Reverse Khadr payout
Re: Hero status should suffice; Khadr’s federal payday means apology, $ 10M, Christie Blatchford, July 5, and Widow goes after money Canada will give Khadr, July 6
I agree with Christie Blatchford that a compensatory payment to Omar Khadr, son of an al- Qaida leader and a 15-year-old participant in the war in Afghanistan against the Americans after 9/11, “is a brilliant victory for the Taliban, al-Qaida, ISIL and all the other extremists.”
It seems that the governing elite in this country have lost their ability to see this encouraging effect of their decision on jihadi Muslims by emphasizing the “human rights” of a youth who murdered a medic engaged in saving lives.
Canadian laws should not be used to provide support to those who have carried out jihad against the West when we are engaged, at present, in battling the threat of radical Islamic terrorism worldwide. This Khadr decision is against our long-term societal interests and should be overruled. Jiti Khanna, Vancouver
At least prime minister Stephen Harper was not brainwashed about Omar Khadr being classified as a “child soldier.”
Khadr was not drugged, handcuffed and dragged off at gunpoint to kill an American soldier in Afghanistan. He did it on his own volition.
My husband and I informally “adopted” an ex- child soldier from Sierra Leone several years ago. He was kidnapped at the age of 12 and spent two years being forced to commit despicable acts. To continue to use the term “child soldier” on the likes of Khadr denigrates and insults the 300,000 child soldiers around the world.
I worked for 50 years, paid taxes, obeyed the law, love my country and I am fighting every day to save it. Khadr has contributed nothing, and murdered an American soldier. And yet we are considered equal citizens. He should never have been brought home. Being a Canadian citizen encompasses more than merely being born here. Valerie Price, Westmount, Que.
All potential extremists bent on harming or killing “infidels” will be encouraged and emboldened, given the prospect of a huge payday after the dust has settled. And, as an added bonus, the government will even issue an apology for such behaviour. What a country! One can only hope that every dime of the blood money will be diverted to Tabitha Speer (widow of slain U.S. Sgt. Chris Speer) — the real victim. Gord Marshall, Toronto
Explain how under Canadian law Skylar Prockner, who was 16 when he killed someone (Life term for boy who killed exgirlfriend, Page A1, July 6) can be given an adult sentence but Omar Khadr, who was seen building IEDs possibly to kill or injure members of the Canadian forces and who also killed an American soldier, should be treated as a child?
What’s the difference between these two cases — besides politics, 10 million Canadian taxpayer dollars and an apology from the Canadian government on behalf of Canadians?
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau would be profoundly unwise to allow such a deal. Canadian forces, veterans and Canada’s allies will forever view him differently. Ian McKeough, Toronto