Omar Khadr back in Canada

[flamesfever]

I believe the Muslim World will be keeping an eye on how Omar is treated in Canada vs the US. I agree as a Canadian citizen he is entitled to due process, and hopefully he gets that in a timely manner, along with all the help he needs to be rehabilitated and get on with his life. To treat him otherwise may be counterproductive, by turning him into more of a martyr, leading to an increase in Islamic extremism.

Society seems to be very polarized with regard to the matter, which is perfectly understandable under the circumstances of the war in Afganistan. However, Omar's case is unusually complex and hopefully the authorities, charged with handling the case, have enough wisdom to find the right balance between justice and mercy for the benefit of all concerned.

[Byrns]

Originally Posted by flamesfever

I believe the Muslim World will be keeping an eye on how Omar is treated in Canada vs the US. I agree as a Canadian citizen he is entitled to due process, and hopefully he gets that in a timely manner, along with all the help he needs to be rehabilitated and get on with his life. To treat him otherwise may be counterproductive, by turning him into more of a martyr, leading to an increase in Islamic extremism.

Society seems to be very polarized with regard to the matter, which is perfectly understandable under the circumstances of the war in Afganistan. However, Omar's case is unusually complex and hopefully the authorities, charged with handling the case, have enough wisdom to find the right balance between justice and mercy for the benefit of all concerned.

I'm pretty sure the "Muslim World", outside of Canada, has no idea that he even exists.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Byrns

I'm pretty sure the "Muslim World", outside of Canada, has no idea that he even exists.

Probably very true. In a lot of cases, the "Muslim World" is a lot like Americans. If it isn't happening to them, its not important.

[undercoverbrother]

Bump

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2...r_for_50m.html

The widow of a U.S. special forces soldier killed in Afghanistan and an American soldier blinded by a grenade are suing Canada’s Omar Khadr for almost $45 million (U.S.)

In the lawsuit filed Thursday in Utah, Tabitha Speer and Sgt. Layne Morris allege Khadr, then 15, was responsible for the death of Sgt. Christopher Speer and Morris’s injuries in July 2002.

The factual basis for the suit, according to their lawyer, is Khadr’s guilty plea to five war crimes before a U.S. military commission in Guantanamo Bay in October 2010 that saw him sentenced to a further eight years in prison.

The plea deal included a stipulation of facts in which Khadr, now 27, admitted to murder and attempted murder in violation of the rule of war, and three other war crimes.

“We took his own very words,” lawyer Don Winder said in an interview from Salt Lake City.

“We do not think there is any basis for his denial.”

The Toronto-born Khadr, currently incarcerated in the Bowden Institution in Innisfail, Alta., has since said he only pleaded guilty to get out of Guantanamo Bay and be returned to Canada.

[nik-]

That's pretty ridiculous. Your husband was part of an army that invaded a country, you can't sue for getting hurt or killed.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by nik-

That's pretty ridiculous. Your husband was part of an army that invaded a country, you can't sue for getting hurt or killed.

Sure. Just as ridiculous as Canada taking back a convicted terrorist to provide care and support services to him for the rest of his life.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Sure. Just as ridiculous as Canada taking back a convicted terrorist to provide care and support services to him for the rest of his life.

Ok? Two ridiculous things can exist at the same time though, your statement is irrelevant to mine.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by nik-

That's pretty ridiculous. Your husband was part of an army that invaded a country, you can't sue for getting hurt or killed.

Khadr was an un-uniformed combatant, he was a basically a civillian. He might as well have been a random murderer.

This will be an interesting lawsuit to watch.

[nik-]

Pretty sure "random murderer" is invalidated when you're fighting against an army.

I'm not on Khadr's side or anything, I just think suing someone for this is ####ing ######ed and oh so American.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by nik-

Ok? Two ridiculous things can exist at the same time though, your statement is irrelevant to mine.

Not really. You are calling a lawsuit filed by a widow against her husband's murderer ridiculous without any regard for the facts that a) the murderer was Canadian; b) the murderer was, technically, a Canadian civilian, as pointed above by CC and c) that Canada brought him back.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

Not really. You are calling a lawsuit filed by a widow against her husband's murderer ridiculous without any regard for the facts that a) the murderer was Canadian; b) the murderer was, technically, a Canadian civilian, as pointed above by CC and c) that Canada brought him back.

The "murderer" was fighting against an invading hostile army. So yes, it's ridiculous. It's not like her husband was a tourist and Khadr blew him up with a grenade.

[CaptainYooh]

No, he wasn't. Canada WAS his country and he was sabotaging its military action in another country. So, he was committing the act of treason, I believe, but it is irrelevant here. In civil terms, he was a Canadian citizen killing a Canadian soldier on foreign soil. Once brought in Canada, soldier's wife has total right to seek compensation - legally, morally and ethically.

[nik-]

Well I just completely disagree. The soldier was engaged in aggressive warfare. The cause of Afghanistan was just, and I'm glad we went over there (not that I think it will solve anything in the end). I also think Khadr is a piece of ####, but I also think a lawsuit for this is dumb.

As for treason, sure charge him with it.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by nik-

Pretty sure "random murderer" is invalidated when you're fighting against an army.

I'm not on Khadr's side or anything, I just think suing someone for this is ####ing ######ed and oh so American.

Can you drop this please?


Canada, and Alberta are very litigious, I don't think we should be looking down our nose at the US when it comes to lawsuits.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by nik-

... I also think a lawsuit for this is dumb...

You are looking at it from a common sense perspective and not from victim's perspective. As a victim, the soldier's widow feels that her late husband and herself deserve justice and retribution.

[nik-]

Perhaps, but there were only two outcomes possible in this situation and it involved either one of them dying. There can't be justice here, only monetary retribution. Basically I see this as "You didn't just allow my husband's forces to kill you, so I'm suing you".

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by nik-

Perhaps, but there were only two outcomes possible in this situation and it involved either one of them dying. There can't be justice here, only monetary retribution. Basically I see this as "You didn't just allow my husband's forces to kill you, so I'm suing you".

If I recall correctly, I actually think the "husband's forces" provided life saving first aid to him after he threw the grenade, but I am going from memory....

[nik-]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

If I recall correctly, I actually think the "husband's forces" provided life saving first aid to him after he threw the grenade, but I am going from memory....

Yes. I'm not sure how that's applicable though.

[guzzy]

I wish Canada would strip this family of citizenship and send them back where they came from. If this happened in Australia this family would be deported instantly. They don't deserve to call themselves Canadians. They are a disgrace to our flag.

[takinghits]

What is the end goal of the widow?

Your husband died and was killed by a 15 year old. So rather than forgive and move on with your life deem it necessary to sue?