To Stephen Harper and Lawrence Cannon: A Pragmatic Plan for Omar Khadr

I can see you haven't decided what to do.
Maybe you need more info.

Dennis Edney intends to file a law-suit against the Canadian govt on behalf of Omar Khadr as soon as Khadr returns. I know that because, when I had coffee with Edney on Nov. 07/2008, I asked him if he was planning to sue, and he said yes he was. Of course that's how he can recoup his expenses on behalf of Omar.

Here's what I suggest: don't fight the order to request repatriation.

Ignore the fact that Dennis Edney has just said that you, Stephen Harper, are a "mean-spirited individual:"
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/shared-gen/ap/Canada/CN_Canada_Guantanamo_Detainee.html?cxntlid=inform_artr

(Speaking of 'mean-spirited,' there's Dennis Edney's comment regarding the "Christians" who are supporting his actions regarding Omar Khadr, in his email correpondence with me over the past few months. It's not like Edney hasn't had a chance to take back his remark, either):
http://cid-0bcdffb6f4cf5aab.skydrive.live.com/browse.aspx/.res/BCDFFB6F4CF5AAB!459

If you appeal the order, you'll just look bad in the eyes of many more besides Dennis Edney. The mood is shifting, since Justice O'Reilly handed down his decision. There is a sense of inevit-ability online regarding the return of Omar Khadr. Also, if you appeal the order to request repatriation, you'll lose. The order is a legally sound order and James O'Reilly is a good judge. You'll never be able to prove that O'Reilly's order was unreasonable or that he erred in law making it.

You'll just waste money and look bad. So make the repatriation request.

Odds are, Obama will reject it. It would be politically damaging for him to accept the repatriation request. Not many Americans care about Omar's rights – but lots care about 9/11.
If Obama refuses to accept the repatriation request, and Omar's lawyers pressure you to make a fuss, then you can point out that Dennis Edney himself has said you would have "no standing to prosecute Khadr in Canada:"
http://fakirsca.blogspot.com/2009/04/ottawas-april-23-order-from-federal.html

If Obama accepts the repatriation request, then you should not just leave Omar Khadr to get back on his own. He will get back, certainly groups will come up with the money for his ticket. You can't keep him out, because he's a Canadian.

If you ditch Khadr in the States, then you're setting yourself up with more problems vis-a-vis a lawsuit; and, you're losing control of Khadr to Edney and the Canadian Arab Federation. You don't want to do that. You need to take control. Bring him back under your terms and your plan. Your plan should include a public inquiry to look into the evidence that Foreign Affairs officials were "complicit" in the violations of his rights: http://fakirsca.blogspot.com/2009/02/life-and-times-of-omar-khadr.html

It's cheaper than a lawsuit, and it makes you look like you care about his rights.

The inquiry doesn't have to lay blame, it can "make recom-mendations."

My guess is that it will be a lot tougher for Edney to drum up public support for a lawsuit after that.

It's win-win. Omar Khadr needs to move on with his life and to not be under the control of people with serious axes to grind.

He doesn't need to spend God-knows how many years in a lawsuit and subsequent appeals - only to watch Edney and Whitling take most of any monies awarded.

Further disillusionment about people isn't going to further the possibility of Khadr's becoming a better human being.

The federal government doesn't need to spend tax-payers' monies on yet two more failed court cases involving Omar Khadr.

Last, you both need to take away the idea the public has, that the loyal opposition has the advantage of moral righteousness over you.