Omar Khadr: Bite It, and Bring Him Home

Posted by Laura Steiner Aug 25, 2009

Stating my baises up front, I dislike the Khadr family. But there comes a point where you should just stop fighting it. That's where the federal government is right now with their latest decision to appeal a federal court ruling on the repatriation of Omar Khadr to the Supreme Court.

The Federal Court has now ruled twice that his incarceration in Guantanamo Bay violated Khadr's constitutional rights. Like it or not, it has. But flipping it around, he allegedly committed an act of murder against a citizen of another country- shouldn't he have to face some kind of justice?

The circumstances surrounding the crime open themselves up to debate: Is killing someone against the backdrop of a war really murder? Or is the victim just another casualty of war?

Was Omar Khadr at age 14 a child-combantant and therefore not fully responsible for his own actions? Surely at 14 years old should know the difference between right and wrong, or at the very least have a decent idea that killing somebody is wrong.

Legal arguments, and constitutional rights aside it's time the federal government brought him home. Yes, his family is contemptible and his own actions are likely illegal. But two federal court decisions have ordered he be returned to Canada, and honestly it's a waste of time and money to pursue this further.

Bring Khadr home. And if the US government decides his case is worth the time and effort of a trial military or civilian, then let them extradite him. Like it or not he's our citizen and we should take responsibility for him.

For more info see:

Canada's Federal Court Upholds Khadr Ruling

Federal Court Orders Khadr's Return To Canada

Canada: Free Khadr from Guantanamo Bay