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Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Angus Reid and the Western Standard on Omar Khadr
CANADIAN IN GUANTANAMO
Canadians Remain Divided on Whether Ottawa Should Help Free Omar Khadr
Majority believes Khadr should face justice in Afghanistan instead of Guantanamo
[VANCOUVER – Mar. 11, 2008] – Ottawa’s decision to steer clear from intervening to secure the release of a Canadian prisoner in Guantanamo continues to split public opinion, a new Angus Reid Strategies poll has found.
KEY FINDINGS
» 41% want government to help free Khadr from Guantanamo; 41% disagree
» 51% believe Khadr should be tried in Afghanistan; 31% disagree
» 48% think Khadr should be considered a child soldier, not a war criminal
The three opposition parties currently represented in the House of Commons have called on the government for action to help get Khadr out of Guantanamo, and also support considering him as a child soldier. Their constituents agree with both views. Almost seven-in-ten NDP supporters, 59 per cent of Liberals, and at least 46 per cent of Bloc and Green supporters want Khadr to be tried as a child soldier. Conversely, only 37 per cent of Conservative Party supporters agree.
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Not sure what to think of Omar Khadr? Read this Western Standard exclusive by Terry O'Neill:
Posted by Matthew Johnston on March 11, 2008 | Permalink
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Comments
Only in Canada I suppose that public opinion trumps national security. What a nation we have become.
Posted by: Alain | 11-Mar-08 12:47:59 PM
The child soldier angle is interesting. I have sympathy for any child forced into this life. But would I allow one of them into the inner circle of my own kids? Sorry, damaged goods.
Posted by: dp | 11-Mar-08 12:55:43 PM
Haven't they slit this Kadr guys throat yet? Oh wait, I forgot, that's what the Islamists do, not us.
Posted by: Markalta | 11-Mar-08 1:24:29 PM
I think calling this guy a Canadian is way out of line. His entire existence has been one of a Jihadist. The families stint in Canada was more R and R than any kind of immigration. There was never a serious attempt to become a functioning Canadian. It's time to properly determine citizenship in this country. Use it or lose it.
Posted by: dp | 11-Mar-08 1:42:05 PM
Kadr comes from a terrorist family. He was brainwashed and is a killer. He is getting what he deserves and we should stop wasting time on this POS. That is not POW, but Piece of Sh*t.
Let us spend our time and efforts on real Canadian kids who may need a bit of help and who don't kill soldiers to impress his parents or his god.
Posted by: John West | 11-Mar-08 2:26:46 PM
Since Khadr was fifteen at time of alleged offence, it is quite appropriate to consider him a combatant. He could be considered illegal combatant, because he is Canadian citizen, and he fought for the enemy. Actually, a charge of treason is more appropriate, IMO.
At best, he is POW, and can stay locked up until war is over, IOW forever.
Posted by: Shamrock | 11-Mar-08 6:13:42 PM
Shamrock
"He could be considered illegal combatant, because he is Canadian citizen, and he fought for the enemy. "
Fighting for the enemy is irrelevant. He is a Canadian citizen committing acts of war without wearing his Canadian uniform, following the chain of command, and certainly, when he killed the US soldier the way he did, he wasn't following the Geneva convention.
He forfeited any rights vis-a-vis the US military.
Tough luck kid. Blame it on bad parenting.
Posted by: h2o273kk9 | 11-Mar-08 6:21:59 PM
These numbers simply reflect the usual and predictable anti American sentiment of the left.
They could care less about the terrorist Khadr, its all about using Gitmo as a stick, and poking the US in the eye with it.
Sad really.
Posted by: deepblue | 11-Mar-08 6:38:15 PM
Given the attitude and history of the entire Khadr family they should all be shipped the hell out of Canada, citizenship revoked. The Khadr kid was well screwed up long before he ever got taken to Gitmo.
They are no friends of Canada or Western civilization but they'll take the free ride. They're admitted friends of Osama Bin Laden. Be gone with the bastards.
Posted by: Liz J | 11-Mar-08 7:54:30 PM
Robert Spencer reports on a new study on his site jihadwatch.com
New study: Oil, not Islam, oppresses women
Guess us Albertans had better get our women in them thar burqas pretty darn quick so this poor professor doesn't look bad for such a ridiculous thesis.
Posted by: Markalta | 11-Mar-08 8:35:33 PM
48% think he should be treated as a child soldier. Oh man.
Posted by: Faramir | 11-Mar-08 11:02:02 PM
Further, both Khadr parents were grooming their sons for martyrdom. The black burka clad mother appeared on TV and said she would be proud to have her sons die as martyrs.
Hearing this, why weren't all the bleeding heart Socialists yelling to have the underage children taken away from them on the grounds of child abuse?
If they have our citizenship surely our laws should apply. We can't afford to support Canadians of convenience, especially radical Islamists.
Posted by: LizJ | 12-Mar-08 6:33:00 AM
Here's an "American" perspective on the same thing:
http://suicidegirls.com/news/politics/23038/
Posted by: Snowrunner | 12-Mar-08 9:34:45 AM
I haven't read the entire thread here, but has anyone brought up the U.S. military report that mentions that there was another soldier in the alley where Khadr was shot? I mean, if we can't pin blame for the Naftagate stuff because no one knows for certain who threw the phone call, why wouldn't the same rules apply here? The key here being it's not public opinion now, but eyewitness testimony. If Billy Joe at the local UFA says he threw the grenade, but an on-the-scene soldier says we can't be certain, I feel OK with my doubts too.
Total sidebar: Adam Yoshida has already suggested the New York Governor's actions were 'mistakes' and 'indiscretions'*, and the governor knew he was married, knew the woman was a prostitute, and knew he was committing adultery. If that's just an indiscreet mistake for a middle-aged Princeton graduate, how is a 10th grader surrounded by indoctrination and instability and violence (not to mention who's under fire) supposed to be held to such a high standard of culpability?
*Adam's comment: "I don't really care what Elliot Spitzer does as a private citizen. Everyone makes mistakes. His family and him will have to deal with his indiscretions."
Posted by: Pattern Recognition | 12-Mar-08 10:06:10 AM
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