Ezra Levant is the most grotesque bully I have ever encountered. A porcine right-wing extremist who peddles bigotry for profit.And the money he makes attacking Justin Trudeau, is only matched by the money he makes attacking the former child soldier Omar Khadr.So when he heard that Khadr would be part of
Continue readingTag: Omar Khadr
Politics and its Discontents: A Different Kind Of Terrorism
While I have written extensively on Omar Khadr in the past, the former child combatant has not been much in the news of late, and so I assumed he has more or less settled down into a normal life. However, such an attempt, it would seem, is fated to be
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: Conservatives fuming over Omar Khadr lawyer Federal Court appointment.
So this happenned: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s Liberal government has appointed one of Omar Khadr‘s former lawyers as a justice in federal court. The appointment of Toronto-based lawyer John Norris was announced by Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould Monday. Norris is also an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law and has worked with several legal
Continue readingSusan on the Soapbox: The Rule of Law in An Age of Fear
“He who puts security before liberty deserves neither.” –Dennis Edney Q.C. quoting Benjamin Franklin Last week Dennis Edney Q.C. delivered the 2018 Milvain Lecture at the University of Calgary. His topic was The Rule of Law in an Age of Fear and his defence of Omar Khadr. Edney discussed the
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Guest Post: Fiscal hawks’ formulas for cutting spending don’t really fly in the face of reality
PHOTOS: The Alberta Government’s Dash-8, used and abused by Premier Ralph Klein so that he could smoke while in transit between Calgary and Edmonton (Photo: Wikimedia Commons). It’s not just what you spend, but what you spend it on, says Guest Post Author Bob Raynard, below. Below him: former Conservative
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Andrew Scheer’s Fatal Con Bigot Mistake
It wasn't long ago that I told you that Andrew Scheer and his grubby Cons had dropped the Omar Khadr story like a hot potato.Or a poisonous snake.After spending days trashing our country in the United States for crass political purposes.And now we know why.Read more »
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Many Lies and Scheer Nonsense of Andrew Scheer
Andrew Scheer may be the new leader of the religious right in Canada, but he seems to have as much respect for the Ten Commandments, as he does for our Canadian values.Especially the commandment that instructs him to "not bear false witness".So I'm glad to see that somebody has challenged
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: So Many Possible Labels, None Of Them Positive
There are many labels one could affix to the Conservative Party of Canada: opportunistic, divisive, demagogic, dishonest and principleless are but five that readily come to mind. However, perhaps the most immediately appropriate and withering is hypocritical. Hypocrisy is to be found in political parties of all stripes, but it
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Still Neanderthals
The Conservative Party of Canada is still the same venomous bunch they were under Stephen Harper. Michael Harris writes: The truth is the CPC still thinks that the Highway of Hate is the road back to power. They believe that the Omar Khadr case is the perfect, partisan political issue
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Canadians Are Outraged
The outrage is once again stoked by Omar Khadr, but, as I wrote the other day, it is Peter Kent’s shameful performance that is earning their scorn. These two letter-writers reflect that scorn: Re: Omar Khadr payout gains traction in U.S. media after Conservative MP’s op-ed, July 17 It seems
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Stephen Harper and the Treason of the Cons
When Stephen Harper stumbled into the night after his humiliating election defeat at the hands of Justin Trudeau, I thought it would be a long long time before we saw or heard from him again.And for almost two years that seemed to be the case, as he kept a very
Continue readingMind Bending Politics: Exclusive: Monia Mazigh Responds To Omar Khadr Settlement
(Monia Mazigh Human Rights Advocate and Author Best Known For Her Advocacy of Her Husband Maher Arar Responds to Omar Khadr Settlement) Mind Bending Politics sat down with Monia Mazigh this week to discuss the Omar Khadr settlement and her thoughts on the future of human rights in Canada. Before
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Justin Trudeau, Omar Khadr, and the Monster Stephen Harper
I've been having too much of a good time sailing and fishing in the north of Scotland to keep up with what has been happening in Canada.But everywhere I go, as soon as people find out I'm a Canadian, they can't wait to tell me how much they admire Justin
Continue readingIn This Corner: The Return of Stuff Happens, week 25: Khadr’s big payday a big pain for Trudeau
I’ve always found the Omar Khadr story infuriating. That $10 million smile. Khadr is, of course, the Canadian-born former child soldier (just 15 at the time) who was forced to join al-Queda by his despicable parents. His upbringing could be described as child abuse. His father was a pal of
Continue readingScott's DiaTribes: The Khadr file – justice finally served
As a long time follower of this case and someone who decried a couple of different Canadian governments refusing to speak up about the farce taking place at Guanatanamo Bay masquerading as actual legal proceedings, and ignoring both the Charte and international treaties with regards to child soldiers, I’m pleased
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Facts Are Facts
Despite the impotent snorting and sputtering of the likes of Andrew Sheer and his fellow travellers, the facts about the apology and compensation awarded to Omar Khadr speak for themselves. In today’s Star, Adriel Weaver writes the following, which I am reproducing in toto. Why we should embrace the Khadr
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Sunday Morning Links
This and that for your Sunday reading. – Damian Carrington reports on new research showing that the actual change in temperature caused by greenhouse gas emissions may be larger than anticipated in even the most cautious forecasts to date. And Chloe Farand highlights France’s plan to rein in its contribution
Continue readingMind Bending Politics: The Conservatives Have No Right To Argue Against The Due Process Rights of Canadians
Due process is a right that ensures every Canadian citizen is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and the ability to properly defend and question evidence before an independent court. It is a constitutional right. There’s been a lot of anger regarding the Omar Khadr
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: We All Have An ‘Opinion’
In a democracy, it is hardly expected that we will all be of one accord on anything. Opinion and debate are the lifeblood of a healthy and free society. The problem arises, of course, when the debate is fueled, not by reason and facts, but by rancour and misinformation. Such
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: Let Him Get On With His Life
Whenever I see Omar Khadr, I never fail to be impressed by his thoughtful reflectiveness. Despite the fact that there is a rabid element element in Canada that will never see him as anything more than a terrorist, those with the ability to assess him critically and understand how his
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