Ottawa may shift stance on (Omar) Khadr

[sabra]

Source: Toronto Star

The Harper government has given its first signal that it is prepared to abandon its longstanding opposition to letting Omar Khadr return to Canada, following U.S. President Barack Obama's order to suspend military trials and close Guantanamo Bay in the next year.

The crack in Ottawa's resolve came from Defence Minister Peter MacKay, who said the Conservatives would "reassess" their position on the Toronto-born Khadr as a result of Obama's move.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's office moved quickly to blunt that statement, saying it had not changed its position on Khadr. But Harper has never faced more pressure to repatriate him, particularly with Obama's visit to Ottawa looming in the coming weeks.

The conflicting signals could also be a sign of indecision about what to do with Khadr should Obama formally ask Harper to take him back.

"There is now no excuse ... for the prime minister to do what really, in our view, has always been the right thing and intervene and get Omar Khadr, this Canadian citizen, back to Canada for the help and support that he needs," Navy Lieutenant-Commander Bill Kuebler, Khadr's Pentagon-appointed lawyer, said yesterday.

Read more: http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/499933

[Tindalos]

1. Do the right thing, Mr. PM.

Harper may be an ass sometimes, but he know which way the wind is blowing.

Things are finally going to start changing.

[Posteritatis]

2. For once the CPC's "we must remain a puppet state" mentality doesn't annoy me quite as much (nt)