BS: Romeo Dallaire on Omar Khadr

Subject: BS: Romeo Dallaire on Khadr case
From: meself
Date: 13 May 08 - 08:40 PM

The tormented hero of Rwanda has come out swinging over the Omar Khadr case: "If Canada doesn't act to protect human rights in the case of Omar Khadr, the country is no better than terrorists, Liberal Senator Romeo Dallaire told a parliamentary subcommittee Tuesday."

The story is here.

Subject: RE: BS: Romeo Dallaire on Omar Khadr
From: Peace
Date: 13 May 08 - 11:06 PM

Good thread, meself. And the statements made by one of the few heroes I have echo my own thoughts, thoughts this government has NOT responded to despite e-mails I sent to the PM's office months ago. Thanks for posting that link.

Subject: RE: BS: Romeo Dallaire on Omar Khadr
From: Paul Burke
Date: 14 May 08 - 04:35 AM

Whrere's the usual response: "if he's old enough to fire a gun, he's old enough to hang for it?" There are at least half a dozen round here who wheel equivalents of that out in response to any criticism of the War on Tourism.

Subject: RE: BS: Romeo Dallaire on Omar Khadr
From: sian, west wales
Date: 14 May 08 - 04:59 AM

I only know the basics of the Khadr case, but I have unending and deep admiration for Senator Dallaire. Bring the boy home.

Just for reference, there was a thread on Lieutenant-General Dallaire some time ago, including a song by 'Catter Amergin. I heard Dallaire interviewed here in Britain and apparently the UN directives might well have been different if Britain, France and the USA had revealed some crucial information which would have enabled UN intervention. Makes ya' sick ...

But then, on the other hand, here is a man who 'mended' himself and has moved on to become a real beacon. Incredible.

sian

Subject: RE: BS: Romeo Dallaire on Omar Khadr
From: Mr Happy
Date: 14 May 08 - 06:02 AM

More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_Khadr

Subject: RE: BS: Romeo Dallaire on Omar Khadr
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 May 08 - 11:53 PM

Thank you, meself, for this thread. I didn't know about this case. I did know about Dallaire from the early thread about him. I continue to admire him and am impressed by him. I wish we had someone brave enough to say something like this:

"The minute you start playing with human rights, with conventions, with civil liberties, in order to say that you're doing it to protect yourself and you are going against those rights and conventions, you are no better than the guy who doesn't believe in them at all," he said.

The kid was fifteen...and has been held for six years! Odd that we get all in a furor about the FLDS boys who are kicked out of their homes, yet at least they are not made to go to war as child-soldiers. I know it's apples and oranges, but it still strikes me as an incredible juxtaposition...the teens here who are on their own and boys like Khadr who are told to fight or die.

Subject: RE: BS: Romeo Dallaire on Omar Khadr
From: meself
Date: 15 May 08 - 12:02 AM

And apart from everything else, considerable doubt has been raised as to whether the kid actually did kill anybody. The original story put out by US authorities has turned out to be largely a fabrication.

Subject: RE: BS: Romeo Dallaire on Omar Khadr
From: Charley Noble
Date: 15 May 08 - 09:10 PM

Omar Khadr deserves a fair trial as Dallaire argues, and he's certainly not going to get that from a military tribune in Guantanamo. I'm not sure he'd get a fair trial in Canada at this point but he'd have a better chance.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Romeo Dallaire on Omar Khadr
From: Peace
Date: 15 May 08 - 09:13 PM

To compound a possible injustice, our own damned government doesn't have the balls to demand his release to Canadian authorities.

Subject: RE: BS: Romeo Dallaire on Omar Khadr
From: pdq
Date: 15 May 08 - 09:45 PM

Lt.General Dallaire's actions in Rwanda make him a true hero, now and forever.

That does not mean he is correct in his opinions on other issues. His opinions carry no more weight than anyone else's opinions.

Subject: RE: BS: Romeo Dallaire on Omar Khadr
From: GUEST,meself
Date: 15 May 08 - 10:26 PM

In your opinion.