Omar Khadr will be free to remain on bail after the federal government dropped a court appeal started under the Conservatives that sought to have Khadr's bail rescinded. (Terry Reith/CBC)
The Guardian: Canada to pay $10.5m to youngest Guantanamo inmate, convicted of killing US soldier
Omar Khadr pleaded guilty to killing army Sgt Christopher Speer when he was 15, an admission he says was made under duress in Guantanamo
The Canadian government is going to apologise and give millions to a former Guantanamo Bay prisoner who pleaded guilty to killing a US soldier in Afghanistan when he was 15, with Canada’s supreme court later ruling that officials had interrogated him under “oppressive circumstances”.
An official familiar with the deal said on Tuesday that Omar Khadr will receive 10.5 million Canadian dollars (US$8 million). The official was not authorised to discuss the deal publicly before the announcement and spoke on condition of anonymity. The government and Khadr’s lawyers negotiated the deal last month.
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WNU Editor: I received a text yesterday from a friend who is a Liberal and who works for the government asking me if this report true. I was surprised .... of all the people who should know it would be him. So I told him no .... no one has given me a heads up on this story, and it is not on the newswires. When I woke-up this morning to begin my day .... the first thing that I did was to check my phone and emails ..... and wow .... dozens and dozens of emails from friends, contacts, and readers of this blog who were beyond angry on what they were hearing and reading .... that the Canadian Federal government would actually make this agreement. What especially irked everyone was not the money .... though we can have a debate on that .... but the apology .... that someone who as a child soldier built landmines to main Afghans and who killed a US medic by throwing a grenade at him is now .... 15 years later .... about to receive an apology from the Canadian people via through its government. I texted my Liberal friend who gave me a heads-up on this story yesterday on what is opinion that this agreement has now become public .... he has yet to respond. My guess is that he wants to avoid this story as much as possible .... knowing that there will be nothing but outrage over it. Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau is also aware on how much this is a no-winner for him .... he is also avoiding this story as if it was the plague .... Trudeau mum on Khadr; trade in focus in meeting with Irish PM (Globe and Mail). What is especially galling is that if the reports are true .... that this agreement was made last month .... it is clear (to me) that the government was well aware of the outrage it would produce, so they made the deliberate decision to keep it secret until now .... when parliament is closed until the fall, the 150 year Canada celebrations are over, and the media and Canadian public are focused on the summer. Here is an easy prediction .... when parliament comes back from their summer recess .... this will be the first issue that will be brought up. And while Canadian progressives are going to applaud this agreement, the media will rationalise it, and the legal minds will say that it is a "just" agreement .... if the feedback that I am receiving today is any indication .... the average Canadian who is knowledgeable about this case are beyond livid right now, and there is going to be a heavy political price on the Liberals making this deal. On a side note .... in the mornings I always listen to a a french talk-radio show in Montreal. They are (of course) talking about this case .... and after one hour there is not one caller who supports this pay-off and apology.
As to what is my take. Child soldiers do need help. They commit unspeakable crimes .... and for those who survive and who have not lost their souls .... nightmares for what they did. In the case of Omar Khadr .... as a child soldier he helped in the manufacture of landmines with the intent of killing and crippling those who may step on them. He murdered a US medic who had a family who will now never see him again .... and he blinded another U.S. soldier. And if it was not for the fact that his father was a member of Al Qaeda and who also knew Osama Bin Laden .... Omar Khadr would have probably been left in Afghanistan to fend for himself and he would have never been transported to Guantanamo. But he did these things. He was transported to Guantanamo and when he was there he showed no remorse .... Khadr “felt happy” when his grenade killed U.S. medic (Macleans). He was released to Canada under a plea deal. And if the reports are true .... he is trying to heal himself and to make amends. But $10.5 million and an official apology from the Canadian people .... that is way too much in my book.
Update: As predicted .... the Canadian media is applauding this .... Omar Khadr deserves government apology and compensation: Editorial (Toronto Star).
More News On The Canadian Government Agreeing To Apologise And To Give Former Guantanamo Bay Prisoner Omar Khadr $10.5 Million
Ottawa reportedly set to pay millions to Omar Khadr -- CBC
Ottawa to offer Omar Khadr apology, $10-million in compensation -- Globe and Mail
Omar Khadr to get apology, compensation: reports -- CTV
Canada will compensate and apologize to former Guantanamo Bay prisoner Omar Khadr -- AP
Canada to Apologize, Pay Former Gitmo Prisoner Omar Khadr -- Military.com
Canada to Apologize, Pay Former Gitmo Prisoner Omar Khadr -- Military.com
Canada 'to apologise, pay Omar Khadr' -- Al Jazeera
Omar Khadr to be offered apology, at least $10 million from Canada -- VICE News
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