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Guantanamo's Child: The Untold Story of Omar Khadr
A prize-winning journalist tells the troubling story of Canadian Omar Khadr, who has spent a quarter of his life growing up in Guantanamo Bay. Khadr was captured in Afghanistan in July 2002 at the age of 15. Accused by the Pentagon of throwing a grenade that killed U.S. soldier Sgt. First Class Christopher Speer, Khadr faces charges of conspiracy and murder. His case is set to be the first war crimes trial since World War II. In Guantanamo's Child , veteran reporter Michelle Shephard traces Khadr's roots in Canada, Pakistan and Afghanistan, growing up surrounded by al Qaeda's elite. She examines how his despised family, dubbed "Canada's First Family of Terrorism," has overshadowed his trial and left him alone behind bars for more than five years. Khadr's story goes to the heart of what's wrong with the U.S. administration's post-9/11 policies and why Canada is guilty by association. His story explains how the lack of due process can create victims and lead to retribution, and instead of justice, fuel terrorism. Michelle Shephard is a national security reporter for the Toronto Star and the recipient of Canada's top two journalism awards. "You will be shocked, saddened and in the end angry at the story this page turner of a book exposes. I read it straight through and Omar Khadr's plight is one you cannot forget."
— Michael Ratner , New York, President of the Center for Constitutional Rights "Michelle Shephard's richly reported, well written account of Omar Khadr's trajectory from the battlefields of Afghanistan to the cells of Guantanamo is a microcosm of the larger "war on terror" in which the teenaged Khadr either played the role of a jihadist murderer or tragic pawn or, perhaps, both roles."
— Peter Bergen , author of Holy war, Inc. and The Osama bin Laden I know
— Michael Ratner , New York, President of the Center for Constitutional Rights "Michelle Shephard's richly reported, well written account of Omar Khadr's trajectory from the battlefields of Afghanistan to the cells of Guantanamo is a microcosm of the larger "war on terror" in which the teenaged Khadr either played the role of a jihadist murderer or tragic pawn or, perhaps, both roles."
— Peter Bergen , author of Holy war, Inc. and The Osama bin Laden I know
270 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 23, 2012
I was prepared NOT to like this book - but in truth I must thank Ms. Shephard for writing it. While at the Toronto Star she covered this case from when Khadr gained attention and notoriety in 2004 until late 2008 - when the push to white-wash Khadr in Canada really took-off. (Australia, England, France and Spain - all of whom have suffered post 9/11 terror attacks relented due to some public pressure to "re-patriate" their detainees - but mostly I think because they are all namby-pamby Social Democrat governments who folded.)
She has done excellent journalistic "yeomen's" duty in tracking down 1st person accounts - Omar Khadr's direct family, uncles, cousins, grandparents etc - as well as former "guests of Gitmo" and various Muslim representatives (main-stream not radical) who knew Omar's family in Canada and abroad before the Khadr's became key players in the Islamic Jihadi movement in general and deeply enmeshed in Osama Bin Laden's dangerous crusade against the west. Also she followed the parade of "official" defense lawyers - Jackson, - as well as the "adjunct" Canadian team of Edney and Whitling. Similarly she provides a running commentary of the developments that legitimized and de-legitimized the procedures of the Military Commissions who were tasked to preside over the trials of Gitmo detainees and accurately profiled the various individuals who did so. These constant observations - made in real-time one supposes - were vital to re-creating the circumstances and event that took place while Omar Khadr was locked up.
Then there was her sympathetic coverage of Omar Khadr - who she calls in the introduction "an over grown puppy" - which was less admirable. Still she did find as many 1st person interviews with former guards, detainees, psychologists and a host of various observers - as well as Omar - to give as good a picture of what it was like at Camp Delta as she could. It's only too bad she could NOT have been a bit less biased in who she profiled - which was almost exclusively from the Defense's POV.
Likewise the major international legal issues like Geneva Convention, UN Convention in the Rights of the Child and Romeo Dalaire's bleeding-heart views on Child Soldiers. These were intentionally confused to match the anti-American narrative that proved so successful for English, French and Spanish Liberal-Democrats - not to mention the main Social Democratic Party who benefited in run up to the 2008 Presidential Election - Barack Obama.
That is not to say I accepted Michelle Shephard's and her white-wash supporters thesis - that Omar Khadr was cruelly taken advantage of as a mere boy-child - and has been "tortured" (but only according to his Defense team's affidavits - he admitted to being well treated often not realizing that it undermined the claims of mistreatment). In great attention to honest detail many facts stand out against this conclusion. The joyful Jahidst nature of his family and how they were carefully played and coopted by Bin Laden and others in his shadowy regime. His mother and sister where told to shut up as their loose-lipped interviews and pronouncements of whole-hearted support for Jihad and the Toronto 18 sunk Omar Khadr's chance at an early victory. Then how hypocritical Edmonton Lawyer Dennis Edney showed his true colours early on by stating in an interview "I love humanity - it's people I hate" and castigated the U.S government for "ignoring the International Rule of Law" was suspiciously delivering secret notes to Omar Khadr - against all operating procedures at Gitmo designed to control terrorist Intel into the facility. His difficult personality and high-handed tactics in NOT taking a cooperating with the lead U.S Defense Team eventually lead to being fired by Omar Khadr.
Still it was disturbing to learn of the constant politicization of teh Gitmo Camp and Trial Process. However given this is tone of teh first "Terrorist Trial" I kept casting my mind back to Nuremberg - would this have been less politicized? No. From the beginning and even since Obama gained the Presidency with promises to shut it down - the White House has continued to influence outcomes - including the Plea Bargained Deal and an agreement to return Omar Khadr to Canada to serve out his sentence. Also the trouble rank&file soldiers have in maintaining proper prison protocols is obvious. This is NOT what these young men excel at - not have they been properly trained as prison guards. I have not doubt that life at Gitmo has not been pleasant - but the sometimes cruel treatment Gitmo detainees have received is probably less than if they were imprisoned with a "normal" prison population on the mainland! Given honest interpretations of torture - and the good health of detainees - I reject as did Omar Khadr on many occasions - any allegations made that detainees at Gitmo were willfully abused. That they experienced discomfort before, during and after "interrogations" intended to extract intelligence goes without saying, but I do not consider that mistreatment - just acceptable psychological and mental tactics. These are an unfortunate consequence of being "enemy combatants" rather than regular military units whose treatment would fall under the Geneva Convention.
Such is the unfortunate plight of a terrorist.
All in all - a most worthwhile introduction to the Omar Khadr Odyssey and it should be read by all those interested on Omar Khadr - pro or con. There is much for both sides in Michelle Shephard's book.
She has done excellent journalistic "yeomen's" duty in tracking down 1st person accounts - Omar Khadr's direct family, uncles, cousins, grandparents etc - as well as former "guests of Gitmo" and various Muslim representatives (main-stream not radical) who knew Omar's family in Canada and abroad before the Khadr's became key players in the Islamic Jihadi movement in general and deeply enmeshed in Osama Bin Laden's dangerous crusade against the west. Also she followed the parade of "official" defense lawyers - Jackson, - as well as the "adjunct" Canadian team of Edney and Whitling. Similarly she provides a running commentary of the developments that legitimized and de-legitimized the procedures of the Military Commissions who were tasked to preside over the trials of Gitmo detainees and accurately profiled the various individuals who did so. These constant observations - made in real-time one supposes - were vital to re-creating the circumstances and event that took place while Omar Khadr was locked up.
Then there was her sympathetic coverage of Omar Khadr - who she calls in the introduction "an over grown puppy" - which was less admirable. Still she did find as many 1st person interviews with former guards, detainees, psychologists and a host of various observers - as well as Omar - to give as good a picture of what it was like at Camp Delta as she could. It's only too bad she could NOT have been a bit less biased in who she profiled - which was almost exclusively from the Defense's POV.
Likewise the major international legal issues like Geneva Convention, UN Convention in the Rights of the Child and Romeo Dalaire's bleeding-heart views on Child Soldiers. These were intentionally confused to match the anti-American narrative that proved so successful for English, French and Spanish Liberal-Democrats - not to mention the main Social Democratic Party who benefited in run up to the 2008 Presidential Election - Barack Obama.
That is not to say I accepted Michelle Shephard's and her white-wash supporters thesis - that Omar Khadr was cruelly taken advantage of as a mere boy-child - and has been "tortured" (but only according to his Defense team's affidavits - he admitted to being well treated often not realizing that it undermined the claims of mistreatment). In great attention to honest detail many facts stand out against this conclusion. The joyful Jahidst nature of his family and how they were carefully played and coopted by Bin Laden and others in his shadowy regime. His mother and sister where told to shut up as their loose-lipped interviews and pronouncements of whole-hearted support for Jihad and the Toronto 18 sunk Omar Khadr's chance at an early victory. Then how hypocritical Edmonton Lawyer Dennis Edney showed his true colours early on by stating in an interview "I love humanity - it's people I hate" and castigated the U.S government for "ignoring the International Rule of Law" was suspiciously delivering secret notes to Omar Khadr - against all operating procedures at Gitmo designed to control terrorist Intel into the facility. His difficult personality and high-handed tactics in NOT taking a cooperating with the lead U.S Defense Team eventually lead to being fired by Omar Khadr.
Still it was disturbing to learn of the constant politicization of teh Gitmo Camp and Trial Process. However given this is tone of teh first "Terrorist Trial" I kept casting my mind back to Nuremberg - would this have been less politicized? No. From the beginning and even since Obama gained the Presidency with promises to shut it down - the White House has continued to influence outcomes - including the Plea Bargained Deal and an agreement to return Omar Khadr to Canada to serve out his sentence. Also the trouble rank&file soldiers have in maintaining proper prison protocols is obvious. This is NOT what these young men excel at - not have they been properly trained as prison guards. I have not doubt that life at Gitmo has not been pleasant - but the sometimes cruel treatment Gitmo detainees have received is probably less than if they were imprisoned with a "normal" prison population on the mainland! Given honest interpretations of torture - and the good health of detainees - I reject as did Omar Khadr on many occasions - any allegations made that detainees at Gitmo were willfully abused. That they experienced discomfort before, during and after "interrogations" intended to extract intelligence goes without saying, but I do not consider that mistreatment - just acceptable psychological and mental tactics. These are an unfortunate consequence of being "enemy combatants" rather than regular military units whose treatment would fall under the Geneva Convention.
Such is the unfortunate plight of a terrorist.
All in all - a most worthwhile introduction to the Omar Khadr Odyssey and it should be read by all those interested on Omar Khadr - pro or con. There is much for both sides in Michelle Shephard's book.
October 17, 2016
Wow, What a good book. For those who think they know the Khadar family, this is the book to read. While most Canadians met the Khadar family via the CBC documentary and through local newscast. I met Omar's family at a dinner in Toronto two or three years ago. This book, while it is about Omar Khadr and the charges of murdering a US Soldier in Afghanistan in 2002; it it much more a tale of the Khadr family,
It is also a tale about justice and injustice practiced by both the American and Canadian governments's respetctively. I fofound the story david vs goliath story compelling and
wondered aloud why the US government felt so compelled to torture let along prosecute a 15 year old boy. And why did it take 8 years for his case to come to trial? The answers were surprising. I started the book in may of 2010, 3 months before Omar's August 2010 ended in a plea bargin. Reading the book helped me understand the nature and emotion of the trial. The real question is: After 8 years imprisonment [and potentially unlimited captivity], is A kangroo court is better than no court at all? I would recomment this book to others who wish to know the real story. Much like the " $2 million cup of coffee" suit against mc donald's there is so much more that the public needs to know before they can make an informed decision.
It is also a tale about justice and injustice practiced by both the American and Canadian governments's respetctively. I fofound the story david vs goliath story compelling and
wondered aloud why the US government felt so compelled to torture let along prosecute a 15 year old boy. And why did it take 8 years for his case to come to trial? The answers were surprising. I started the book in may of 2010, 3 months before Omar's August 2010 ended in a plea bargin. Reading the book helped me understand the nature and emotion of the trial. The real question is: After 8 years imprisonment [and potentially unlimited captivity], is A kangroo court is better than no court at all? I would recomment this book to others who wish to know the real story. Much like the " $2 million cup of coffee" suit against mc donald's there is so much more that the public needs to know before they can make an informed decision.
November 25, 2017
I won’t hide the complete disdain I feel for the family. They were extremely vocal and insistent on their rights with absolutely no consideration for their own responsibilities as a member of society or how their actions impacted and impeded the rights and lives of others. They were selfish, inconsiderate and played fast and loose with the rules and truth. But that doesn’t excuse the horrendous, inhumane treatment of a child by at least 3 governments. This book made me understand why there was so much hatred and anger towards Omar, but those feelings are misdirected. He was a child who got caught up in the horrible choices made by his family, and was politicized by governments trying to justify their actions and policies. I think this was an honest and fair presentation of all sides of the story. I didn’t realize that it was an older book and ended before the end. Would love to read an updated version or a second book that continues where this one left off.
December 8, 2022
I have read this book before and it was very interesting to see what was going on in this place called Guantánamo Bay and Bagram airbase. It was kind of disturbing at the same time that humans can do this kind of crap to other human beings. I would recommend this book but then again I wouldn’t recommend reading it before going to bed. As I learn the lesson the first time I read this book but anyway it was a very good book still is. Would recommend it to people, keep up the good work 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
July 29, 2008
Canadian journalist Michelle Shephard's book is as much an indictment of the Bush Administration's sins regarding the ttreatment of enemy detainees as it is a story of a young Canadian detainee held for years in America's gulag. Refreshingly, the author does not picture this young terrorist as a victim and she accurately describes his terrorist family background. But despite the boy's evident guilt, the reader cannot come away from this read without feeling some shame for the atrocious inhuman way we treat our enemy detainees.
July 8, 2015
I thought this was a very good book. I found the beginning a bit slow, albeit necessary background information on Omar's life. I would definitely like a part two to this book/story.
December 24, 2020
This is not a type of book that I would normally read. Michelle Shephard got the facts regarding the Khadr family and especially Omar Khadr. The family had ties to el-Qaeda and they met with their leader Osama bin Laden. Omar was only 15 years old when he was captured and was accused of throwing a hand grenade to Layne Morris and Chris Spiers. The problem is, no one witnessed him throwing a grenade. He was held as a prisoner in Guantanmo Bay which sparked outrage in Canada because the government would not intervene to get him to come to Canada since he was accused of terrorism charges and he was underage when he was captured. The charges were withdrawn and the laws from the Bush administration was deemed unlawful.
Michelle Shephard also explains how the Khadr family got in the Afgan war and how the US backed mujahideen defeated the Russian invasion. Khadr's father was working as a fundraiser for a charity organization there and he and other along with bin Laden created el-Qaeda. They were fighting against the American in Afghanistan after 9/11.
I wish the book continued up to after Omar Khadr's release from Guantanamo Bay in 2017.
Michelle Shephard also explains how the Khadr family got in the Afgan war and how the US backed mujahideen defeated the Russian invasion. Khadr's father was working as a fundraiser for a charity organization there and he and other along with bin Laden created el-Qaeda. They were fighting against the American in Afghanistan after 9/11.
I wish the book continued up to after Omar Khadr's release from Guantanamo Bay in 2017.
July 10, 2017
The author presents a relatively unbiased account of Khadr's story, including a fair amount of detail about his upbringing and family life; especially before his arrest and subsequent detention. I found the book interesting given current events; the recent monetary settlement by the Canadian government.
That being said, I wouldn't necessarily recommend this book in a vacuum. I think there are better books describing Guantanamo Bay prisoners and the legal quagmire that surrounds the prison.
That being said, I wouldn't necessarily recommend this book in a vacuum. I think there are better books describing Guantanamo Bay prisoners and the legal quagmire that surrounds the prison.
October 17, 2017
it was okay. way more about khadr's family than him himself and his experience at guantanamo. thought it could have used a lot more from his perspective and not from those around him (e.g., family, lawyers, the author...) though i have to remember that the book was written 10 years ago and so much more has developed since. would like to read an autobiography by him perhaps someday
July 26, 2017
Written before he was released so it could do with an update - but an excellent overview of the case.
September 11, 2024
Very disturbing but good book to read if you are a human
January 3, 2014
OK I know its got great reviews this book but I just don't know where I stand with it. That's to say I don't know how I feel about it. It was nothing like I expected. I suppose I really didn't expect such a long in-depth look into his fathers life and the rest of his family. Logically this was needed to show the upbringing that led Omar into the situation he was in. I think the problem I have is that its such a thorough look into the life of his father yet not so much of Omar himself. All I read was how lovely Omar was, the peacekeeper, the good boy etc I really liked him as a child. However he seemed to leap from this good boy into what?? A good boy in a horrible situation? Was he really making bombs? Surely he knew these would kill people? If so then he wasn't really such a good boy after all. I went from liking his sister to hating her (the mother the same). Perhaps I wanted something more clear cut. You know, either hes good or hes bad? Truth be told his brother (the black sheep) stood up against his fathers beliefs so perhaps He was the 'good boy' after all...
I am glad I read it and yes I do believe he should be freed. However once he is, what will he do next? If he really was guilty and has fundamental ideas then do we have to be worried about him? On the other hand if he wasn't guilty could his torture/long imprisonment have changed him enough to make him into someone we should fear?
I would love to think he would be freed and make the most of his freedom/life. With his father out of the picture he has that chance. Yet I dread to think what ideas his mother would put in his head..
Guilty or not, he was a boy in a war situation. He deserves his freedom.
I am glad I read it and yes I do believe he should be freed. However once he is, what will he do next? If he really was guilty and has fundamental ideas then do we have to be worried about him? On the other hand if he wasn't guilty could his torture/long imprisonment have changed him enough to make him into someone we should fear?
I would love to think he would be freed and make the most of his freedom/life. With his father out of the picture he has that chance. Yet I dread to think what ideas his mother would put in his head..
Guilty or not, he was a boy in a war situation. He deserves his freedom.
March 19, 2016
Finished reading this book some time ago.
Mitchelle Sheppard's Guantanamo's Child is a powerful read you don't want to miss. In her crisp, poignant narrative she has displayed her journalistic craftsmanship in giving us a story of an individual caught in the upheavals of modern-day politics - wars central to the 9/11, 2001 attack. Innocent as a child and allegedly guilty by design ( or so it seems ) Omar Khadr's life at Guantanamo gives us food for thought in understanding our complex Charters of Rights and Freedoms.
Mitchelle Sheppard's Guantanamo's Child is a powerful read you don't want to miss. In her crisp, poignant narrative she has displayed her journalistic craftsmanship in giving us a story of an individual caught in the upheavals of modern-day politics - wars central to the 9/11, 2001 attack. Innocent as a child and allegedly guilty by design ( or so it seems ) Omar Khadr's life at Guantanamo gives us food for thought in understanding our complex Charters of Rights and Freedoms.
May 27, 2010
Glad I read it! It's an important story and a controversial one...definitely one that all Canadians should know more about and this book certainly provides a lot of context and details that don't make the news...a fairly quick read too...
April 6, 2017
A tale about justice and injustice. And in between, a 15-year-old child soldier. Kudos to Michelle Shephard for following this case for more than a decade and letting us know via her powerful writing what's been going on since 9/11. The documentary -with the same title- is also extraordinary.
July 13, 2022
Easy read. Seemed fairly balanced and tried to represent the Khadr family accurately.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews