The latest, and possibly last, sessions of the Guantanamo war crimes tribunal have revealed disturbing details about how Khadr was treated during three months at Bagram in the custody of US forces who were convinced he had thrown a grenade that killed an American soldier.
Now 22, Khadr has spent almost a third of his life in US custody. He was raised in a militant Muslim family and was surrounded in his teen years by holy warriors. His lawyers describe him as confused, immature and emotionally damaged.
"Under international law, adults who recruit children for combat are to be prosecuted for that offense. But the children caught up in combat are to be protected, not prosecuted," said Diane Marie Amann, a UC Davis law professor who observed the latest hearing in Khadr's case for the National Institute of Military Justice.
Khadr's trial is set to begin Jan. 26, with pretrial hearings starting on the eve of the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama, who has vowed to shut Guantanamo."
So, what do you think? Should Khadr be considered a juvenile acting upon indoctrinated beliefs and considered a victim OR do you consider him a responsible individual who should be held accountable for his alleged actions?
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- groups:
- News and Politics, Politics, 9/11
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- jennaskarzenski
- added this
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Absolutely a victim.
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- cantucwearebrothers
- 11 months ago
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He was a child. If he wasn't anti-American before he went to Guantanamo, I am sure he is now.
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I absolutely think he was a victim. I find the 14-17 year-old -age range to be very interesting, as they are legally considered children but some people argue they are old enough to think things through. I don't think that is the case here
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a victim especially after spending a third of his life in guantanamo. of course he's confused. he's gone from extreme manipulation to extreme torture!
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- camisalami
- 11 months ago
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A victim of American Greed and Zionist , what a joke America has become
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- cheezynuts
- 11 months ago
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That this child was not singled out so he could receive mental and emotional help tells a lot about the way the military is running the prison. This child was victimized by the people who brought him into the war and then victimized again by the U.S. military. Bush as Commander and Chief bares the ultimate responsibility because of the the atmosphere he encouraged allowing cruel out of control behavior on the part of the guards and their superiors. These soldiers who allowed this boy to remain imprisoned for a good part of his life should in the least be reprimanded and lose their rank. But of course they and Bush won't be held accountable because unaccountability has been added to the incompetence of our government during the past eight years.
