Harper unapologetic about government’s efforts to keep Khadr in prison

[alp227]

Source: Globe & Mail

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is unapologetic about his government’s efforts to keep Omar Khadr in prison, saying on Friday that his thoughts would remain focused on the family of the U.S. soldier who was killed.

“Mr. Khadr, as we all know, pled guilty to very grave crimes including murder,” Mr. Harper said during a press conference on Friday. “At this time our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Sergeant Christopher Speer.”

Mr. Khadr was released on bail this week after spending 13 years behind bars for throwing a grenade during a firefight in Afghanistan that killed Sgt. Speer, a U.S. special forces soldier. He was 15 at the time of his capture by American forces and was held for nearly a decade at the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay before being transferred to a Canadian prison in 2012.

Mr. Khadr pleaded guilty to war crimes in October, 2010, including the murder of Sgt. Speer, in exchange for an eight-year prison sentence.

Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/harper-unapologetic-about-governments-efforts-to-keep-khadr-in-prison/article24334556/

[LiberalLovinLug]

1. What a scumbag

The PM that is. The Canadian conservative government lost its appeal to keep Mr. Khadr in jail while he appeals his wrongful incarceration by the US. He was a 15 year old young person dragged to Afghanistan by his extremist fundie Muslim father after 9/11. Forced to defend himself against an attack by US soldiers. With Afghan fighters dead and dying all around him, he was frightened and fought back by throwing a grenade over a wall at the attackers on the other side. Who in that position wouldn't? It was war. It was NOT on nearly the same level as some planned terrorist attack by an adult, despite what the US said and what our poodle PM tries to claim.

If fighting attacking soldiers by throwing a grenade is a "terrorist attack" then every US and Canadian soldier who has ever thrown a grenade is also a terrorist. This kind of misguided vindictive politically based agenda to destroy this young mans life is disgusting. It goes against all efforts to build bridges with the Muslim community when they are treated like disposable pawns for political points with the rabid frightened right wing base. He has already suffered through 13 years of incarceration, including torture in Gitmo. Enough is enough!

[seveneyes]

2. "Afghan fighters dead and dying all around him"

He should have used the grenade on the terrorists that forced him into battle and then surrendered to the targets of the terrorists. The soldiers fighting the terrorists would have helped him instead of arresting him.

Instead, he chose to murder.

[LiberalLovinLug]

12. Sure

He was a kid. Every kid is influenced by their fathers. Do you honestly think someone as young and indoctrinated by his father from an early age into radical extremist beliefs, would or could suddenly..on the battlefield..rebel..and have the insane idea to start killing the fighters around him that a second ago were his comadres? What planet do you live on?

And on what planet is an act of war, murder? When you are being attacked, and think you are going to be killed, you fight back with what you have. As if you would not do the same. If defending yourself in battle is a "terrorist act" then all those American soldiers and any soldier who kills an enemy combatant is guilty of murder too.

On top of that, in the story linked below by Monk06, he may not even have thrown the grenade. This is what he is trying to prove. He was covered in rubble from the US bombing. No one actually saw him throw it. It was just convenient that he was the only one alive near the area.

Such lack of empathy and for that matter simple logical thinking on this board astounds me.

[Thespian2]

4. I live in Canada and follow the stupidity

that is Stephen Harper...better known is our province as a piece of shit...

[u4ic]

10. He was younger than that

Between the ages of 8 and 15 he had been shuttled by his family between Afghanistan, Pakistan and Canada.

Agree - Harper is scum.

[iandhr]

3. I am not a fan of Harper.

But he is absolutely right in this case. Even broke clocks are right twice a day.



He fought on the battlefield with the Taliban. And before you call me a GITMO apologist I support shutting it down. We should have extradited him to Canada when we captured him.

[LiberalLovinLug]

13. What is he right about?

That a kid, covered in rubble, who claims to be innocent of throwing the grenade...and even IF he did....IT WAS A BATTLEFIELD!..is an irredeemable terrorist? Someone brought over to Afghanistan against his will and forced to fight? That he deserves to be locked up even MORE than the 13 years he has already? Even though he has denounced his now dead father and Islamic extremism and wants to be a productive citizen?

Just appalling set of principles some in here have. Shocking and disgusting. I am out of words.

[arikara]

15. He was tortured in that horrific place

tortured people lie to end the abuse.

And Harper is a dickhead and he keeps losing court cases because unlike a broken clock, he's always wrong.

[blackspade]

5. Harper is such a prick.

[840high]

6. Maybe so. He's right on this.

[blackspade]

11. Nope. Not even in the slightest.

[Monk06]

7. According to this story Khadr was wounded and buried in rubble at the time he was accused of

throwing the grenade.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/omarkhadr/2009/10/28/omar_khadr_innocent_in_death_of_us_soldier.html

[Little Tich]

8. I can't really understand how he became classed as a terrorist.

The correct classification ought to be child soldier. After all, he was 15 and was fighting with an irregular militia against invading US soldiers. He didn't target civilians, so how can he be a terrorist? A more appropriate treatment would have been juvie until he was 18, and then release.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

9. +1

That would have been the sane way to handle it.

[LiberalLovinLug]

14. Exactly right

Its like scooping up an African child soldier, forced to fight, and instead of helping him, throwing him from the frying pan into the fire. Even torturing him. And then after 13 years of this, some asshole in charge wants to lock him away longer.

I am surprised that Khadr isn't filled with more rage at his home country. Astounding that he is so forgiving and willing to be a productive member of the society that abandoned him.