CNN reports that a plea deal may be in the works for Omar Khadr, the Canadian child soldier who has been in Gitmo since 2002. And apparently the talks are at the ministerial level.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is reaching out to Canadian officials this week as part of a U.S. effort to resolve the case of Guantanamo detainee Omar Khadr, according to two sources.
One source close to the negotiations said, "Khadr will have to decide" whether to sign onto a tentative deal negotiated by prosecution and defense lawyers. That arrangement calls for Khadr to be sentenced to eight years--- one year to be served in U.S. custody and seven years to be served in Canadian custody.
Hillary reportedly discussed the situation with her Canadian counterpart, Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon, last night. Diplomatic notes are supposedly due to be exchanged tomorrow.
It's going to be very disappointing if Khadr has to serve any jail time at all. Under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, child soldiers are considered victims that need to be rehabilitated, not war criminals who need to be punished. To put it mildly, Canada fell down on its obligations.