Conflicted, But Not Dreadfully

Canadians are being reminded, through the news media, that the return of Omar Khadr - "child" jihadist  whose violent clash as a mujahadeen warrior in Afghanistan with American forces led to his having killed a U.S. medic, his own wounding and subsequent life-saving medical attention from other U.S. medics, and later incarceration at Guantanamo Bay - is imminent.  He will soon be returning to Canada.

Where his loving family, the infamous, al-Qaeda-supporting mother and daughter will be awaiting their re-bonding opportunities.  Young Omar is no longer fifteen years of age, he is now a seasoned prisoner of war and convicted murderer in a U.S. court of law, an adult.  Imprisoned at Guantanamo, where he was in constant contact with other jihadists he has doubtless been further indoctrinated in the ideology of violent conflict with the West.

After his transfer back to Canada, as a Canadian citizen - since this is where he was born and raised until age twelve when his family left Canada for Afghanistan/Pakistan - he will spend a few more years in prison until his sentence has been completed.  After which he will be released to the outside world, with a few restrictions on whom he may be in contact with, and he will remain under surveillance for a while.

Ordinary Canadians may hope that he will be de-briefed and be exposed to terror-pacifying remediation of his character and eventually present as someone who might be amenable to living in peace with other Canadians.  But if he is restored to the bosom of his family, it can also be assumed that their further encouragement of his estrangement from ordinary Canadian society will then be resumed.

Canadians in general are themselves conflicted about welcoming this young man back into their fold, to live among them.  There are some who feel great compassion for a young boy having been exposed to a jihadist ideology of violence and bloodshed, having had no opportunity to live a normal life.  For those Canadians it is the country's responsibility to welcome him back and to offer him a future.

The Supreme Court of Canada effectively overruled the current government's reluctance to welcome this now-25-year-old convicted murderer steeped in the ideology of radical Islamism back to the country.  Not that previous governments appeared to feel any differently about the issue.  The U.S. has no wish to continue holding Omar Khadr and will be relieved to be rid of his presence.

Some Canadian respondents write in 'letters to the editor' that "After a decade in prison, this former child-soldier should be released for time served and repatriated for reintegration to Canadian society."  That "Omar Khadr has the absolute right to return to Canada.  However, as a convicted terrorist his activities should be continually monitored and he should be barred from participating in any Islamist cause."

Others write: "His cause is unsympathetic, his involvements egregious, he is apparently unrepentant. His family failed him, our politicians have failed us."  "Omar Khadr was brainwashed from birth by maladjusted parents who used him as a child soldier for their twisted cause."  "We are no better than the terrorists if we don't treat him as a child soldier." 

"Omar Khadr should be welcomed back to Canada. He and his brother(s) and sister were born to parents now almost uniquely exposed as both treasonous and disloyal to this generous country.  His father was rescued from Pakistan prosecution or jail only by the intervention of our then prime minister."  "Perhaps the bleeding hearts who see him as a "child" soldier will assume responsibility for him."

"The only thing Canadian about Omar Khadr is his passport. However, if he is welcomed back to Canada, then he should live with Jean Chretien who intervened in 1996 to obtain the release of his father, Ahmed Said Khadr, then imprisoned in Pakistan for terrorism." 

"Taken armed, not in uniform, not part of a command structure, moments after having murdered an allied medic, Omar Khadr should have been shot on the spot.  'Child soldier' status is conferred upon those unwilling, seized and coerced.  Keep him in prison. Far away."

"I am totally against his return.  He is a dangerous unrepentant jihadist and will make a mockery of our system by claiming human right violations and sue our government for tens of millions of dollars.  Let Barack Obama deal with him." 

"I'd suggest he reside with the leader of the opposition at Stornoway. ...If his former views persist, he can examine key structural points of the buildings (proximity of Parliament) in case he and his old friends attempt an unsolicited renovation."

"Dr. Michael Weiner, prominent U.S. psychiatrist, interviewed Omar Khadr for 8 hours and did 500 hours of research on him, concluding that Khadr is an unrepentant jihadist who poses a continued danger to the public.  We would be crazy to repatriate him so he could rejoin his jihadist family and be out on our streets."

Thanks to the National Post Letters page responses to the invitation from its letters editor to give their opinions respecting the question whether readers would welcome Khadr's return to Canada.