According to this story, the Harper government threw a spanner into an FBI investigation by arresting a couple of alleged terror suspects last Monday.
As you will recall, that is the sensational case that not only claims to have uncovered the first al-Qaeda plot in North America since 9/11, it also ties Iran to al-Qaeda!
That's big news indeed!
I'm certainly not the only observer who found the timing of Monday's arrests cuter than cute. The Vancouver Sun, leaning heavily on an article in The Wall Street Journal, is making essentially the same claim today that was made here a few days ago.
But the Sun ups the ante exponentially. The Harperites weren't just manipulating Canadian police with the timing of these arrests and the ensuing press conference. They were effectively scuttling an FBI investigation into the US contacts of the two guys they arrested, even after the FBI asked them to hold off.
I guess that's one way for Harper to prove he's more than a US bumboy.
Showing posts with label RCMP uncover terror plot on VIA train. Show all posts
Showing posts with label RCMP uncover terror plot on VIA train. Show all posts
Friday, April 26, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
The brazen fear-mongering of Canada's Conservative government
Last Friday the Harper government added to Monday's parliamentary agenda debate over Bill S-7, which has been stuck in the bureaucratic maze for months. Bill S-7 promises a few goodies that are dear to the hearts of Harper's law-and-order fanatics. More police powers, fewer rights for citizens.
On Monday, while the parliamentary debate was underway and hours after they had scheduled a news conference, the RCMP arrested two terror suspects who had been under surveillance for at least a year and by the RCMP's own admission were not an immediate threat.
Such serendipitous timing cannot be mere coincidence.
Such craven manipulation of the public, the parliamentary process, the media, and the police is unprecedented in modern Canada.
At their afternoon press conference the RCMP shocked the nation with the news that no less a terror hegemon than al-Qaeda itself was behind this plot to attack a passenger train. And not just any old al-Qaeda; al-Qaeda in Iran!
The greatest state sponsor of terror in the world, according to our friends in Israel. A nation so far beyond the pale of civilized discourse that our own John Baird slapped them with the closure of our embassy six months ago, a move that baffled the professional diplomatic corps in Canada and beyond
In Canada, the Tory publicity stunt had the desired effect; acres of hysterical hand-wringing across the news horizon.
In media outlets around the world there was a tone of skepticism. Experts everywhere puzzled over this Iranian al-Qaeda which was ostensibly directing terror operations in Canada. A previously unknown branch of al-Qaeda choosing a target that has been absolutely terror-free since 9/11.
Unknown for the simple reason that the Sunni al-Qaeda has always been an enemy of Shiite Iran and vise versa.
But for Harper, Baird, Toews, MacKay and the rest of the paranoid hate-mongers in the Conservative cabinet, it was mission accomplished.
Not only had they brought terror front and centre in a country that doesn't have any; they managed to implicate Iran!
And that's got to be a home run in the eyes of Ottawa's law and order crowd.
On Monday, while the parliamentary debate was underway and hours after they had scheduled a news conference, the RCMP arrested two terror suspects who had been under surveillance for at least a year and by the RCMP's own admission were not an immediate threat.
Such serendipitous timing cannot be mere coincidence.
Such craven manipulation of the public, the parliamentary process, the media, and the police is unprecedented in modern Canada.
At their afternoon press conference the RCMP shocked the nation with the news that no less a terror hegemon than al-Qaeda itself was behind this plot to attack a passenger train. And not just any old al-Qaeda; al-Qaeda in Iran!
The greatest state sponsor of terror in the world, according to our friends in Israel. A nation so far beyond the pale of civilized discourse that our own John Baird slapped them with the closure of our embassy six months ago, a move that baffled the professional diplomatic corps in Canada and beyond
In Canada, the Tory publicity stunt had the desired effect; acres of hysterical hand-wringing across the news horizon.
In media outlets around the world there was a tone of skepticism. Experts everywhere puzzled over this Iranian al-Qaeda which was ostensibly directing terror operations in Canada. A previously unknown branch of al-Qaeda choosing a target that has been absolutely terror-free since 9/11.
Unknown for the simple reason that the Sunni al-Qaeda has always been an enemy of Shiite Iran and vise versa.
But for Harper, Baird, Toews, MacKay and the rest of the paranoid hate-mongers in the Conservative cabinet, it was mission accomplished.
Not only had they brought terror front and centre in a country that doesn't have any; they managed to implicate Iran!
And that's got to be a home run in the eyes of Ottawa's law and order crowd.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Mounties bust major al-Qaeda conspiracy in Canada!
Have to say I tried to keep an open mind on this story.
Yes, maybe for the first time the RCMP and CSIS have uncovered a Canadian terror plot that didn't originate with the RCMP or CSIS.
Maybe we've got a REAL terror plot here, one that doesn't involve sketchy informants being paid millions of dollars to coax the "terrorists" along, as was the case with the Toronto 18.
Maybe this is the real deal?
Then I ran headlong into this; "the suspects were getting guidance and direction from al Qaeda elements in Iran."
Al-Qaeda elements in Iran? The only al-Qaeda elements in Iran are locked in secret prisons having their fingernails plucked with pliers.
Al-Qaeda is a Saudi franchise, not an Iranian one.
This doesn't pass the sniff test from a hundred miles.
It does however neatly fold into the Harper gang's agenda of demonizing Iran.
Yes, maybe for the first time the RCMP and CSIS have uncovered a Canadian terror plot that didn't originate with the RCMP or CSIS.
Maybe we've got a REAL terror plot here, one that doesn't involve sketchy informants being paid millions of dollars to coax the "terrorists" along, as was the case with the Toronto 18.
Maybe this is the real deal?
Then I ran headlong into this; "the suspects were getting guidance and direction from al Qaeda elements in Iran."
Al-Qaeda elements in Iran? The only al-Qaeda elements in Iran are locked in secret prisons having their fingernails plucked with pliers.
Al-Qaeda is a Saudi franchise, not an Iranian one.
This doesn't pass the sniff test from a hundred miles.
It does however neatly fold into the Harper gang's agenda of demonizing Iran.
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