The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that it will not order the Harper government to ask the United States to return Omar Khadr to Canadian soil, though it says the terror suspect’s constitutional rights have been violated during his incarceration.
The court handed down its decision Friday morning, after deliberating on the matter since a November hearing.
CTV’s Roger Smith described the ruling as a half-loss, half-victory for both Khadr and the Harper government.
“The Supreme court has ruled unanimously in a 9-0 decision that Khadr’s rights were violated by the Canadian government,” he told CTV News Channel from Ottawa.
“But, at the same time, the court is saying they are not about to interfere in the Crown prerogative of the government to make decisions in foreign affairs in this case. In other words, they’re reversing a lower court order that said Canada had to ask the United States to send Omar Khadr back to Canada.”
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Khadr killed and terrorized people in Afghanistan, he should face trial in Afghanistan. If he is granted a ‘get out of jail free’ card it undermines our entire mission in Afghanistan. The people of Afghanistan also deserve justice to be seen to be done.
Re: #1 — Now there’s a thought. Send Khadr back and have him tried in a Sharia court.
And Iggy is having fits about this. Forgets it was liberals who were in power for three years when Khdar was taken to Gitmo. So, will iggy campaign on We will attempt to bring this killer back to Canada.
Some female so called expert is saying the government can now saw they are outside of the law.
This story was no surprise. Our courts do not rule this land — the people do.
From the little that I have read, the case against Khdar is entirely circumstantial, as there is no direct evidence that he threw the grenade. I would think if the US had a good case against him they would have concluded it already. The US authorities are probably wishing for us to ask for him back and would accede to that request in a minute, thus taking the focus off the case (or lack of case) against him. It would be a face saving move for the US, but Harper (isn;t?) cooperating.
Just my thoughts and I could be completely wrong.
mid island mike
Re: # 5 — “but Harper (isn;t?) cooperating.”
Correct.
Why would Harper interrupt these people when they are busily digging their own graves?
Re #6. I’m not saying he (Harper) should be bailing out the US. I believe the justice system that the US has chosen to prosecute this alleged terrorist should be allowed to play itself out. If they (The US) end up looking like fools, then so be it. I would hope that they have learned their lesson about the wisdom of capturing prisoners, as opposed to dealing with the enemy on the field of battle.
mid island mike
mike says “From the little that I have read, the case against Khdar is entirely circumstantial, as there is no direct evidence that he threw the grenade. ”
That is why cases are tried in courts and not in the media. Because the media is often nothing more than hearsay and NEVER provides both sides of the stories. The media has proven itself over and over again to be more about advocacy than truth.
Ever wonder about the dynamic of always hearing defense lawyers going to the media to plead their case to the public while the prosecutor doesn’t? Perhaps our laws need to be changed to forbid defense lawyers from pleading their cases in the media.
“That is why cases are tried in courts and not in the media”
Better still, that’s why in War, cases are tried by the military in places like Gitmo and not in a civil court where you get lawyered up and language like ” it’s only circumstantial evidence” is used.
The lesson is: Mothers don’t let your babies grow up in al Qaeda training camps.
It has to go to trial. I’m not for Khadr, but some reports say that Khadr’s injuries were so severe that he couldn’t have thrown the grenade. I don’t know one way or the other. Let’s have a trial and find out, if that is possible, with a ll the restrictions for security reasons etc. We probably will never know the truth.
Time for the USA to put up or shut up. Deal with him.
mid island mike
No trial necessary. Khadr was captured on the battlefield fighting onside with the enemy during which battle American(s) were killed. No need to prove anything, his physical presence is all the evidence that should be needed. IMO he should be held until hostilities cease and if that’s for the rest of his natural life then so be it. Him and his kind get no sympathy from me.
http://michellemalkin.com/2005/02/10/the-story-behind-omar-khadr/
Jack, Philanthopist and BTDT are correct on the ‘legal rights’ of this terrorist, IMO.
Mike, did you see the photo of that little cutie pie (Khadr) trotting down the road, grinning from ear to ear with a set of severed, bloody human hands dangling around his neck? This is not your typical all Canadian boy venturing out on a dangerous adventure. He is a cold blooded terrorist and has been one for a long time. I don’t care what happens to him as long as he never again sees the light of day in Canada.
I’m tired of the leftist in this country slobbering over terrorists.
Khadr should actually be tried in Afghanistan. I’m all for that. It is, after all, the home he selected.
I have no sympathy whatsoever for Omar Khadr. However the issue of what to do with him won’t go away until something is done with him. It will continue to be used by the left as a point of attack. Our western sensitivities won’t allow us to deal with him in the way that he should be dealt with. It is a no win situation. He will likely end up being released and the the Canadian Gov’t will give him millions of dollars in compensation.
mid island mike
The west needs to do the following:
#1 Keep Guantanamo Bay open. It is by far the best location to hold these sadistic homicial killers (for the rest of their lives if necessary). It is modern, clean, the food is very good, heating costs are nil.
#2. The government needs (on a one time basis) to give the media access to the facility so that they can report the reality of the facility to the public and shut up the crybaby limpwristed left once and for all.
#3. America needs to tell the rest of the world to go screw themselves if they don’t like it.
#4. America needs to stop worrying that the Taliban won’t like them if they don’t close Guantanamo Bay. The Taliban don’t care. Their hate is boundless. Their dream is to massacre as many American (western) civilians as they can and as often as they can eventually hoping to completely destroy our civilization entirely. Really, if anybody thinks they’ll hate us less, no matter what we do, is living in a dream world.
#5. All terrorists that are captured need to be treated as unlawful combatants and not afforded any of the provisions of the Geneva Conventions because they don’t qualify. No civilian trial everfor non-civilians.
#6. Enhanced interrogation for all captured terrorists, including waterboarding which compared to listening to liberal’s constant blathering about rights for this terrorist or that terrorist does not constitute torture, doesn’t even come close.
#6. Any terrorist captured on U.S. soil (e.g. underwear bomber) committing or attempting to commit an act of terrorism should face a firing squad as soon as every
last bit of intelligence is waterboarded out of him. No civilian trial, no military tribunal, just a bullet.
#7. All of the above just might allow the west to win this war, a war that has been declared on us by a ruthless enemy. We need to recognize the simple fact that we are at war.
Thanks for that common sense, rational post BTDT. Excellent, just excellent!
RE: #17 — I’m far from certain I agree. Terrorists tried to bring down the Twin Towers twice. The first time they failed and people involved were jailed for life by a civilian court.
But the security costs are mind boggling in this situation and there is already a prison built at Gitmo. That is where the trial should logically be held. If the US wants it to be a civilian court they can accommodate that.
Far beyond all that prisoners need a place to be sent if convicted. I suggest Alaska (and yes, a new facilty will have to be built) but here’s the final point. If they are “disappeared” there nobody will ever hear from them again. If they escape polar bears will love them and the word will rapidly spread in their ranks.
It would not exactly be heaven as the temperature reaches minus 50 and would give them all something to think about.
The Alaska idea will be a good one as soon as the American people get rid of the radicals in the Federal government – the USSR established gulags in the far north for political prisoners and regular citizens who were in any way crossing the Communist line; real or perceived. BHO has way too many Communists in his administration for me not to think that innocent people might end up in a camp of no return.