Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - January 13, 2009, Winnipeg, Manitoba C m y k Page a8 a 8 Winnipeg free press tuesday january 13, 2009 world Winnipeg repress. Com w Ashington a prominent Canadian senator urged Barack Obama to Send Omar Khadr Home from Guantanamo Bay on monday As aides to the u. S. President elect sent their strongest signal yet they intend to waste Little time closing Down the controversial american prison. Senator Romeo Dallaire was in the u. S. Capital to argue that Khadr who has been held at the u. S. Facility at Guantanamo since 2002, was a child Soldier whose detention is an affront to both International Law and human rights. Weave got a Canadian citizen who at the age of 15 was shot up and involved in a conflict As a child Soldier and has been sitting in an american jail Dallaire told a d. C. News conference on monday just two weeks before a Hadrys trial is scheduled to begin. Before the Day was out however aides to Obama speaking on condition of anonymity said the u. S. President elect would order the prison closed As Early As his first Day in office although it would take significantly longer for the facility to close Down. The advisers said the executive order would direct the new administration to look at each of the roughly 250 Guantanamo detainees to see whether they can be released or if they should still be held and if so where. That would Likely see Canada come under pressure from the new u. S. Administration to take Khadr Back said Navy it. Cmdr. William Kuebler the military lawyer who represents Khadr in the u. S. It is theoretically possible to try him in a court of Law in the United states. I cant imagine a prosecutor who looked at this evidence wanting to do that. So i really think it does put the pressure on Canada to step up now and be part of the solution Kuebler said. Dallaire the retired general who oversaw the Unis peacekeeping missions during the rwandan genocide said his hand has been forced by the inaction of the conservative government regarding Canadas Only Guantanamo Detainee. The reason ism Down Here is because ive gotten nowhere with the Canadian government said a visibly annoyed Dallaire. He suggested that prime minister Stephen harpers refusal to get involved in the Khadr Case has been a statesmanlike. Dallaire said he tried to convince u. S. Congress in August that Khadr should be returned to Canada. But his attempt to convince Harper to press the americans to Send Khadr Home has been to no Avail. The Canadian press Washington by turns Wistful aggressive and joking at the final news conference of his presidency president George w. Bush vigorously defended his record monday but also offered an extraordinary listing of his mistakes. After starting what he called the ultimate exit interview with a lengthy and personalized thank you to the reporters in the room who have covered him during the eight years of his presidency Bush showed anger at times when presented with some of the main criticisms of his time in office. I think its a Good Strong record he said. You know presidents can try to avoid hard decisions and therefore avoid controversy. Thatus just not my nature. He particularly became indignant when asked about americans bruised image overseas. I disagree with this assessment that you know that people View America in a dim Light he said. It May be damaged amongst some of the elite but people still understand America stands for Freedom. Bush said he realizes that some issues such As the prison for suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay Cuba have created controversy at Home and around the world. But he defended his actions after the sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks including approving Tough interrogation methods for suspected terrorists and information gathering efforts at Home in the name of protecting the country. With the Iraq War in its sixth year he most aggressively defended his decisions on that Issue which will define his presidency like no other. There have been More than 4,000 american deaths since the invasion and toppling of Saddam Hussein in 2003. Hundreds of thousands of iraqis have also died. But it was in that area that he also acknowledged mistakes. He said that not finding weapons of mass destruction was a significant disappointment. The accusation that Saddam had and was pursuing weapons of mass destruction was Bushes main justification for going to War. He also cited the abuses found to have been committed by members of the u. S. Military at the Abu Gharib prison in Iraq As a huge disappointment. I dont know if you want to Call those mistakes or not but they were things did not go according to plan lets put it that Way. And he admitted another miscalculation eager to report Quick Progress after u. S. Troops ousted a Addams government he declared less than two months after the War started that in the Battle of Iraq the United states and our allies have prevailed a claim made under a Mission accomplished Banner that turned out to be wildly optimistic. Clearly putting Mission accomplished on an aircraft Carrier was a mistake. It sent the wrong message. He also defended his decision in 2007 to Send an additional 30,000 american troops to Iraq. The question is in the Long run will this democracy survive and thatus going to be a question for future presidents he said. The associated press Bush looks backward admits a few mistakes i think its a Good Strong record president George w. Bush defending his presidency in his final press conference monday outgoing president assesses his War in Iraq by Jennifer Loven parting thoughts Bushes parting gift. To president elect Barack Obama Bush agreed to ask Congress to release the remaining $ 350 billion in financial sector Rescue funds. The request would give Obama not Only the Opportunity to get Access to the Money but also to change its goals and conditions. What Bush thinks is the most urgent threat facing the incoming president an attack on the United states. Bush chose that risk Over the economic crisis. I wish that i could report thatus not the Case but theress still an enemy out there that would like to inflict damage on America. Bush showed he a snot lost his sense of Humour when thanking the reporters monday for their work he poked fun at himself recalling one of his most famous word mix ups sometimes you mis underestimated me. Bushes Post presidency plans dont. I include the Beach i just cant envision myself you know the big Straw hat and a hawaiian shirt sitting on some Beach. Particularly since i quit drinking. Bushes final Farewell the White House said monday Bush will deliver a televised Farewell address to the nation thursday night. Photos by Ron Edmonds / the associated press u. S. President George w. Bush reflects on his term in office at news conference monday. Send Khadr Back to Canada Dallaire Obama aides boost Guantanamo pledge by Lee Anne Goodman Omar Khadr Romeo Dallaire Barack Obama l r a _ 08_ Jan 13 09. Ind a8 1 / 12/ 09 7 46 48 pm ;