The argument as to whether or not Omar Khadr was a child soldier, a terrorist, a victim will rage on. I am not the author of what is written below, but it does give some insight into the Khadr family movements since 1986 and really raises the question as to what Canada's responsibility has to families who bear children on our soil then decide to go elsewhere.
This is not a new question, but certainly a valid one and not specific to the Khadr pay-off. In 2006, millions were spent by the Harper conservatives evacuating people from Lebanon during the Israeli Lebanese conflict and the phrase "Canadians of Convenience" was coined by conservative mp, Garth Brooks. Anyway, this is certainly worth a read:
Omar Khadr was born in Ontario in September 1986. His parents had immigrated to Canada from Egypt and Palestine. His father returned the family to Pakistan in 1986 and Omar lived there till 1995.
Omar’s father was arrested for bombing the Egyptian Embassy in Islamabad, but was freed after our Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chretien held talks with the Pakistani Prime Minister.
The Khadr’s returned to Canada briefly, but Omar’s father, a radical Moslem, started his own “humanitarian relief group” and moved the family, again, to a Taliban camp in Jalal Abad where they lived in Osama Bin Laden’s compound.
In 1995 Omar and his brother begin arms training with the Taliban. The family made annual trips to Canada to raise money and supplies, some of which is known to have ended up in Terrorist hands.
In 1999 the Khadr family moved to Kabul, they were part and parcel of the Bin Laden movement.
In September 2001 Omar’s father’s name was placed put on an FBI terrorist list related to the 911 terrorist attacks.
In November 2001 U.S. forces chased the Taliban out of Kabul. The Khadr’s flee to an orphanage compound, owned by Omar’s father, in Lugar.
In June 2002 Omar completed weapons training and worked as a translator for Al-Qaeda, it is known that he was utilized as a Taliban spy observing U.S. troop movements.
In July 2002 Omar planted a number of improvised explosive devices allegedly intended for U.S. Targets. He must have known that Canadian troops were in the area as well.
In July 2002 Omar was shot and seriously injured after throwing a grenade that took the life of a U.S. Medic, and blinded a second U.S. soldier. The very soldiers that he was trying to kill saved Omar’s life. Omar’s mother was interviewed on Television during this time and she exclaimed that she was proud of her son and his actions and she wished that she had more sons to become martyrs.
In October 2002 Omar was transferred to Guantanamo Bay.
From reading the above, it’s hard to classify Omar Khadr as anything other than a Canadian of convenience. He assumes his citizenship when it suits his purpose. He spent most of his life overseas associating with, training for, and being a terrorist.
Now at this point the argument of “Child Soldier” was raised in International Law, not Canadian Law, using an UN definition. He was 15 years old. At 14 you are responsible enough to have a learner’s driving permit. You can be tried as an adult for crimes such as murder.
I firmly hold the opinions that at the age of 15 teenagers know the difference between right and wrong.
Omar’s eldest brother was arrested in December 2005 in Canada for allegedly being an Al-Qaeda gun runner. He had recently returned to Canada after serving a year in a Pakistani Jail.
Omar’s father died in a firefight in January 2004 and was identified as a “deputy” to Osama Bin Laden.
Another of Omar’s brother’s was shot in the firefight that took his father’s life and was paralyzed. The grandmother launched a lawsuit against Canada, and Ontario knuckled under and assumed responsibility for the family’s health care.
The Khadr family has been self-described as “an Al-Qaeda family". It was reported that they cheered and celebrated the 911 World Trade Centre attack.
How do we owe these people anything! And well we are on this subject, how did they ever get citizenship in Canada anyway?
Prime Minister Trudeau is trying to pass this off as a lingering file left on the burner by the previous Conservative administration. It seems to me that if Chretien had kept his nose out of it way back in the 90’s, maybe the Khadr family wouldn’t be a Canadian issue.
And finally, Omar was shot, detained, and tried by U.S. forces. Yes, there is no doubt that Canadian governmental officials violated his Canadian Civil Rights by cooperating with the US Investigators. Our Supreme Court has ruled that we were in error and that the executive branch of Government must decide on how best to decide to make amends for our actions. No where in their decision was a monetary payment or any other suggestion made on payment. Our Prime Minister Harper acted responsibly by repatriating Omar to Canada as a citizen. Now Trudeau claims that he took the cheapest route forward by agreeing to a $10.5 million dollar settlement. A $10.5 million dollar settlement to a terrorist with the terms being announced on the 4th of July.
Happy Birthday America.
This is not a new question, but certainly a valid one and not specific to the Khadr pay-off. In 2006, millions were spent by the Harper conservatives evacuating people from Lebanon during the Israeli Lebanese conflict and the phrase "Canadians of Convenience" was coined by conservative mp, Garth Brooks. Anyway, this is certainly worth a read:
Omar Khadr was born in Ontario in September 1986. His parents had immigrated to Canada from Egypt and Palestine. His father returned the family to Pakistan in 1986 and Omar lived there till 1995.
Omar’s father was arrested for bombing the Egyptian Embassy in Islamabad, but was freed after our Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chretien held talks with the Pakistani Prime Minister.
The Khadr’s returned to Canada briefly, but Omar’s father, a radical Moslem, started his own “humanitarian relief group” and moved the family, again, to a Taliban camp in Jalal Abad where they lived in Osama Bin Laden’s compound.
In 1995 Omar and his brother begin arms training with the Taliban. The family made annual trips to Canada to raise money and supplies, some of which is known to have ended up in Terrorist hands.
In 1999 the Khadr family moved to Kabul, they were part and parcel of the Bin Laden movement.
In September 2001 Omar’s father’s name was placed put on an FBI terrorist list related to the 911 terrorist attacks.
In November 2001 U.S. forces chased the Taliban out of Kabul. The Khadr’s flee to an orphanage compound, owned by Omar’s father, in Lugar.
In June 2002 Omar completed weapons training and worked as a translator for Al-Qaeda, it is known that he was utilized as a Taliban spy observing U.S. troop movements.
In July 2002 Omar planted a number of improvised explosive devices allegedly intended for U.S. Targets. He must have known that Canadian troops were in the area as well.
In July 2002 Omar was shot and seriously injured after throwing a grenade that took the life of a U.S. Medic, and blinded a second U.S. soldier. The very soldiers that he was trying to kill saved Omar’s life. Omar’s mother was interviewed on Television during this time and she exclaimed that she was proud of her son and his actions and she wished that she had more sons to become martyrs.
In October 2002 Omar was transferred to Guantanamo Bay.
From reading the above, it’s hard to classify Omar Khadr as anything other than a Canadian of convenience. He assumes his citizenship when it suits his purpose. He spent most of his life overseas associating with, training for, and being a terrorist.
Now at this point the argument of “Child Soldier” was raised in International Law, not Canadian Law, using an UN definition. He was 15 years old. At 14 you are responsible enough to have a learner’s driving permit. You can be tried as an adult for crimes such as murder.
I firmly hold the opinions that at the age of 15 teenagers know the difference between right and wrong.
Omar’s eldest brother was arrested in December 2005 in Canada for allegedly being an Al-Qaeda gun runner. He had recently returned to Canada after serving a year in a Pakistani Jail.
Omar’s father died in a firefight in January 2004 and was identified as a “deputy” to Osama Bin Laden.
Another of Omar’s brother’s was shot in the firefight that took his father’s life and was paralyzed. The grandmother launched a lawsuit against Canada, and Ontario knuckled under and assumed responsibility for the family’s health care.
The Khadr family has been self-described as “an Al-Qaeda family". It was reported that they cheered and celebrated the 911 World Trade Centre attack.
How do we owe these people anything! And well we are on this subject, how did they ever get citizenship in Canada anyway?
Prime Minister Trudeau is trying to pass this off as a lingering file left on the burner by the previous Conservative administration. It seems to me that if Chretien had kept his nose out of it way back in the 90’s, maybe the Khadr family wouldn’t be a Canadian issue.
And finally, Omar was shot, detained, and tried by U.S. forces. Yes, there is no doubt that Canadian governmental officials violated his Canadian Civil Rights by cooperating with the US Investigators. Our Supreme Court has ruled that we were in error and that the executive branch of Government must decide on how best to decide to make amends for our actions. No where in their decision was a monetary payment or any other suggestion made on payment. Our Prime Minister Harper acted responsibly by repatriating Omar to Canada as a citizen. Now Trudeau claims that he took the cheapest route forward by agreeing to a $10.5 million dollar settlement. A $10.5 million dollar settlement to a terrorist with the terms being announced on the 4th of July.
Happy Birthday America.
