces with whom Khadr was fighting could legally qualify as an 'armed force' within the meaning of that Code section. The Code states that high treason is committed when one assists an armed forces, whether or not a state of war exists between Canada and the country whose forces they are. The wording implies an armed force must belong to a country. Moreover, Canada is not legally engaged in hostilities with anyone -- Canada is in Afghanistan as part of a UN sanctioned international stabilization effort. Providing security is part and parcel of that effort, but the overriding reason they are there is not to engage in conflict.
  39. Rant N. Rave from Northern Prosperity, Canada writes: My life, your life and the lives of our children, will never be as they were before September 11th, 2001. Let us not forget. We now live in constant threat of another attack and the freedom that we all once enjoyed is now gone ... forever. It saddens me that my children, our children, will never know what it was like to live in a 'terror free Canada'. All of this bleeding heart sympathy for Khadr does not pull on my heartstrings in the slightest. I hope that he remains in Gitmo for as long as possible, and is served with the harshest sentence possible. PERHAPS this will send a much needed message to all of those 'whacked out' terrorists who live amongst us not to put their children in harms way. LET US REMEMBER that it was the parents decision, NOT MINE, NOT YOURS, to drag this juvenile off to war. It seems very real that if we allow this war crime to go unpunished because of the offenders age, that this may very well set a precedent for future 'whackos'. HOW ABOUT FEELING SORRY FOR OUR KIDS for not being allowed to live in the sanctuary of this country without the constant threat of kids like Khadr? The PMs office has ALL of my support on thisd issue. I owe that to MY children.
  40. James O'Keefe from Toronto, Canada writes: For all the hand-wringing bleeding hearts saying that he was brainwashed by his family - you're absolutely correct. No doubt about it. He has been stuffed so full of hate about everything not hard core Islamofacist that he risked almost certain death to kill non-muslims. And yes he was a child soldier. But until we allow the courts to 'reprogram' such brainwashed youths, he will maintain that mindset of hatred and a desire to level what he percieves as Koranic justice to the infidels (pretty clear when it says that a good muslim fights the infidel where he finds them). So you've got a rabid dog here on you hands, and because of the charter we can't re-train him to be a good dog. What do you do with it? Let it roam free like you are proposing?
  41. The Phantom from Canada writes:
    This is such an illuminating issue with regards to the abysmal ignorance of those who seem unable to find fault with anything the American/Canadian military does.

    The invasion of Afghanistan was illegal. Some may wish to debate this but to claim as Bob Saunders has in his rebuttal to me, that the Us did not invade and that they were invited into Afghanistan is silly.

    The American invasion of Afghanistan was an illegal act of aggression and a very serious war crime if it cannot be justified by one of the following three circumstances.

    Was it authorized by the security council?

    Was it an act of self defense in response to an armed attack by another nation?

    Was it a humanitarian intervention?

    Certainly the recognized Government of Afghanistan did not invite the Americans to carpet bomb and occupy their country.

    Also there seems to be a great deal of ignorance surrounding the citizenship of Omar Khadr. He was born in Canada and is as much a citizen as any person posting on this thread. Citizens may not be deported to a foreign country due to their political or religious beliefs. He was a child soldier and therefor should be given the protection such status affords him. Being as he was born here it is not possible to assert that this child was somehow a 'Canadian of convenience', but that is a nonsense term anyway. You do not her the people who use the term ever directing their indignation against Israeli Canadians serving in the Israeli army, even when Israel attacks Canadian soldiers working as UN observers in Lebanon.
  42. Jesse Winger from Calgary SW, Canada writes: Lot of hate on this forum (eg. IHateDavid Miller from Toronto).

    But these lawyers are doing the right thing. Harper must be publicly shamed before he'll stand up for Canadians, it seems.
  43. Jesu Pifco from Canada writes: Dear Lynch Mob,
    Have any of you actually been in country where people are lynched or there is no guarantee of corruption-free justice? Or in military action or a law-enforcement situation? Can you back up your POV with any experiences or observations?
    It's easy for ANYONE in this debate to rant or pontificate or just make simplistic judgments from their comfy Canadian homeland.
  44. david ferguson from halifax, Canada writes: be he child soldier, or committed terrorist from a family that have declined to accept anything that Canada has offered them other than a flag of convenience, a group of lawyers working on his behalf whose intent is to turn him loose on the Canadian public, do not and never will speak for Canadians.

    get over yourselves.
  45. scott myers from Canada writes: I hope that the family is paying for all these legal fees. or it just another type of jihad but wasting our tax dollars..
    IMHO legal aid should just send the family a bill for legal fee and see how long it takes for them to flee the country. Good ridance.
  46. Jack Davis from London, Canada writes: To Bill Bill who wrote, 'We don't need this type in Canada, and life in GITMO is a least a life, which is what he denied to that American soldier.' and others of Bill Bill's ilk: nothing has been proven because Khadr has not had a trial. As you must by now know, the Navy Lt. Cmndr. who represents Khadr has demonstrated that some of the U.S. soldiers present in the firefight have made statements to the effect that they don't believe he did or could have killed anyone, and that the U.S. gov't has been caught red-handed altering documents relevant to the incident. Hmmm. You also must know by now that his lawyer -- I repeat, a U.S. Navy Lt. Cmndr., also a staunch Republican and a 'Born Again' Christian, believes a fair trial for him is impossible under present circumstances and that Gitmo is something every American should be ashamed of. What facts are hardliners privy to that the rest of the world has missed?
  47. walt canada from lower bcwest coast, Canada writes: What a joke these lawyers,Since when does any prime minister tell another country how to do things and why would that country care what canadian courts say.Who's paying these jokers?Khadr has nothing to offer Canada,let the legal sytem play out.
  48. ginny ! from Canada writes:
    Hey Scenic Sask! Treason is a criminal code offense, not a 'war crime'. You won't find it in the Geneva Conventions.
  49. Sammy White from Canada writes: Russ Hamm those were exit wounds inflicted by the brave American soldiers who shot him in the back. A Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian, from coast to coast to coast, bring the boy home.
  50. born a cynic from Canada writes: Scenic Sask! from Canada writes: ginny ! from Canada writes:
    Every other western country has gotten their people back. This is shameful.

    And he's being tried for what exactly? Fighting on the 'wrong side' isn't a war crime.

    >>>>>>>>

    ginny - when he is fighting on the side against which OUR soldiers are fighting it IS a crime. The crime is TREASON.

    hey dufus....when did we officially declare war against Afghanistan?
    just because we are fighting over there on the behest of the US doesn't mean we're at war....but you right wingers never bothered with the finer points....
  51. diane marie from calgary, Canada writes: Rant N. Rave:-- September 11th, 2001, has served as a convenient excuse to undermine the very rights and freedoms that were/are supposed to be hated by our supposed enemies. The true 'bleeding hearts' are those who have permitted it to happen and who continue to be apologists.
  52. Pamphleteer . from Canada writes: born a cynic: There was no crime of high treason committed. See my post above.

    The offence of high treason is a highly exceptional one and courts are not going to apply it lightly.
  53. ginny ! from Canada writes:
    sheesh, you people. 'Treason' isn't a war crime, it's just a crime.

    If you want to try Khadr for treason, please, bring him home and put him on trial, I'm all for it. But 'treason' is not among the charges against him at Guantanamo. If he's a criminal, let's have a real criminal trial. Is that so hard?
  54. Shawn Bull from Canada writes: ginny ! from Canada writes: Every other western country has gotten their people back. This is shameful. And he's being tried for what exactly? Fighting on the 'wrong side' isn't a war crime.
    ------------------
    Ginny my dear, let me help explain it for you. You see the Khadr's lived in Canada. That is where you and I live Ginny...are you with me so far. Khadr (a person living in Canada) was fighting against.....come on Ginny do you know the answer...yes, Canada.

    That is called treason. Even after his family members were killed fighting against the country they live in, the women of the Khadr family (who are living in....Ginny, Ginny??....OK, I'll tell you....Canada) and they continue to slander Canada and voice support for the radical cause that killed her husband and put her son in Guantanimo.

    I don't want this person in MY country. I don't want his family in MY country. You can stay Ginny because ignorance is not a crime, just annoying.
  55. John Smith from Ottawa, Canada writes: Khadr is a Canadian of Convenience. Canadian society does not owe this man anything. I have to wonder how many of you people who cry to bring him to Canada would like to have him next door to you? Everyone ask themselves this question: Is Canada better off with Khadr living here?
  56. ginny ! from Canada writes:
    Also: rights don't disappear just because you've done something odious. That's what makes them rights.
  57. born a cynic from Canada writes: Jack Davies
    Exellent post !
    Good to read an itelligent post for a change...
    mind you the fossils won't agree with you.....
  58. Stan L from Canada writes: walt canada from lower bcwest coast, Canada writes: What a joke these lawyers,Since when does any prime minister tell another country how to do things and why would that country care what canadian courts say.Who's paying these jokers?Khadr has nothing to offer Canada,let the legal sytem play out.

    You say let the legal system play out...what legal system? who's law....? Who unilaterally decided the Americans should try and convict Khadr....I could see an arguement for the World court or something of that nature....but the US? Harper doens't want to deal with this pure and simple, his base of support would rather send this kid to a firing squad so Harper in true cowards fashion will acquiesse to the uninformed rabble than do the right thing.....it's pretty obvious and pretty transparent (probably the only transparent thing he has done with his time in office)
  59. John Smith from Ottawa, Canada writes: David Hogg from Canada.... As one of those 'tiny brained individuals', maybe you can explain to me what Khadr was doing anywhere near Al Qaeda in the first place? Also, considering the limited time he spent in Canada and the fact that his parents removed him, why does Canadian society owe him anything?
  60. r b from Canada writes: Notice the silence from Dion?

    He knows this is a landmine issue, and he must be smart enough to know that lots of dirty laundry hides beneath the medieval robes of the Khadr clan.

    When Khadr comes back to Canada, taxpayers will have the pleasure of paying compensation to that despicable family.

    Would Khadr have fired on his fellow Canadian soldiers currently in Afghanistan?

    What do you think?

    Go ahead, cry some more for the Khadr's.
  61. Not the Alliance from In my opinion, The Harper Gov't is totally Incompetent, but excel at whining that it's ALWAYS somebody else's fault., Canada writes: As much as this family is a disgrace to our country, he IS a Canadian and therefore must be accorded the same rights and protections by our Gov't as any other Canadian. Having our gov't pick and choose which Canadians they will stand up for is simply unacceptable - way too much power concentrated in too few hands and ripe for abuse. The gov't should hold its nose and bring him back.
  62. joe 6 pk from Canada writes: The Globe and Mail editors censor free speech from Canada writes: Where did this kid get the money for these lawyers to sue everybody in every court they could think of?

    ===================

    sad fact of the matter is ....

    kodr clan ...

    on the dole ....

    disgrace that hard earned canadian taxpayer money is paying for this ....

    abuse of the canadian purse.
  63. Jasper the Black Lab from Vancouver and Elsewhere, Canada writes: Why do the Conservative voters on this board think Khadr is not a 'real' Canadian citizen? Omar Khadr was born in Canada, a citizen by birth of this once-great country.
  64. Paul, Bytown, from Canada writes: From http://tinyurl.com/5649pl Truth be told, Omar Khadr is a Canadian of convenience. Although born in Toronto in 1986, Omar’s parents, both immigrants to Canada, had decided to raise their family elsewhere to escape a culture they viewed as having a corrupting influence on their young and growing family. The family was living overseas in locales such as Bahrain and Pakistan, returning for brief spells in 1985 and 1986 only for Omar and his older brother Ibrahim to be born or receive medical care from Canada’s state medical system. Omar left Canada for Pakistan’s Peshawar district when he was only months old, spending the rest of his life going between Pakistan, Afghanistan and when the family needed medical treatment, Canada. Like his son, Omar’s late father Ahmed Khadr, once faced charges of supporting terrorism and appealed to the Canadian government for help. Ahmed had been arrested in connection with the November 1995 bombing of the Egyptian Embassy in Pakistan. Petitions were organized in Toronto, a media campaign was launched and a personal appeal was made to then Prime Minister Jean Chretien. While Chretien was leading a business delegation through Pakistan, he was met one day in a hotel lobby by Ahmed’s wife Maha and her then 9 year-old son Omar. The family pleaded with Chretien to do something to free Ahmed, a Canadian citizen and “humanitarian relief worker” who was wrongly imprisoned. Prime Minister Chretien promised to raise the issue with Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto; a short time later the elder Khadr was released. The Khadr family returned to Canada briefly before moving away again, this time to Afghanistan and formed a close association with Osama bin Laden; the Khadr and bin Laden families lived together for a short time. Ahmed Khadr was eventually identified by the United Nations as a terrorist financier supporting Al Qaida, suspected of having provided funds for the 9/11 attacks. (cont.)
  65. Paul, Bytown, from Canada writes: (cont) In Canada, Prime Minister Chretien was pilloried for helping a terrorist gain his freedom. Small wonder that when Omar Khadr showed up in jail on terrorism charges in October of 2002, Jean Chretien offered consular assistance but never asked for Khadr’s freedom. Neither the Liberal government of Paul Martin nor the current Conservative government of Stephen Harper have altered Chretien’s initial position, offering Omar Khadr consular services, but letting the US justice system do its work and perhaps asking for Khadr to be returned to Canada after his trial. Omar Khadr’s distant relationship with Canada and the cold feet of Canadian politicians may explain why there is not a groundswell of support for his cause in his home and native land, but that does not excuse the lengthy time it has taken to get to trial. Even by my own standards, as someone who watches courts and has followed complex cases as they slowly wind their way to trial, six years is a long time. If you accept the position that the Americans have obviously messed up and not given Khadr a speedy trial, does that mean he should be freed? No, at least not on those grounds, because he and his fellow prisoners have a part in the long delay. Khadr’s supporters in Canada continue to call for his repatriation saying he can face charges under Canada’s legal system. Yet several experts such as John Thompson, a security specialist with the Mackenzie Institute, and law professor Michael Newton at Vanderbilt University, say Khadr likely would not face charges in Canada due to the way Canada’s treason and anti-terrorism legislation are written. Even a University of Ottawa legal opinion that says Khadr should face charges in Canada, concludes that he would likely never be convicted under the Canadian legal system. That leaves the government welcoming home the youngest son of a clan dubbed by Maclean’s magazine as “Canada’s First Family of Terror” and having him released onto the streets. (cont)
  66. Shawn Bull from Canada writes: Jasper the Black Lab from Vancouver and Elsewhere, Canada writes: Why do the Conservative voters on this board think Khadr is not a 'real' Canadian citizen? Omar Khadr was born in Canada, a citizen by birth of this once-great country.
    -----------------------------------
    I'm a Conservative and I do believe that he is a Canadian. That is why this is so appaling. A Candain fighting against the Canadian side. Treason. In the act of treason if you kill someone then it becomes murder. He is being tried for murder.
  67. David Hogg from Canada writes: According to some folks, since members of Khadr's family did something wrong, he must have done something wrong too. This is the type of logic that the Russians and the Nazis used to wipe out all family members when one member did something against their 'laws'.

    Would these folks want this type of government and legal system applied in Canada?

    Not me! Give him a fair trial here in Canada. Let him be judged based upon all the evidence presented in court, not by the 'kangaroos' who hop on the redneck bandwagon driven by Harper. If convicted, then sentence him appropriately. If found innocent, then he is released.

    If you don't like Canadian democracy, emigrate to China or Russia for a year or two. You will suddenly realize how blessed we are to live in Canada.
  68. Paul, Bytown, from Canada writes: (cont) To Khadr supporters who view him as a child soldier and a victim, his immediate release into Canadian society could hardly be viewed as a victory. Rehabilitation of a child soldier would normally include an attempt to reintegrate the boy into society in a normal way and to reunite him with his family. If Omar Khadr is a victim, taught to hate and take up arms against his will or better judgement, then the people who did this to him are his mother and father. His father is now dead, but his mother is back in Canada, having moved back in 2003 to obtain medical care for one of her other children. She and her daughters have spoken openly of their support for Al Qaida and their disdain for western society. One of Omar’s brothers is fighting extradition to the United States, where he faces charges of being an arms supplier to jihadists. This is hardly the environment you would want to rehabilitate a victim in, yet without charges to hold him on, or a conviction to jail him with, the Canadian government would have no choice but to release Omar Khadr into the loving arms of his mother. How would it help a supposed child soldier to send him back to a woman with a deep seated hatred for the society she lives in, a woman who has already proven that she and her loved ones will act on that hatred? So, the trouble with Omar is that there is no good solution. The American Military Tribunal system is flawed and raises serious questions about fundamental rights; rights that governments are supposed to protect. Yet to bring Omar home, would mean putting him straight back into the environment that his supporters say made him a victim in the first place. And finally, given the family history, there is the public backlash awaiting the government that actively seeks to release Omar as a free citizen onto the streets of Toronto. So things are not always what they seem when it comes to Omar Khadr and his family, and there are no easy answers when it comes to solving his case.
  69. Thomas D'Arcy McGee from Canada writes:
    Jack Davis, Born A Cynic, Not The Alliance -

    PLease stop posting opinions based on the basic Canadian values of justice, fair play and mercy.

    You're upsetting the antediluvian neanderthals who need a good hanging to make the day right. Even better if it's a mere boy.
  70. Rant N. Rave from Northern Prosperity, Canada writes: diane marie from calgary, Canada writes: Rant N. Rave:-- September 11th, 2001, has served as a convenient excuse to undermine the very rights and freedoms that were/are supposed to be hated by our supposed enemies. The true 'bleeding hearts' are those who have permitted it to happen and who continue to be apologists.

    DIANE MARIE FROM CALGARY. I have no enemies with the Muslim people. Nor did I invite the atrocities of 9/11. Nor do I agree with the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan. But nobody asked me. Your response to my comments are silly and your total absence for compassion makes you a leading candidate for the next rotation to Kandahar. Good luck!
  71. Shawn Bull from Canada writes: Thomas D'Arcy McGee from Canada writes: A majority of Canadians do not want Khadr taken out of Gitmo and brought back to Canada. A majority of Canadians must be Neanderthals in your eyes. Why on Earth would an honourable gentlemen like yourself want to stay in such a vile country full of such terribnle people?
  72. John Smith from Ottawa, Canada writes: I am willing to bet the people who want to bring L'il Omie to Canada are the same people who wanted to let the US Army Deserter Long stay in Canada....things that make us go hmmmm
  73. Stan L from Canada writes: r b from Canada writes: Notice the silence from Dion?

    Actually Rae has commented on this several times quite eloquently in fact (rightly so as he is the foreign affairs critic in the Liberal Shadow cabinet)
  74. Daniel Cunningham from Victoria, writes: Shawn Bull - would this be the same non-existent majority that Clements claims is against Insite? Amazing how you Theo-Cons are always right, always supported by the majority of Canadians, and yet when the polls come out you always lose. Theo-Cons = big fat liars who couldn't see daylight even if they did pull their heads out of their $sses every now and again.
  75. Shawn Bull from Canada writes: Stan L from Canada writes: r b from Canada writes: Notice the silence from Dion? Actually Rae has commented on this several times quite eloquently in fact (rightly so as he is the foreign affairs critic in the Liberal Shadow cabinet)
    -----------------
    Um, Stan, Rae and Dion are two different people. They look different and even spell their names different. Thus, Dion's silence has been deafening.
    I do understand your mistake however, at 9% public support I would wish that Dion wasn't leading my party either.
  76. Thomas D'Arcy McGee from Canada writes: Shawn Bull from Canada writes:

    'A majority of Canadians do not want Khadr taken out of Gitmo and brought back to Canada. A majority of Canadians must be Neanderthals in your eyes. Why on Earth would an honourable gentlemen like yourself want to stay in such a vile country full of such terribnle people? '

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    1) A majority opinion does not mean they are correct. A majority of Americans thought invading Iraq was a good idea. And the majority who think Khadr should stay in Gitmo is shrinking.

    2) No, I don't think a majority of Canadians are Neanderthals. Just those who want to treat a 15-year old naive boy like a war criminal.

    3) I stay in Canada because I believe that most of the people in it are nothing like you.
  77. Meerschaum ! from Vancouver, Canada writes: Well, since the terrorist plot to behead our PM failed, I suppose that suing him is these pathetic Islamofascist thugs' only option now to try and cow this country into submission. While such a lawsuit might very well cause Mr. Dion and a number of the Liberal/terrorist supporters posting on this board to turn over the keys to Parliament to Bin Laden, I suspect that Mr. Harper is made of sterner stuff and will not give in to the demands of the Taliban (or their lawyers).
  78. John Smith from Ottawa, Canada writes: Stan L from Canada writes: r b from Canada writes: Notice the silence from Dion?

    Actually Rae has commented on this several times quite eloquently in fact (rightly so as he is the foreign affairs critic in the Liberal Shadow cabinet)

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Do you mean Bob (I ran up a huge deficit as NDP Premier of Ontario) Rae? I myself find it quite strange that prior to his deciision to forgo his long affiliation with the NDP and come out of the closet as a LPC supporter Bob (I ran up a huge deficit as NDP Premier of Ontario) Rae never spoke about Khadr. Maybe Dion's is silent because he can't explain why the Chretien and Martin gov'ts, which he was part, didn't want Kadr in Canada either.
  79. Alberta Dennis Notso,redneck from Canada writes: What was this poor Canadian doing mixed up in a fire-fight throwing hand grenades at the US Army. I doubt he was mixing baby pablum for his pals. Should Canada bring all Canadians that run afoul of the law home hold a trial and either find them guilty or turn them loose? There are so many bleeding hearts in this case, may I suggest you try living in some other country and never return
  80. Mical Olsen from Coquitlam, Canada writes: Do I understand this correctly. As a taxpayer, I'm paying a lawyer to file a suit to bring a suspected terrorist into my country. When he is now in custody, and subject the the legal system of the country which laid the charges. A country that has a legal system that has shown itself to be just, and fair. Now if it is a get out of jail free that this suspected killer deserves, then we have a syestem that certainly can provide that. I'm not willing to pay for the effort, as I do not want to pay to bring Mr. Black another Canadian, (well there is the matter of giving up citizenship for a lordship) to Canada, for a get out of jail free
  81. David Griffith from NS, Canada writes: Yes, by all means let's bring lil Omie home, so he can be tried by our Liberal judges, be processed, maybe serve a small sentence and released back into society where he can make a new life for himself by joining a good, upstanding terrorist cell to continue the work he was raised to do. Precious.

    Scarey, the kind of country we've become when we fight so hard for the 'rights' of a terrorist when there are far weightier issues to think about. This 'Canadian' of convenience belongs right where he is, to be dealt with the judicial system of the person he killed. Stick to your guns, Prime Minister.
  82. Thomas D'Arcy McGee from Canada writes:
    Shawn Bull writes:

    'Um, Stan, Rae and Dion are two different people. They look different and even spell their names different.'

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Um, Shawn, Bob Rae is the Foreign Affairs critic for the Liberal Party of Canada.

    It's his job to comment on these matters.

    But you knew that didn't you?

    Unlike the Conservative Party where only Harpoon is allowed to speak, the Liberals, like most democratic parties, devolve responsibility for the various portfolios to a variety of qualified members.

    It's called a P-O-L-I-T-I-C-A-L P-A-R-T-Y Shawn.
  83. Gord Cee from Canada writes: Lawyers are like pond scum, they're expensive hard to get rid of and serve no useful purpose. If justice were to prevail this guy should be found guilty and spend his final moments on a very high voltage electric chair
  84. Stan L from Canada writes: Shawn Bull.....purposfeully not understanding my point hasn't helped you much...I only heard Rae speak about this and as the Foreign affairs critic I though quite rightly so.....but just to cal you and r b down...here's a little quote I missed from the Edmonton Sun dated July 31st...'The former Liberal government could have done more to help a Canadian imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay, leader Stephane Dion said yesterday in a three-page letter that nonetheless takes aim at the prime minister over the plight of Omar Khadr.
    Dion wrote that Stephen Harper is in 'an untenable position' in Khadr's case because he hasn't stood up for the Canadian's rights after U.S. courts slammed the type of military commission that will try him this fall.'

    Here's the link
    http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Canada/2008/07/31/6314301-sun.html


    And let me know if you want any more articles referencing the Liberal position....
  85. Shawn W from Toronto, Canada writes: Funny, I don't consider him to be a Canadian citizen - despite the passport. Canadian citizens aren't in league with islamofascist terrorists and Canadian citizens don't throw grenades at US soldiers. He's a citizen only out of convenience (like his whole family and many from his community like him). He can rot in hell for all I care.
  86. Nicholas de Panicis from Canada writes: He is a Traitor to this Country do not allow him in PERIOD..
  87. terry ludtke from red dog ab, writes: Thomas...most canadians are nothing like you either....whinny left wing sheep, who are more concerned with the rights of a confesed al-queda terrorist then the saftey of the women and children he hates. Its very cool for you liberals to decry for poor Omar when the rest of us hard working tax payers don't want anything to do with this guy, he can rot it gitmo, he put himself there. No Thomas you wouldn't know much about hard working Canadians at all.......
  88. David Griffith from NS, Canada writes: Daniel Cunningham from Victoria, writes: Shawn Bull - would this be the same non-existent majority that Clements claims is against Insite? Amazing how you Theo-Cons are always right, always supported by the majority of Canadians, and yet when the polls come out you always lose
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Psss...just a heads-up Danny boy...the last election...the Conservatives actually won. That's why they are the government now and would probably repeat if an election were called. The Libs only have Toronto now. The ship is sinking...under all that carbon...tax.
  89. Jack Robertson from Toronto, Canada writes: Canada brought Brenda Martin back home. We have done our good deed for the decade. Unlike Omar Khadr, at least Ms. Martin was a bona fide Canadian.
  90. John Smith from Ottawa, Canada writes: Mical Olsen from Coquitlam, Canada writes: Do I understand this correctly. As a taxpayer, I'm paying a lawyer to file a suit to bring a suspected terrorist into my country. When he is now in custody, and subject the the legal system of the country which laid the charges. A country that has a legal system that has shown itself to be just, and fair. Now if it is a get out of jail free that this suspected killer deserves, then we have a syestem that certainly can provide that. I'm not willing to pay for the effort, as I do not want to pay to bring Mr. Black another Canadian, (well there is the matter of giving up citizenship for a lordship) to Canada, for a get out of jail free

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Just wait Mical, it's going to get better. I'm willing to bet that whether L'il Omie is convicted or not he will be reurned to Canada. Can you imagine what its going to cost to keep this guy under survellience just to make sure he doesn't drive a truck full of fertillizer into a bridge or subway.
  91. Richard Daystrom from Toronto, Canada writes: Bill Shakespeare was right: Kill all the lawyers.
  92. J R from Vancouver, Canada writes: Ghengis Khan from Canada writes: Canada's Criminal Code definition
    High treason
    (1) Every one commits high treason who, in Canada,

    You forgot to highlight 'in Canada'. I looks like high treason does not apply if you are not in Canada when you commit it. Maybe you should read more slowly, and you may comprehend what the text refers to.
  93. Shawn Bull from Canada writes: Stan L from Canada writes: And let me know if you want any more articles referencing the Liberal position.
    ------------------------
    Actually yeah could you point me to an article that actually details what the Liberal vision is...outside of the carbon tax.
  94. Stan L from Canada writes: ....oh and Shawn just in case the insecure Conservative party want to know what the FORMER Liberal leader thinks.....here's clip, 'Former prime minister Paul Martin said yesterday that Canada should lobby to bring back Guantanamo Bay prisoner Omar Khadr. 'I think Bill Graham, who was foreign affairs minister at the time, said it the best. Which was, 'If we had known then what we know now, then we would have taken strenuous steps to repatriate Mr. Khadr to Canada,' ' Mr. Martin told CTV's Question Period in an interview broadcast yesterday.'....that's from the Globe and Mail July 21st.

    Why do you and r b care what the Liberal position is anyway? Kinda looks a little insecure and grasping don't you think?
  95. Harvey Mushman from cambridge, Canada writes: Leave him where he is. It's clear that the Canadian justice system does not operate effectively in such cases so we'll have to leave it to the Americans to put him on trial. No different than our courts inability to handle cases like 'Air India', Conrad Black, Briex...etc. Any reasonable person can deduce that the Khadrs are one of many 'Canadian citizens of convenience' who use Canadian citizenship as a shield and 'get out of jail free card' for thier questionable and illegal activities abroad. They 'work the system' to their benefit, the Canadian government should 'work the system' to our benefit and use whatever loopholes or procedures it can to keep people like the Khadrs out of Canada and keep 'poor little Omar' in Gitmo to face trial.
  96. Stan L from Canada writes: Jack Robertson from Toronto, Canada writes: Canada brought Brenda Martin back home. We have done our good deed for the decade. Unlike Omar Khadr, at least Ms. Martin was a bona fide Canadian.

    Please let us know what a bona fide Canadian is? Is there an office where we can apply for that? Last I heard being a citizen makes you bona fide.
  97. Daniel Cunningham from Victoria, writes: Shawn W - funny how I'm so glad you aren't a judge, or even a politician for that matter, when you so clearly want to ignore the rules of law. No matter how odious Khadr and his family may be they are Canadian citizens. As such they are entitled to due process - something which clearly hasn't happened in Gitmo. The fact that they have to sue our federal government to get some action on their behalf is a bloody disgrace!
  98. John Smith from Ottawa, Canada writes: You people who write about Bob (I ran up a huge deficit as NDP Premier of Ontario) Rae as if he is the saviour of all that is good in Canada, mmust not have lived in Ontario in the early 1990's. I did and I can attest that Bob (I ran up a huge deficit as NDP Premier of Ontario) Rae is one of worst political figures in Canadian history. let's just hope he never gets a Cabinet post or we'll be all doomed.
  99. Peter Walker from Canada writes: Screw the lawyers who will use any means to make a big buck!!
    and
    screw Khadr and his family, send them back to anywhere that will take them, because they entered this Country under false pretences.

    Leave the scumbag where he is, at least then we know where he is and what he is doing and preaching - NOTHING!!.

    WHY is Canada the dumping ground and safe haven for terrorists from around the World ?
  100. Shawn Bull from Canada writes: Stan L from Canada writes: Yes Stan. Would this be the same Paul MArtin who left Omar there becasue 'IF they knew now then what they know now'...begging the question, Why didn't you know then what you know now?

    ...and the Conservatives don;t need to be insecure because we are the government. The Liberals were defeated oh, about two and a halkf years ago. You must have missed that memo too.
  101. Shawn W from Toronto, Canada writes: Daniel Cunningham from Victoria - yeah, we'll just see how many people are still singing kumbaya when these nuts finally do pull off a terrorist attack on our soil and take innocent Canadian lives.

    Have fun living in your bubble - I'm sure it's much more pleasant than the real world around you. Cheers.
  102. Michael Crowell from Halifax, Canada writes: Let's not waste another dime or newsprint on this family of criminals. I am sick to death of the Khadr and his saga. Thanks to Jean Cretien for giving us this family of blood suckers.
  103. Shawn W from Toronto, Canada writes: Daniel Cunningham from Victoria - and while we're on the topic, if 90 year old ex-Nazi collaborator prison guards can be stripped of their citizenship and sent back to Ukraine or where ever, how hard is it to boot the Khadr's and their ilk out? Let's set up the tribunals and get this show on the road! I'm sure there's a dusty cave in some hell-hole country just waiting for the Khadrs!
  104. The Phantom from Canada writes:

    The rights of Citizenship you deny to Khadr you will deny to your own children.
  105. Stan L from Canada writes: Shawn Bull from Canada writes: ...and the Conservatives don;t need to be insecure because we are the government. The Liberals were defeated oh, about two and a halkf years ago. You must have missed that memo too.

    That's pretty funny stuff. If you (and your proHarper pals) are so secure then what the Liberals say or do should be of no real concern to you....and yet you are fascinated by them to the point of twisting the facts, not staying on topic and the ever present tactic of last resort Adscam......You guys make me laugh.
  106. John Smith from Ottawa, Canada writes: Shawn W from Toronto, Canada writes: I'm sure there's a dusty cave in some hell-hole country just waiting for the Khadrs!

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Great idea, but only problem is we would end up having to pay for their medical care. We are Canada after all...Send us you deserters, send us your terrorists, we have hospital beds for them all....we are just a bunch of suckers.
  107. willie s from Canada writes: Bring him back??? not a chance - instead they should try to find a way to deport the whole family!!!!!
  108. David Griffith from NS, Canada writes: Stan L from Canada writes: think Bill Graham, who was foreign affairs minister at the time, said it the best. Which was, 'If we had known then what we know now, then we would have taken strenuous steps to repatriate Mr. Khadr to Canada...
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Oh puhleaase, Stan. We've seen and heard that one before. 'If we had known'...LOL! Just like kyoto, huh? Liberal hindsight. Its a special thing, LOL.
  109. Stan L from Canada writes: Shawn W from Toronto, Canada writes: Daniel Cunningham from Victoria - and while we're on the topic, if 90 year old ex-Nazi collaborator prison guards can be stripped of their citizenship and sent back to Ukraine or where ever, how hard is it to boot the Khadr's and their ilk out?

    Pretty hard actually....in the few cases you mention the people lie/faked documents/faked identities to get into the country. Omar Khadr was born here.
  110. Stan L from Canada writes: David Griffith from NS, Canada writes: ....Oh puhleaase, Stan. We've seen and heard that one before. 'If we had known'...LOL! Just like kyoto, huh? Liberal hindsight. Its a special thing, LOL.

    Funny, I thought it was a pretty honest admission.....open AND accountable even.
  111. L M87 from Calgary, Canada writes: What's this? Somebody actually using legal principle when it comes to Khadr? Every LEGITIMATE legal court in the world has ruled against what the US is doing in Guantanamo, even the US Supreme Court. I can already foresee a multi-million dollar settlement for Khadr coming out of this. And yes, there is precedence for this. Anyone remember a someone who was awarded $10million for Canada's role in his illegal detention and torture in Syria?
  112. Voice of Reason from Ottawa, Canada writes: We should sue the lawyers for wasting taxpayers money.
  113. John Smith from Ottawa, Canada writes: The Phantom from Canada writes:

    The rights of Citizenship you deny to Khadr you will deny to your own children.

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    I doubt my daughter will be denied roghts because I will raise her in Canada. Unlike the Khadr's I want to raise my children here, an d I also doubt my child will be found in a terrorist camp. I will not befriend a Bin Ladenesque and I will expose my family to militant terrorism training.
  114. Ricky for a Centrist Canada from Canada writes:
    Blah blah blah terrorist blah blah blah libby bleeding hearts blah blah blah CPC talking points blah blah blah. Whatever.

    Due