Dear Editor:
Re: Terrorists Like Khadr Don’t Deserve Payouts From Us, Aug. 2 Mailbox.
I was disappointed to read the letter you published, which indicated to me that the writer hasn’t taken the time to investigate the Omar Khadr matter. Also disappointing was that you chose to print the letter without noting a correction to alleged “facts” concerning the Khadr situation and the function of the rule of law, courts and justice a set out in the constitution of our country.
The factual point I wish to correct concerns this statement: “As a so-called ‘child’ from the moment that Khadr threw a grenade that killed...” Khadr may have thrown a grenade. The only witness to the event, an American soldier, stated the person who threw the grenade was a grenadier (an older enemy soldier).
Khadr confessed to throwing the grenade only after 10 years of confinement and torture at Guantanamo military prison. After such treatment, aided and abetted by representatives of the Canadian government, it is not unreasonable to assume that Khadr might have chosen to “confess” despite not having actually done the deed.
Further, soldiers, child soldiers, regular, old soldiers, are trained to destroy or damage enemy soldiers, equipment and infrastructure; in my view, Khadr was probably doing his job. As personal background, I served for nine years in the Canadian Forces.
Carl Hunter
West Vancouver
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