Khadr released

[johny]

Regardless of how all of this plays out, there is no doubt that Khadr was a kid when all of this went down. You can't compare the mind of a 15 year old to that of a man in his late 20s who, by the way, is having no contact with his family whatsoever.

That's were I disagree.
Arbitrary age designations of behaviour in based in law are often based on nothing but the biases of the judges who made those rules.
Example: In the USA drink alcohol age is 21 but you can join the military and kill the enemy (people) at 18. WTF!!!

Age of consent in Canada is often 18. I disagree with that arbitrary number.
In my own profession I will deal with/treat anyone I consider competent under 18 ( I get a bit squeamish around 12-13 years and under).

I've dealt with more than enough 15 year olds professionally (and 40 years ago) that I do not consider any of them "children".
The law is faulty. 15 year old are very capable of making their own decisions and therefore accepting consequences.

So for poor, dear Omar:
He is not a terrorist.
He is soldier, like any other. NOT a child soldier.
But his side was pro-Al Quaida/Afgan/Islam, anti-western/freedom.

I am no lawyer but it feels like he is traitor not a terrorist.

So treat him like the traitor he is.

[JBen]

It surprises me sometimes (nice post earlier Atillia that touches on what Im about to say), that “we” have higher standards, better values. Yet lose sight of that.

As I said right from the get go, bad things happen in war. If Omar were to spend the rest of his life behind bars (Chicken wire) I wouldn’t shed a tear. He made his bed, he can lie in it.

I don’t see him as being a child soldier, he was old enough to make his own choice. Had he been much younger, yes I would argue he was a child soldier. Arbitrary lines on these things don’t always work.

Is a 15 year gangsta who (to use Angus’s analogy) kills a person during a mugging, bank robbery, drive by…really a “young offender”?
Not in my books.

If its appropriate and ok, to teach 7 year old some of the more controversial sexual topics…Because these days, kids mature a lot younger…
*****

Do we hang people for acts they “might” commit.

IMO Omar was a Guerilla fighter. Not unlike any North Vietnamese, not unlike millions of others. One persons guerrilla fighter, is the next persons terrorist.

And I would have a hard time believing anyone here, who would claim that if for whatever reason US troops ended up inside Canada in an armed capacity. They’d have the stones to fight openly, slug it out honorably in the field of battle.

Id become a “terrorist”. At least that’s what I’d be labelled by “them”.


Had Omar committed some act here at home. Terrorist
Had Omar committed some act there in the US. Terrorist
No, he went to “fight” there. And the act he committed happens all the time by everyone.

Why aren’t our troops tried as terrorist when our bombs kills innocents?
It’s war and bad things happen.
******

So for poor, dear Omar:

He is not a terrorist.
He is soldier, like any other. NOT a child soldier.
But his side was pro-Al Quaida/Afgan/Islam, anti-western/freedom.

So people are we different from them?
Do we hold ourselves to higher standards?
Standards of equality and fairness?
Freedom, freedom to “choose"? Maybe choose to fight for the other side?

Should we start charging our troops with acts of terrorism anytime theres collateral damage?
Cant have it both ways. We are better aren’t we?
Or do we pick and choose only when its convenient.

Traitor, PoW (the war is still on going) Id be ok keeping him locked up

[Angus]

one other thought on this.

Im sure if US troops “invaded" Canada where we would be ungunned, out manned, out tanked, out everything.

Nobody invaded Afghanistan.
But if AQ grows in strength here and our government asks for help from the US, and as a criminal AQ member I killed a US soldier, then yes I would be a terrorist.
Simple enough?

[Buzz Killington]

Some of you are using the term "POW"

Careful with that term.

Look into POW vs. Detainee and the terminology between the two.

Might help or hinder some of these arguments.

[JBen]

Angus you are entitled to your opinion, others are entitled to theirs.
Theres a difference between having your opinion and attacking others. Forum rules are quite clear on this. Id rather not see this get locked but I won’t stand for it, never have never will. In some ways jumping out of the bushes and taking swipes (against rules)…Kind like a terrorist isn’t it

“Simple” enough for you” or are the subtleties of debate and discussion to complex for you?
oh and incase you need a refresher go back and read the post that had you swinging

“Im not sure if what he did was a terrorist act” or something to that effect. Your doing a wonderful job convincing me or others of your point of view
Not.
************

Whether “we” like it or not, there is a struggle elsewhere.
Che Guevera was a terrorist in some peoples eyes, a freedom fighter in others.
I’m sure many in Nazi Germany considered the French resistance “terrorist”. To us, hero’s.

Ps incase its too complex for you, one reason they hate “us” is because “we” are always sticking our noses where they don’t belong.

If you want a “what if”, lets say Quebec separates and it comes to bloodshed and for whatever reason US troops end up in there/with them. I know you wouldn’t have the stones to fight honorably against them. Does that make you a terrorist if you lob a grenade and kill one?

Now incase it’s too complex for you, don’t take that as me meaning I am against the “war” on terror. Or that I have any sympathy at all for those who for what ever reason choose their side. I don’t.

Once again, explain how throwing a grenade at an enemy combatant over there is an act of terror. Or defend why killing thousands with bombs (collateral damage) isn’t.

[JBen]

Lmao.
Obviously you don’t pay attention to many threads (I’d say more, but a) forum rules and b) I try not to judge people) on the topic, else you’d know where I stand.

That might be your weakest and least informed attempt at a swipe yet. Lol.

Let’s try it one last time and see if you have the ability piece it together.
Make some points representing your opinion rather than….
Use some logical arguments showing us low brows how it was a terrorist act.
Go back to school and learn the art of debate/discussion
Etc, etc, etc

The fact that you can’t grasp why to some
A is a terrorist or Guerrilla or freedom fighter depending on which side of the fence your on and who gets to write the history books..

Speaks volumes.

I guarantee you Angus if “they win” we are the criminals, we are the…
And the fact you can’t grasp that something “we” highly value
Freedom of choice
Self determination
The USs penchant for sticking their noses into things.
Is one (not the only) reason why they hate us.
Now would you take on the US in a “fair fight”?

Do recall Russia and Afghanistan to.
FUnny that at one time we saw them as Guerrillas/Freedom fighters in their fight against Russia.
Trained them
Armed them
Fought with them.
Guess now that we are the target changes things huh?