What constitutes a child soldier is clear and Khadr did not meet it according to the UN.  He pled guilty to terrorism, and having blood on his hands, and showed remorse to his victim's widow and her children.  One does not fake an apology of this magnitude, no matter the fateful outcome, as it reflects being a liar trying to avoid being hurt. Being contemptible.

 Omar had grit facing an Alamo situation.  He was part of al qaeda, the group that caused 9-11 and brief financial uphaeval- his father being in the thick of it, a family committed, within the circle of bin laden.  No getting around him building, and planting IEDs in the dark of night.  He nearly died in a hail of bullets, presumably not wanting to live.  Khadr was a prince, born, raised, trained, in the culture of al qaeda, an organization devoid of humanity.  He lived this nearly 16 years, 10 years imprisoned, about 3 years as a Canadian, and a few under guard.  This was not a poor child soldier.