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The Enemy Within: Terror, Lies, and the Whitewashing of Omar Khadr
A controversial look at the headline-making story of the last Western prisoner at Guantanamo Bay and the larger implications to national security, justice, and international relations.
Omar Khadr is the last Western prisoner at the Guantanamo Bay detention centre. He has been held at the American naval base since October 2002, accused of killing a U.S. sergeant in Afghanistan. Khadr was fifteen at the time. His defence team argued that their client was a child soldier and should be treated as a victim. After several years of procedural wrangling, Khadr went before a U.S. military court. In October, he pled guilty, in an agreement that allows him to be transferred to Canada after one year.
This controversial new book will be published to coincide with Omar Khadr's return to Canada in late 2011. It will include shocking information about the Khadr family, Khadr's psychological assessment, and his trial that has often been ignored in the mainstream media. Challenging the conventional wisdom about the Khadr case, The Enemy Within is a provocative look at the definition of "child soldier," life at Guantanamo Bay, the media coverage of the case, a tainted plea bargain, and the Canadian government's plan for Omar Khadr's rehabilitation upon his return to Canada.
In this hard-hitting book, Ezra Levant also uses Khadr's story to address larger questions about how Canadians view immigration, terrorism, law and justice, and Canada's relationship with the United States.
From the Hardcover edition.
Omar Khadr is the last Western prisoner at the Guantanamo Bay detention centre. He has been held at the American naval base since October 2002, accused of killing a U.S. sergeant in Afghanistan. Khadr was fifteen at the time. His defence team argued that their client was a child soldier and should be treated as a victim. After several years of procedural wrangling, Khadr went before a U.S. military court. In October, he pled guilty, in an agreement that allows him to be transferred to Canada after one year.
This controversial new book will be published to coincide with Omar Khadr's return to Canada in late 2011. It will include shocking information about the Khadr family, Khadr's psychological assessment, and his trial that has often been ignored in the mainstream media. Challenging the conventional wisdom about the Khadr case, The Enemy Within is a provocative look at the definition of "child soldier," life at Guantanamo Bay, the media coverage of the case, a tainted plea bargain, and the Canadian government's plan for Omar Khadr's rehabilitation upon his return to Canada.
In this hard-hitting book, Ezra Levant also uses Khadr's story to address larger questions about how Canadians view immigration, terrorism, law and justice, and Canada's relationship with the United States.
From the Hardcover edition.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 8, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 28, 2011
I didn't realise when I downloaded this book (fortunately from the library so I didn't pay for it) it was written by Ezra Levant, if I had I likely wouldn't have read it. DO NOT PAY FOR THIS.
This book was mostly rubbish although there were a few valid points however even those you couldn't take entirely seriously because they were hidden amongst his ongoing rants about the Canadian press.
The hyperbole in this was often amusing enough to read out aloud, some of his predictions were so ridiculous that not even people that support Levant would take them seriously.
I must admit I didn't pay a lot of attention to the Omar Khadr issue while living in Canada but his tirade against the press wasn't necessary. The press for the most part seemed to be trying to deal with a complicated situation as best they could whereas Levant made a complicated situation overly simplistic. Furthermore he provided no constructive ideas and very little supporting documentation to justify his criticism of the press.
Some of my favourite things to come out of this book were:
- Claiming the CBC would give Omar Khadr his own reality show
- claiming left wing universities will give Omar Khadr an honorary doctorate
- labelling him the "celebrity darling of the left"
- labelling him "prince of al qaeda"...his connections to Al Qaeda have never been disputed in the "liberal" press I read.
- pretty picture he paints of torture and guantanamo bay
it actually got two stars because it was somewhat interesting to read.
This book was mostly rubbish although there were a few valid points however even those you couldn't take entirely seriously because they were hidden amongst his ongoing rants about the Canadian press.
The hyperbole in this was often amusing enough to read out aloud, some of his predictions were so ridiculous that not even people that support Levant would take them seriously.
I must admit I didn't pay a lot of attention to the Omar Khadr issue while living in Canada but his tirade against the press wasn't necessary. The press for the most part seemed to be trying to deal with a complicated situation as best they could whereas Levant made a complicated situation overly simplistic. Furthermore he provided no constructive ideas and very little supporting documentation to justify his criticism of the press.
Some of my favourite things to come out of this book were:
- Claiming the CBC would give Omar Khadr his own reality show
- claiming left wing universities will give Omar Khadr an honorary doctorate
- labelling him the "celebrity darling of the left"
- labelling him "prince of al qaeda"...his connections to Al Qaeda have never been disputed in the "liberal" press I read.
- pretty picture he paints of torture and guantanamo bay
it actually got two stars because it was somewhat interesting to read.
January 5, 2016
First Chapter... largely contentless. Rant about the Liberal Media and it's representative Piers Morgan.
Second Chapter... guilt by association. His father and sister were terrorists so clearly Omar must be a terrorist as well.
Third Chapter... Laughable. Levant takes Omar's confession at face value and never once looks at it with any sort of skepticism (a confession signed in part because it was the only way to get out of Gitmo and back to Canada). Calls 15-year-old Khadr the "James Bond of Jihad" with "a licence to kill Americans and Jews", an expert in military planning, explosives, firearms, poisons, assassinations, foreign languages, martial arts, logistics, human resources management, and intelligence gathering. This junior high aged child is the "Michael Corleone", the prince, of al Qaeda.
Fourth Chapter... Speer is a great guy who had kids and the journalists suck for not saying so.
Fifth Chapter... Khadr isn't a child because he's was almost 16, and it wouldn't matter anyways because he wasn't a "gentleman soldier" and thus an unlawful enemy combatant.
Sixth Chapter... If you move away from Canada you shouldn't be considered a Canadian citizen anymore, but it doesn't matter because being imprisoned indefinitely without trial is justice. You shouldn't expect Canada to stand up for your rights if you go abroad anyways.
Seventh Chapter... Gitmo is heaven compared to third world countries, like Afghanistan. Just ignore the water-boarding, stress positions, sleep deprivation, force feeding, "the mop technique", rape threats, and other torture because the military tribunal judge said they were made up.
Eighth Chapter... Canadian Journalists are fifth column supporters. Omar Khadr was lying when he said he was tortured. And the torture doesn't count as torture anyways because it doesn't leave visible marks likes beatings and rape with broomsticks do.
Ninth Chapter... Liberals and the Canadian Bar Association are two-faced political opportunists for demanding Guantanamo Bay be shut down.
Tenth Chapter... According to unnamed sources and anonymous witnesses Khadr's trial was completely weighted in his favour and there was no chance of real conviction, even though the prosecution won the case and got 40 years (more then they asked for), even though Obama didn't let them prosecute. Huh? Dr. Welner believes Khadr to be a brazen manipulative al Qaeda Prince and Kingpin (just ignore that in his interview Khadr said he doesn't believe innocent people should ever be harmed).
Eleventh Chapter... "[A] few years in a cushy American prison isn't going to convince" anyone to give up the fight, especially not Khadr who's spent his entire adult life "at the Guantanamo Bay academy for terrorists" and "hasn't been exposed to any efforts to moderate his deadly beliefs." (You don't think the Americans should maybe gotten on that sooner?).
Twelfth Chapter... Maher Arar wasn't tortured by Syrians and his arrest by the Americans was totally legit, and now he's suing the Canadian Government and a minor Celebrity. Khadr will do the same things. He'll speak about the dangers of Islamophobia and be anti-American like the NDP and the Canadian Bar Association. He might even get The Order of Canada. So we should keep him in Gitmo.
Thirteenth Chapter... We have to do everything to keep Khadr from coming home because it might disrespect the troops and would be a slap in the face of Conservative base in Canada. If the Government threatens to let him into the country quit the conservative party and stop donating to it. Also Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs, the CBC, the Toronto Star, and the Canadian Bar Association are terrorist apologists.
Second Chapter... guilt by association. His father and sister were terrorists so clearly Omar must be a terrorist as well.
Third Chapter... Laughable. Levant takes Omar's confession at face value and never once looks at it with any sort of skepticism (a confession signed in part because it was the only way to get out of Gitmo and back to Canada). Calls 15-year-old Khadr the "James Bond of Jihad" with "a licence to kill Americans and Jews", an expert in military planning, explosives, firearms, poisons, assassinations, foreign languages, martial arts, logistics, human resources management, and intelligence gathering. This junior high aged child is the "Michael Corleone", the prince, of al Qaeda.
Fourth Chapter... Speer is a great guy who had kids and the journalists suck for not saying so.
Fifth Chapter... Khadr isn't a child because he's was almost 16, and it wouldn't matter anyways because he wasn't a "gentleman soldier" and thus an unlawful enemy combatant.
Sixth Chapter... If you move away from Canada you shouldn't be considered a Canadian citizen anymore, but it doesn't matter because being imprisoned indefinitely without trial is justice. You shouldn't expect Canada to stand up for your rights if you go abroad anyways.
Seventh Chapter... Gitmo is heaven compared to third world countries, like Afghanistan. Just ignore the water-boarding, stress positions, sleep deprivation, force feeding, "the mop technique", rape threats, and other torture because the military tribunal judge said they were made up.
Eighth Chapter... Canadian Journalists are fifth column supporters. Omar Khadr was lying when he said he was tortured. And the torture doesn't count as torture anyways because it doesn't leave visible marks likes beatings and rape with broomsticks do.
Ninth Chapter... Liberals and the Canadian Bar Association are two-faced political opportunists for demanding Guantanamo Bay be shut down.
Tenth Chapter... According to unnamed sources and anonymous witnesses Khadr's trial was completely weighted in his favour and there was no chance of real conviction, even though the prosecution won the case and got 40 years (more then they asked for), even though Obama didn't let them prosecute. Huh? Dr. Welner believes Khadr to be a brazen manipulative al Qaeda Prince and Kingpin (just ignore that in his interview Khadr said he doesn't believe innocent people should ever be harmed).
Eleventh Chapter... "[A] few years in a cushy American prison isn't going to convince" anyone to give up the fight, especially not Khadr who's spent his entire adult life "at the Guantanamo Bay academy for terrorists" and "hasn't been exposed to any efforts to moderate his deadly beliefs." (You don't think the Americans should maybe gotten on that sooner?).
Twelfth Chapter... Maher Arar wasn't tortured by Syrians and his arrest by the Americans was totally legit, and now he's suing the Canadian Government and a minor Celebrity. Khadr will do the same things. He'll speak about the dangers of Islamophobia and be anti-American like the NDP and the Canadian Bar Association. He might even get The Order of Canada. So we should keep him in Gitmo.
Thirteenth Chapter... We have to do everything to keep Khadr from coming home because it might disrespect the troops and would be a slap in the face of Conservative base in Canada. If the Government threatens to let him into the country quit the conservative party and stop donating to it. Also Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs, the CBC, the Toronto Star, and the Canadian Bar Association are terrorist apologists.
August 31, 2012
I read Guatanamo's Child and felt there was more to the story then the fawning apologia I was getting. After reading Mr. Levant's book, in which he use extensive excerpts from Omar Khadr's own confession I am glad to see I was right. This was not a child soldier in the true sense.
Yes, his father was horrible man and a terrorist who brought his children up to follow in his footsteps but that is no excuse. In his own words Omar proves that he is nothing more than an unrepentant terrorist.
His family condemn Canada and yet when they need medical care they can't get back here fast enough.
They live on welfare and are draining the system even though his mother has vocally said she hates Canada.
I have no problem with the government of Canada leaving this man exactly where he is for the duration of his sentence.
Yes, his father was horrible man and a terrorist who brought his children up to follow in his footsteps but that is no excuse. In his own words Omar proves that he is nothing more than an unrepentant terrorist.
His family condemn Canada and yet when they need medical care they can't get back here fast enough.
They live on welfare and are draining the system even though his mother has vocally said she hates Canada.
I have no problem with the government of Canada leaving this man exactly where he is for the duration of his sentence.
May 16, 2012
An outstanding feat of true journalism, Ezra Levant yet again takes the issue head-on and reports on the real issues the mainstream media is too afraid and unwilling to cover.
Jam-packed with real quotes from Canada's most infamous terrorist, Levant exposes the fanatical convicted murderer and terrorist who is Omar Khadr. Levant holds no punches in exposing the real Khadr - far from a child soldier, a fully knowledgeable and willing participant in a war which resulted in Khadr murdering one American and severely injuring another.
Levant's conclusion is simple and all Canadians should support it: do not allow this convicted murderer and terrorist back into Canada. Ever.
Jam-packed with real quotes from Canada's most infamous terrorist, Levant exposes the fanatical convicted murderer and terrorist who is Omar Khadr. Levant holds no punches in exposing the real Khadr - far from a child soldier, a fully knowledgeable and willing participant in a war which resulted in Khadr murdering one American and severely injuring another.
Levant's conclusion is simple and all Canadians should support it: do not allow this convicted murderer and terrorist back into Canada. Ever.
February 23, 2016
Ezra Levant again writes the truth. Too many others who review this book are deluded by believing this is a political rant. It's not. It is fact. Apologists and supporters of Khadr don't like it when they're shown to be wrong. Everyone who has a brain should read this book to find out the real story. Not the lies of the media who don't want the true story.
June 11, 2012
Politics is king, even when national security is at stake. Ezra Levant goes deep into the mind of confessed terrorist Omar Khadr and his supporters (of which there is plenty) and shows the danger which the Canadian government is exposing its own citizens to.
February 21, 2013
Unreal book...brings up plenty of debates.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews