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This also holds true for Canada. The beating death of a Somali teenager by Canadian troops (and subsequent failed cover-up) in 1993 resulted in an inquiry, the disbanding of the Canadian Airborne Regiment and a stain on a mission that was put in place to help Somali citizens in the first place.

The immediate, polarizing effect of the news that the Canadian government is apparently reaching a settlement with former Guantanamo detainee Omar Khadr should also serve as a reminder of this general rule.

To be clear, the actions of Canadian officials in the Khadr case are not those of the Canadian Armed Forces personnel in 1993. But the Supreme Court of Canada recognized, twice, that our federal government was failing in its duty to uphold Khadr’s rights. Further, government documents on the affair indicate that Canadian officials were aware that Khadr was being tortured, but seem to have done little to prevent it.

It is unsurprising that many Canadians do not like seeing Khadr receive a payout; his actions led to the killing of a medic, Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Speer, who left behind a grieving widow. But these Canadians should then also be furious at the governments whose actions allowed Khadr to be put in this position in the first place.

Put plainly, the Trudeau government did not decide to award a settlement. Instead, the actions of three Canadian governments guaranteed there would be financial compensation. The Supreme Court found that the actions of both Liberal and Conservative governments failed to uphold the minimum basic rights guaranteed for all Canadian citizens, even the ones we may disagree with the most.