The Harper government is rushing to prevent Omar Khadr's release from jail. The National Post reports:
Federal lawyers have signalled to Khadr’s defence team that they will seek a rushed hearing with the Alberta Court of Appeal on Tuesday morning, just hours ahead of an afternoon hearing that was scheduled to set conditions on Khadr’s release on bail.
“The federal government is defying legal tradition” by heading directly to the appeal court and proceeding without providing the generally accepted practice of 10 days’ notice, Khadr’s lawyer, Dennis Edney, told the Edmonton Journal.
The anticipated federal action is aimed at keeping Khadr, 28, in prison until appeal courts have heard the federal challenge of the Alberta decision granting him bail while his convictions are appealed in U.S. courts.
Steve Sullivan wrote last week that the Harperites do not want to set Khadr free under any circumstances:
Never mind that he was a 15-year-old child soldier when he was accused of throwing a grenade in Afghanistan that killed an American soldier. Never mind that he may have confessed under duress, that he may have been tortured in Guantanamo. The prime minister has no use for nuance, or context. Politically, he needs an unrepentant terrorist — and Khadr only fits the bill as long as he remains locked up and out of reach.
Evidence that Khadr is a threat to public has never seen the light of day:
The Department of Justice lawyers arguing the Crown’s case presented no evidence to show Khadr offered a risk to the public. It’s one thing to spray the Commons floor with invective about a criminal case; it’s another thing entirely to prove that case in a court of law.
Khadr fits Harper's narrative that jihadists are at the gate. Therefore, he is politically useful. But it's more than that. For the prime minister, this is personal:
But Harper’s obsession with Khadr seems to go beyond politics into the realm of personal vendetta — and it’s costing the rest of us a lot of money. Think of it as an extension of the Harper government’s use of public money for partisan advertising; just as the PM sees nothing morally wrong with using taxpayers’ funds to sell himself to the voting public, he has no problem at all with using the courts to deliver his public safety PR line.
Mr. Harper has never done well in a court of law. The law isn't his strong suite.
14 comments:
Just as Harper and his minions have no respect for Democracy, parliamentary procedures, watchdog reports and the like, rulings from the courts are only acceptable if the coincide with their wishes. As you say Owen, they have no reluctance to spend public moneys on partisan actions of any kind.
They're always looking for an edge, Rural. They're totally self serving.
I suspect a free and press available Omar Khadr and his unrestrained by court restricted lawyers would likely have some significantly unflattering things to say about the harperian governments role in this ongoing charade.
I also suspect that most thinking Canadians will soon find Omar Khadr to be a pleasant and admirable young man and quite the opposite of his antagonist.
Montreal Simon dug this up it explains allot:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-human-beast/201104/conservatives-big-fear-brain-study-finds
Also the picture of Harper as they say a picture paints a thousand words. He is getting desperate he knows he can't win the next election. So he plans on using Laureen Harper as body Armour to try and draw in the masses:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/02/10/conservatives_lay_out_reelection_strategy_in_secret_document.html
Looks like the con party boat is springing leaks Harper is desperate. Throw shoes...
Mogs
Owen, tell me what's wrong with this sentence:
"The law isn't is strong suite."
:-)
Thanks for the link, Mogs. It makes you wonder how well Harper sleeps at night.
Accurate information is their enemy, ron. It must be buried at all costs.
Thanks, Dana. Sometimes I miss a key. Correction made.
Being human isn't his strong suit. He disgusts me more every day!!
Economics ain't his strong suit either.
Six consecutive deficits resulting from cutting taxes and increasing program spending, and accumulating between $150B to $250B of national debt, second only to Mulroney's debt of $330B. And after blowing away $15B in Martin's rainy day funds left to him.
Compare his dismal record to the 9 consecutive budget surpluses and the paying down of about $80B of debt by the Liberals under Chretien and Martin.
Come to think of it, perhaps Steve's only strong suit is his sleaziness, eh?
I agree, Anon. His degree in economics looks pretty shaky at this point. But he's strong on deceit.
Despite all the hype, astone, I can find very little to recommend him.
Expect Obama to send a message, release Kadar.
The government has said that releasing Khadr would damage relations with the United States, Steve. It would be interesting to hear the Americans respond.
Post a Comment