Omar Khadr stirs opinions

RENOUNCED DECENCY: Omar Khadr, a Canadian, decides to take terrorist training along with his father, also a Canadian, in Afghanistan. He then decides to try and kill as many American troops as he can in a firefight and uses a grenade to achieve that aim. His family, also Canadians, decide to come back to Canada as another of the family is wounded in a similar firefight. Khadr was caught by the Americans and the Americans have every right to do as they please with him as he seems to have renounced any decency in becoming a terrorist. Victor Ward, Uxbridge, Ont. SETTING PRECEDENTS:

By laying a “ murder” charge on anyone who tries to defend a country against an aggressor in an illegally imposed war, the United States is setting precedents with this trial which may come to haunt not only the U. S. but all countries whose soldiers are at war. If Khadr is to be charged for “ murder” then every American soldier can and will be tried by the same kind of kangaroo “ military tribunals” used to try Khadr. If the U. S. can detain and torture those who resist U. S. aggression, than one must not complain if the same fate awaits American and other coalition soldiers. If the U. S. effort to redefine and shred the Geneva Convention is allowed to go unchallenged, I fear it will put added risk not only on our own Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan, but on all soldiers in all war zones. Ahmed Motiar, Director, Movement for Universal Justice, Thornhill DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES: Referring to the letter by Mariana Alves, I wonder if Alves would feel the same under different circumstances. For instance, if Stephen Harper had been prime minister and our troops had been sent to Iraq and her son/brother/husband/father had been killed by Omar Khadr instead of a U. S. soldier, would she still feel the same compassion for this “Canadian?” Richard Lean, Hanover, Ont. GAVE UP RIGHTS:

In her eloquent letter to the editor, Mariana Alves offers compassion to Omar Khadr, suggesting that Khadr is entitled to the basic freedom and rights every Canadian has and that he should be tried and judged in Canada. Wrong. Khadr gave up all his Canadian rights when he chose ( at whatever age) to be a militant fighter in another country and throw grenades at other human beings from other countries. Michael Rogozinsky, Toronto SIMPLE EXERCISE: Thomas Walkom’s appeal to avoid having Canadian teenager Omar Khadr tried by the U. S. military’s justice system overlooks the Afghanistan combat evidence that the kid was not exactly caught shoplifting at the mall. It should be a simple fact- finding exercise for any court, military or civilian, to establish if Khadr actually threw the grenade that killed U. S. sergeant and medic Christopher Speer. Even Sgt. 1st Class Layne Morris may be able to testify based on what he saw out of an eye that functioned prior to Khadr’s alleged grenade toss. Graeme Strathdee, Sylvan Lake, Alta. ENJOYING SERVICES:

Since the Khadr sons were teenaged boys when “ it” all happened, it is not so much the sons, more so the parents ( father now deceased) who should be indicted and stand trial. It seems the members of this family are not Canadians because they feel loyalty and love for Canada, rather they are “ Canadian” because of the medical and social services they are enjoying while being here. Remember the outburst of anger and criticism upon the mother’s ( and later the daughter’s) return to Canada? Christa Chakraborty, Mississauga