Zach LarkinsDO WE WANT HIM?
Australian-born David Hicks, after being detained at Guantanamo Bay for 5 years, pleaded guilty to terrorism and will be sent back to Australia to serve his sentence. I get the feeling he will get a better deal there than he would if he had to serve time in the USA. But this article isn't about Hicks. It's about Omar Khadr, our own little Canadian terrorist.
Khadr, now 20, is not stupid. He is probably hoping for a slap on the wrist if he can make it back to Canada. He is presently cooling his heels at Guantanamo awaiting trial on charges of murder. It is alleged that he threw a grenade which killed a Marine corpsman in Afghanistan and wounded another. The trial is expected to begin any day now.
Khadr, his parents and his siblings are Canadian citizens, much to the chagrin of many Canadians, who resent this family which has, in the past, boasted it is "an al-Qaida family." The wounded Marine's family is suing the Khadr family and prosecutors are calling his conviction a slam dunk. Basically all that remains to be seen is what sentence the US military tribunal hands down and whether Khadr can convince them to send him ‘home' to serve it.
A little bit of background is in order here. Khadr's father, Ahmed Said Khadr, was born in Egypt and was killed in a Pakistani attack on suspect al Qaida fighters in 2003. Said's youngest son, Abdul Karim, was partially paralyzed in that shoot-out. Khadr was captured in 2002, at age 15, in a U.S. attack near Khost. Said's Palestinian-born wife and daughter brought Karim back to Canada for medical treatment in 2004, and promptly bit the hand that feeds them. They were extremely vocal in the uncomplimentary things they had to say about Canada and were unabashed supporters of Osama bin Laden. Except for the fly in the ointment, their other son, Abdurahman.
Abdurahman, after being captured by the Americans renounced violence and terrorism, while his mother says she would be proud if her sons became suicide bombers. And this twit is a Canadian citizen. Others have been deported from our country for considerably less, yet this Canadian-of- convenience is thus far allowed to stay here and spew her venom. The Khadr family is nominally "Canadian", but they personify one of the problems with our immigration system which is admitting people who may undermine or subvert the values Canada lives by. They should have been deported a long time ago.
Hicks' admission of guilt is seen as a ploy to be sent back to Australia, which both his family and the Australian government want. Well, Australia can have him. He was sentenced to seven years in prison but he will only have to serve nine months of the sentence. In his defence, I have to point out that, though he was a convert to Islam and trained with al Qaeda, he fought against U.S. allies in Afghanistan in late 2001 for a mere two hours before selling his gun to raise cab fare and trying to flee by taxi to Pakistan. His attorney, Marine Maj. Michael Mori, portrayed him as a now-apologetic soldier wannabe who never shot at anyone and ran away when he got a taste of battle.
That is certainly not the case with Khadr. While neither Liberals nor Conservatives were keen on the Khadrs, especially after Jean Chretien, when he was PM, once persuaded Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to free the father, Omar's loyalties are to an alien creed and a foreign country, and he should endure the consequences of his choice. Ahmed Said Khadr was being held by the Pakistanis, accused of participating in the terrorist bombing of the Egyptian embassy. On a visit to Pakistan, Chretien persuaded Musharraf to free Khadr, whom he believed was innocent. As it turns out, Chretien was snookered by Khadr. And now, due to the Hicks verdict, the ball is back in Canada's court. Do we accept or reject him if he pulls off a sweet deal like Hicks did?
The U.S. regards the detainees at Guantanamo as enemy fighters, being held until the war against terrorism is ended, rather as prisoners of war were "detained" until WWII ended. Guantanamo abides by the Geneva Conventions, thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court. Food and medical treatment are excellent. But Guantanamo is still a prison-like environment, make no mistake about that. Perhaps charging Khadr with first-degree murder is a bit over the top when clearly he was fighting against what, to him, was an invading army. He was a soldier fighting for his cause which really had nothing to do with Canada. But Canada should never accept him back. His intentions are clear and he is backed by his mother and siblings.
After revoking their citizenship, have the whole bunch sent back to Lebanon. They've cost us enough in medical treatment and spit on us to top it off. I'd gladly help pay for the plane ticket.
By the way, where are the agitators who complain about prisoner treatment at Guantanamo now that the British are being held by the Iranians? Selective outrage?
Sources: Peter Worthington Canada Won't Want Him Toronto Sun
Jane Sutton Australian First Reuters
Khadr, now 20, is not stupid. He is probably hoping for a slap on the wrist if he can make it back to Canada. He is presently cooling his heels at Guantanamo awaiting trial on charges of murder. It is alleged that he threw a grenade which killed a Marine corpsman in Afghanistan and wounded another. The trial is expected to begin any day now.
Khadr, his parents and his siblings are Canadian citizens, much to the chagrin of many Canadians, who resent this family which has, in the past, boasted it is "an al-Qaida family." The wounded Marine's family is suing the Khadr family and prosecutors are calling his conviction a slam dunk. Basically all that remains to be seen is what sentence the US military tribunal hands down and whether Khadr can convince them to send him ‘home' to serve it.
A little bit of background is in order here. Khadr's father, Ahmed Said Khadr, was born in Egypt and was killed in a Pakistani attack on suspect al Qaida fighters in 2003. Said's youngest son, Abdul Karim, was partially paralyzed in that shoot-out. Khadr was captured in 2002, at age 15, in a U.S. attack near Khost. Said's Palestinian-born wife and daughter brought Karim back to Canada for medical treatment in 2004, and promptly bit the hand that feeds them. They were extremely vocal in the uncomplimentary things they had to say about Canada and were unabashed supporters of Osama bin Laden. Except for the fly in the ointment, their other son, Abdurahman.
Abdurahman, after being captured by the Americans renounced violence and terrorism, while his mother says she would be proud if her sons became suicide bombers. And this twit is a Canadian citizen. Others have been deported from our country for considerably less, yet this Canadian-of- convenience is thus far allowed to stay here and spew her venom. The Khadr family is nominally "Canadian", but they personify one of the problems with our immigration system which is admitting people who may undermine or subvert the values Canada lives by. They should have been deported a long time ago.
Hicks' admission of guilt is seen as a ploy to be sent back to Australia, which both his family and the Australian government want. Well, Australia can have him. He was sentenced to seven years in prison but he will only have to serve nine months of the sentence. In his defence, I have to point out that, though he was a convert to Islam and trained with al Qaeda, he fought against U.S. allies in Afghanistan in late 2001 for a mere two hours before selling his gun to raise cab fare and trying to flee by taxi to Pakistan. His attorney, Marine Maj. Michael Mori, portrayed him as a now-apologetic soldier wannabe who never shot at anyone and ran away when he got a taste of battle.
That is certainly not the case with Khadr. While neither Liberals nor Conservatives were keen on the Khadrs, especially after Jean Chretien, when he was PM, once persuaded Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to free the father, Omar's loyalties are to an alien creed and a foreign country, and he should endure the consequences of his choice. Ahmed Said Khadr was being held by the Pakistanis, accused of participating in the terrorist bombing of the Egyptian embassy. On a visit to Pakistan, Chretien persuaded Musharraf to free Khadr, whom he believed was innocent. As it turns out, Chretien was snookered by Khadr. And now, due to the Hicks verdict, the ball is back in Canada's court. Do we accept or reject him if he pulls off a sweet deal like Hicks did?
The U.S. regards the detainees at Guantanamo as enemy fighters, being held until the war against terrorism is ended, rather as prisoners of war were "detained" until WWII ended. Guantanamo abides by the Geneva Conventions, thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court. Food and medical treatment are excellent. But Guantanamo is still a prison-like environment, make no mistake about that. Perhaps charging Khadr with first-degree murder is a bit over the top when clearly he was fighting against what, to him, was an invading army. He was a soldier fighting for his cause which really had nothing to do with Canada. But Canada should never accept him back. His intentions are clear and he is backed by his mother and siblings.
After revoking their citizenship, have the whole bunch sent back to Lebanon. They've cost us enough in medical treatment and spit on us to top it off. I'd gladly help pay for the plane ticket.
By the way, where are the agitators who complain about prisoner treatment at Guantanamo now that the British are being held by the Iranians? Selective outrage?
Sources: Peter Worthington Canada Won't Want Him Toronto Sun
Jane Sutton Australian First Reuters
He only pleaded guilty to get out, it was so ironic they wanted him to say how he was guilty, he didn't even know what to say. He's as innocent as they get, thats why our justice system is so screwed, he's pleading guilty because it will give him the best end.
btw, there is no proof to suggest those held in Iran are being tortured or tied to chairs and wheeled around, when there is then there will be outrage, until then we can safely say the Iranians treat their prisoners more humanely than American's do.
youranter
Opinions
opinionatedranter
Tales From The Green Lantern
First, I assume you're talking about Hicks now, you say he pleaded guilty to only to get out. No, he was guilty of taking up arms and fighting the coalition forces. Yes, he only lasted two hours, found out he'd filled his pants and then fled, but he did convert to Islam (not a crime) to join Al Qaida to do harm to those forces (a crime). He got a sweetheart deal because he turned out to be a coward.
Second, here I believe you're talking about Khadr, you say there is no evidence of torture or tying to chairs. No one ever said there was. By being 'wheeled around' I must assume you mean being paraded before the world for all to see. They are having that done to them. Turn on any newscast you want or open any paper you want and you will see them. This is against the Geneva Conventions, you know, that scrap of paper the detainees at Guantanamo keep referring to? The difference is that the detainees at Guantanamo are not subject to provisions of the Conventions, but get them anyway, and the Brits are subject to them but are not receiving them.
Third, sending the Khadr clan back to Lebanon does not push away any problem. It puts it back where it belongs. We have people here who were in the Nazi party during the war, have lived here quietly and productively for over 50 years, and are today being stripped of their citizenship and deported. What makes Khadr special? He and his family are Canadians-of-convenience, hoping their passport will protect them. After all the 'respect' they've shown this country, the least we can do is respect their right to leave it. They just need a little encouragement, that's all.