Ottawa does not ask for Khadr release.

Canada is not ready to ask for Khadr's release because it would just be embarassing to be refused. Of course Khadr's brother was released to spy for the US in Bosnia and eventually to be repatriated. Canada does not even criticise Guantanamo because it does not want to irritate the US. Harper would have taken us into the Iraq war. The US will hold Khadr indefinitely whether the appeal is successful or not. Notice that Ottawa has said nothing about his five year detention or detention while a juvenile or even about the murder charge. Given that almost everyone with Khadr was shot including Khadr himself you would think that throwing a grenade would be self-defence!

Ottawa not ready to ask for release of Khadr
Last Updated: Wednesday, June 13, 2007 | 8:56 PM ET
CBC News
Ottawa has not yet requested that Omar Khadr, the only Canadian being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, be released to Canadian custody despite a judge's decision last week to drop all charges against him.

But Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay said he has spoken with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about Khadr's health.

"I asked specifically about his well-being and for a medical and psychological assessment to be done," MacKay said. "We're going to continue to provide consular access, as we do in the case of all Canadians."

Rice has been asked to allow Khadr better access to his family, legal counsel and the educational materials he's requested.

MacKay said Ottawa will wait until the appeals process is complete before deciding what its next move will be. The U.S. Defence Department is appealing the judge's decision.

The military judge said he dropped the charges of murder and terrorism because Khadr was officially classified as an "enemy combatant," but the military courts in Guantanamo only have jurisdiction to try "unlawful enemy combatants."


Khadr, 20, is accused of throwing a grenade that killed an American medic, Sgt. First Class Christopher Speer.

Khadr was arrested in July 2002 during a firefight with American troops in Afghanistan that left the teenager badly injured, with two gunshot wounds to the chest.

He was held in Afghanistan for three months, then transferred to Cuba.