Prime Minister Harper was away when the Khadr deal was agreed to. Did Cannon keep him in the loop? PHOTO: Derek Ruttan
There’s an old saying that while the cat’s away the mice will play and that may very well be what happened in the Omar Khadr case.
Conservative cabinet ministers are not happy with the Khadr deal and the reality that he will be returned to Canada next year and free shortly thereafter. On Monday when cabinet gathered to prepare for question period tempers flared.
According to sources at the meeting and those close to cabinet ministers, there was yelling and accusations.
Top Conservatives are also not happy with the way the Khadr deal was handled.
The deal appears to have been sealed while Prime Minister Stephen Harper was travelling in Europe and there is the suggestion that foreign affairs officials used this time to offer and accept more than Harper was willing to. Diplomatic notes were exchanged with the Americans on October 23rd in the middle of Harper’s trip to Switzerland and the Ukraine. The question now is, was Harper fully aware?
Finally there is the way the communications were handled.
As noted here on the blog Sunday night, the government denied they offered Khadr any assurances he would come back to Canada. Then the deal became public showing they had put those assurances in writing.
Questioned about why the government acted the way it did, one senior official threw their hands up in disgust. The way the government denied a deal they clearly had signed off on has been called “bewildering” and “a lie by any other name” by people close to the government.
Tags: cabinet, Conservatives, Gitmo, Khadr
Why doesn’t Harpo just do his usual and blame it on the liberals.
This whole thing was a travesty. I will never forget the photographs that showed someone that could very well be Khadr under a pile of rubble, unconcious and seriously injured, at the time the pineapple was lobbed. Another guy was dead beside him. There is also the possibility that Speers was actually deep-sixed by so-called ‘friendly fire’.
None of that will ever be confirmed or disproven.
The aim of a trial is to examine ALL EVIDENCE PRESENTED, to determine GUILT OR INNOCENCE. Khadr was denied the DUE PROCESS THAT EVERY CANADIAN HAS THE RIGHT TO.
End result? Neither his guilt–or his innocence–will be firmly established.
Both the US and Canada really, really, screwed up on this file. Due process could have prevented all of this.
Way to go, boys. What a freaking mess.
So, will the base make the CPC pay?
Allowing this terrorist scum back into Canada is outrageous.
This is just one more reason why I will not vote for the CPC in the next election. I will stay home as there is no one out there worth voting for. I repeat no one worth a vote.
Here’s the photo of young Omar that I’ll never forget:
http://yfrog.com/0womarkhadr1j
Well…this is one (former) Conservative voter who will be sitting at home come the next federal election.
Didn’t the Supremes already decide little Khadr was to be repatriated,
his rights were violated (by Chretien govt) and Harper appealed that decision, but only on the grounds of letting the US court rule first?
When little Khadr applies for repatriation, send him to be deprogrammed, for 7 years, preferrably at the Saudi facilitiy…. Canada doesn’t have a de-terrorizing camp.
The Conservatives should consider the prospect of preparing charges against Khadr’s mother and family for conscription into Al Qaeda….a war crime. They should also advise Khadr that he will be charged with treason the minute he sets foot in Canada.
That might make Khadr think twice about coming back to Canada.
Soounds to me that the “unelected beauracrats/liberals” have tried to set up the Harper government again.
If the Conservatives are acting like Liberals – it is time we stopped voting for them. Enough is Enough.
Great article – not one named source!
Antenor: I have seen quite a bit of evidence that says you’re right. The anti Harper sentiment within some bureaucracy’s is quite astounding. They are supposed to be non-partisan and professional but some of them gush all over with Harper hatred.
@MCBellecourt
Khadr was not denied due process, he struck a plea bargain deal to avoid a trial, to avoid showing how evil a person he really is, in order to quickly return to Canada. And somehow our Government bought into this odorous odious deal.
Every time the Conservatives get caught up in a file, you can bet it can be traced to some Liberal bureaucrat making a wrong move to imbarrass the Conservatives. Same as the “leaks”. Sooooo obvious.
Bellecourt, are you suggesting that due process would have proven Kadr’s innocence? Did you see the picture posted by Tom? The guy is an Islamist terrorist sociopath. Don’t be swayed by the “poor little Omar” nonsense on the CBC National News every night.
@MCBellecourt,
Mr Khadr got his trial. Plead guilty to all charges. Not some. Admitted his guilt. He apologized to the family of his victim. He stated he regretted his actions, and has desired to be only peaceful.
Your version of facts doesn’t square with reality. He’s an admitted scum-bag – who killed an American soldier while purporting to be a “soldier” himself.
I’ve seen articles denouncing the military officers in the jury for using their judgement and not simply doing what they were told by the prosecutor. Officers get paid to think contrary to what many believe. I trust their judgement.
@Brian – Perhaps I misread what has been released, but what I have read leads me to believe that the govt simply confirmed the rules to the US govt and that the door was not shut to an application to let Mr Khadr serve his sentence out here. Did you have something more to offer and perhaps a source that indicates there is a “deal” or perhaps you can tell us what exactly the deal was?
When Mr Khadr is released on bail for time served, he should be warned that any violation of his release will result in the return to jail for the recomended time of his sentence, 30 years not the seven as imposed by the sweetheart deal.
Kahdr was fifteen (15) at the time he was caught – that makes him a child soldier under the Geneva Convention. Read the Geneva Convention.
Mike
Khadr does not nor has he ever met any of the definitions under the Geneva Convention.
No identifiable uniform, etc.
He is a criminal. He is not a child-soldier. Hanging that convienient clouding of the issue on him demeans and trivializes the plight of bona fide child-soldiers.
Apologizing for Khadr is pretty damn close to sedition, in my opinion.
Quote Mike says:
November 2, 2010 at 12:46 pm
Kahdr was fifteen (15) at the time he was caught – that makes him a child soldier under the Geneva Convention. Read the Geneva Convention.
Actually Mike I have read the Convention have you? You are thinking of the UN, which says that a child soldier is someone 14 years of age and younger. He was 15. He should be charged with High Treason as he was a combatant fighting and helping and En, in time of conflict with Canada and its allies. Yes there was no declaration of war, none needed for the charge.
Also as he was sent to AQ by the mother and father, and she supports his being there, she should be charged with high treason as well.
@Mike,
Try reading and using your brain. Exactly which country was he representing when he undertook his actions? Then, if we loosely interpret him to be an Afghani soldier (which he was not) read on “The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 38, (1989) proclaimed: “State parties shall take all feasible measures to ensure that persons who have not attained the age of 15 years do not take a direct part in hostilities.” However, minors who are over the age of 15 but still remain under the age of 18 are still voluntarily able to take part in combat as soldiers. The Optional protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict to the Convention that came into force in 2002 stipulates that its State Parties “shall take all feasible measures to ensure that persons below the age of 18 do not take a direct part in hostilities and that they are not compulsorily recruited into their armed forces”.
You fail.
I don’t believe that Canada had much to say in the final decision. He was a prisoner of war on American soil, they did what had to be done. Nor do I believe that Harper had much to do with anything.
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/553022
Dec 12 2008 “Soldier’s report casts doubt on Khadr guilt
A U.S. soldier reported that he accidentally stepped on Omar Khadr following a firefight in Afghanistan because Khadr was covered in rubble, casting doubt on whether the 15-year-old Canadian could have thrown the grenade”
http://www.jlc.org/files/briefs/khadr/Forensic%20Explosives%20Expert%20Witness.pdf
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF DEFENSE COUNSEL OFFICE OF MILITARY COMMISSIONS MEMORANDUM FOR THE CONVENING AUTHORITY B. 13 June 2008.
“… Mr. Nixon will testify that SSG Speer’s injuries are consistent with an M67 grenade
exploding a few meters away, like those being thrown by coalition forces
inside the walls of the compound… According to a memorandum prepared by the on-scene commander, the compound was strafed by four of F/A-18s, “until dry,” … Mr. Nixon is an expert on firearm and explosive ballistics.” Read the report to learn the mind shattering list of weapons used against the compound. Even if Omar did throw the grenane, he did it in self defence.
Jeffrey – If an identifiable uniform is required, then every American Revolutionary in 1776 would have been a terrorist.
Gank, he was captured fighting IN Afghanistan, WE can’t try him for treason, the Americans were invaders so THEY can’t try him either, although trying his parents and older ADULT siblings as child-soldier recruiters would be a good start.
For Geoff:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_use_of_children. . . note the social rehabilitation part – a 40 year sentence hardly qualifies.
Many child soldiers fought in the Civil war in Sierra Leone. In its wake the UN sanctioned the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) to try the participants for war crimes and other breaches of humanitarian law. The statute of the SCSL gave the court jurisdiction over persons aged 15 and older, HOWEVER the Paris Principles state that children who participated in armed conflict:
… who are accused of crimes under international law allegedly committed while they were associated with armed forces or armed groups should be considered primarily as VICTIMS of offences against international law; not only as perpetrators. They must be treated in accordance with international law in a framework of restorative justice and social rehabilitation, consistent with international law which offers children special protection through numerous agreements and principles.[12]
Allowing this terrorist scum back into Canada is outrageous.
This is just one more reason why I will not vote for the CPC in the next election. I will stay home as there is no one out there worth voting for. I repeat no one worth a vote.
And exactly what will you achieve with your childish behavior. I am happy that you will no longer vote for the Reforamatories Cons ever agin and I have a very strong feeling that you are not alone. It is time you had a time out to grow up and reflect on Canada’s own GWB governence. LOL
Jeffery Walker says:
November 2, 2010 at 1:26 pm
Mike
Khadr does not nor has he ever met any of the definitions under the Geneva Convention
And you know that how Jeffery? Parroting the Cons talking points does not come close to the truth but I clearly see how Harper’s governance and lies and misquotes has tarnished the weak minds of pot smokers arm chair basement dwellers
To suggest that Harper was not fully aware is a little hard to stomach.
You are talking about a Prime Minister that won’t let a message out that he hasn’t seen. Harper knew exactly what happened and he’s going to let Cannon take the fall on this one.
Bugzy – Anyone who picks up a weapon as part of a ‘national’ group to fight another ‘national’ group comes under *some* definition of the Geneva convention.
To Jeffrey Walker,
So Khadr wasn’t wearing a uniform. He should have purchased a boy scout uniform in Canada. Throughout the world, child soldiers usually do not wear uniforms. The adult soldiers/fighters want to deny any fact that they use child soldiers.
Funny how those with the strongest conservative views invariably choose to hide their names. Our boys at work.
This case if very controversial. I am glad that the Harper gov. held out until Kahdar’s status was clarified. Now that it is, he gets treated like many other prisoners — serving his sentence in Canada. If we had not agreed to take him back, there would be endless carping by the Media/Libs/NDP — probably some court cases. I think this is the only way to bring some form of close to this case. Given that he was only 15, perhaps there is a genuine chance he can be rehabilitated. Everyone deserves a second chance.
@Mike- what “national group” was Khadr fighting for? Not Afghanistan, but Al-Qeada, a nationless terrorist organization that was supporting theTaliban.
The Americans were not “invaders” they were part of a UN sanctioned action, that’s also why Canadian troops are there, don’t deny that, because a you try to use the UN to justify your claim Khadr was a child soldier.
And your arguement about the American Revolutionary War is a red herring, as we are debating points of the Geneva Conventions, the first which was declared in 1864, and the last after World War II in 1949. But if you are trying to compare Omar Khadr to an American Revolutionary Soldier, I don’t think many are going to accept that there is much similarity.
@anon- complaining about people not using real names, look in a mirror.
Khadr is not a child soldier, he is a terrorist who has yet to renounce his affliation to a belief his family holds near and dear. That belief includes a blind hatred to anyone that does not honour their beliefs.
This belief also requires its adherents to never deal in good faith with those that wish to make peace especially if they are not Islamic extremists as defined by the top wack jobs of al queda. This makes it their duty to take advantage of our laws and benevolence to further their cause.
If you buy in to the claptrap that poor little Omar had his rights quashed because he was questioned and given better accomodations in Cuba than he would ever expect from his compatriots, then please volunteer to put him up in your house on his return….although I suggest you may want to sleep with one eye open.
Well, I’m voting Conservative now. They’re right about this.