Anynym said:
His own lawyers have contributed as much to the delay as have the prosecution lawyers.
Remember, he was an illegal combatant: he was not a Canadian soldier (and definitely not a Canadian Child Soldier as some would have you believe). He was not a soldier for the Taliban, even if the Taliban were the recognized government of Afghanistan at the time. He was not a soldier for the recognized government of Afghanistan (which was a bit harder to define, and depended a lot on who was doing the recognition). Yet he was on the battlefield, as a combatant.
The legal minefield this creates has slowed the process considerably, in the interest of providing Khadr a fair trial.
Why would you suggest that it can only be fair if there's a rush to judgement?
Because it's so basic a principle of justice that it's not only enacted in stautes, and charters but part of everone's folk wisdom that "justice delayed is justice denied."
The United States of America has long had a justice system, civil and military, the envy of much of the world. Over centuries has quite admirably dealt with crime, treason, sedition, spies and every imaginable villainy. It could have tried a hundred Khadrs by now. But GeorgeII wanted a Star Chamber—torture and all.
That kid has had to endure harsh confinement for over six years in a prison created by vengeance obsessed administration hacks to put it beyond the US Justice system. Only when forced, did they grudgingly begin inventing laws and procedures and pettyfogging categorizations like "enemy combattant" not to do justice, but to avoid it. Like many here, they already knew he was guilty and their fixed intent was to punish from the getgo.
Khadr's attorneys—when he was finally allowed to have attorneys—have only ever demanded a speedy, fair trial. But I suppose one might consider demanding proceedings stop until the prosecution produced actual evidence and witnesses, again and again, or that the judge's superior officers not prejudice the process might be considered defence delay. By prejudiced minds.
Doing nothing at all to cut short this cruel farce, makes Harper a co-conspirator.