GUANTANAMO BAY NAVY BASE, Cuba — A military jury on Sunday gave teen terrorist Omar Khadr a 40-year prison sentence for killing an American commando in Afghanistan, but the sentence was merely symbolic — the United States already had agreed to limit Khadr’s prison time to eight years, and Canada last week said it would allow Khadr to serve the bulk of his sentence there.
Canada had been cagey in public about its agreement to the deal, under which Khadr pleaded guilty to war crimes. But the military judge at Khadr’s trial on Sunday released an exchange of diplomatic notes between the U.S. and Canadian governments that included Canada’s assertion that it “is inclined to favourably consider Mr. Khadr’s application to be transferred to Canada to serve the remainder of his sentence” or whichever portion Canada’s National Parole Board decides is required.
The note was signed by the Canadian Embassy on Oct. 23, with no name attached.
That agreement will allow Khadr to be released from prison by age 32, if not earlier under Canadian parole provisions.
Khadr, 24, looked straight ahead when the jury foreman announced the 40-year sentence. The widow of his victim, Tabitha Speer, 40, cheered “yes,” and then wept.
“He will forever be a murderer my eyes,” Speer said.
The 40-year sentence, even though it will never be enforced, provided a sense of finality, she said — along with assurances that Khadr would never be allowed to enter the United States or ride on an airplane.
Read More: By Carol Rosenberg | Miami Herald
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A bit misleading, of course, since he's been held since he was 15 and in Guantanamo since he was 16–and since in this case "home" just means a different prison, in Canada.
If he is released at age 32 (not at all a certainty, since Canada has hardly treated him warmly, either) he will have served half of his life in prison. Not enough, perhaps, but certainly more than most combatants ever serve.
It shouldn't matter what others sentences are.
I think it is has a definate impact on our men in harms way to see a captured enemy soldier likely return to the battlefield. I bet you could poll the fighters over how willing they are to capture the enemy rather than end his fight permanently and discover exactly why their voting rights are abused wholesale.
Well stated A-Pen!
James this is pathetic & you know it!
My soultion is simple! Just take fewer prisioners!
This Could Only Happen With The Manchurian Pres Obamacare In Charge, Yikeess, The Worst President Ever, DumboCare Is A Complete Joke.
The Obama /Holder view of justice, our powers are absolute in many ways.
Yes! And, America will soon pay in horror! It's the Supreme Court Judges stupid! Watch!
These people that kill Americans should be executed. To let him go back home in a year will
just give him the opportunity to kill more Americans.
Alas. this is only the mid-term, but perhaps enough to 'transform' the obama nightmare into just a bad dream.
Juat more insanity at it's best from Obama & Eric Holder!
These two clowns would cut a deal with anyone including the Devil!