Politic?

One Great Big Misunderstanding

"The event coincides with the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers Red Hand Day on February 12. This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the Dallaire Initiative’s partnership with Dalhousie University."
"[Omar Khadr and Ishmael Beah will] highlight their experience in conflict and why they are passionate about the protection of children."
Dalhousie University event promotional material

Omar Khadr, 2019 sentence was declared expired.Ian Kucerak/Postmedia

Omar Khadr, scion of Canada's al-Qaeda family of distinction succeeded in persuading sympathizers to his purported plight as a 'child-soldier' that he is innocent of the charges brought against him as an enemy combatant when he took part in an Islamist jihadi attack near Khost, Afghanistan, killing a U.S. Army medic, and injuring and causing blindness to a U.S. Special Forces soldier when he tossed a grenade during an ensuing firefight.

Now 33, back then nearing his 16th birthday, Khadr's claims of childhood negating responsibility for his actions resonates with many who are more than pleased to support his denial of a war crime in his claim that the confession he made to the killing of U.S. Sgt.Christopher Speer and the wounding of Special Forces member Layne Morris on the five charges laid against him was merely a ploy for his release from Guantanamo where he was being held, in the hope that he would be sent back to Canada where he obviously counted on special treatment.

And special treatment he got. From lawyers who were eager to take up the case of a child soldier grievously wounded in a firefight he had little option but to take part in, and a court system wedded to the concept of Canadian universality, equality and the upholding of his constitutional rights inherent in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, neglected in this unfortunate case where an innocent child was being prosecuted after having been subjected to imprisonment and torture.

Omar Khadr suffered grievous body wounds in that firefight where he now denies he took active part; he was just simply actively there with little recourse but to participate with the group his loyal Canadian father sent him to, so he could learn how a dedicated Islamist jihadi confronts, challenges and defeats the kuffars represented by the U.S. military. When he was found, injured and unconscious under rubble after the firefight it was U.S. army medics who tended to him and whose ministrations resulted in his escaping death.

The second featured speaker at the special event of protest against the use of child soldiers in honour of the Romeo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative, Ishmael Beah, 39, formerly a child soldier in Sierra Leone, had an entirely different background experience. In his country of origin, as is done also in other African countries, the rebel Revolutionary United Front of Sierra Leone abducts and forces children to join its ranks and engage in combat.

Khadr senior was a notorious al-Qaeda supporter, personal friend of Osama bin Laden, and raised funds while living in Canada, among supporters of violent jihad to fund al-Qaeda. He and his wife, his daughter and his sons were all devout Islamists, devoted to jihad. Living in the West, in Canada, this family's children were raised in the nectar of hatred and violence. The family moved from Canada for the distinct purpose of ensuring their sons would be exposed to guerrilla warfare tactics and become skilled at manufacturing explosives.

Omar Khadr on his return to Canada, purportedly to serve out the remainder of his prison sentence where he could be close to his returned family, prepared to sue the Government of Canada for failing to represent his interests as a Canadian citizen. Somewhat like his mother and the rest of his family after his father's death in Pakistan hissing their ferocious contempt for Canada, but accepting Canadian social welfare and healthcare. He was given 'compensation' of $10.5 million on the basis of his 'rights' having been withheld.

"We respect the fact Mr. Khadr was interred for a decade in Guantanamo Bay, and the Canadian government has agreed to issue an apology and settle his claims."
"We also respect the fact you [lawyer] and Mr. Khadr’s other lawyers have invested substantial time and expense on Mr. Khadr’s behalf."
"However, Mr. Khadr’s actions, which led him to Guantanamo Bay, were the death of Christopher Speer, leaving Mrs. Speer a widow and [her two children] fatherless, and blinding Layne Morris in one eye."
"We ask Mr. Khadr [to] do the right thing and accept responsibility for his actions and the pain he caused the Speer family and Layne Morris."
U.S. attorney Donald Winder, Utah

Khadr was sued in a Utah court by Mr. Speer's window and children and Mr. Morris, ordered to pay his victims $134 million. Khadr effectively ignored the lawsuit. No money has been transferred to either Mrs. Speer nor Mr. Morris. Khadr did buy an Edmonton strip mall, presumably as an investment. No word whether he has invested any philanthropic donations to Senator Dallaire's child-soldier enterprise in support of his personal battle against child abuse about which he claims to be passionate.