Insanity at the Canadian border.

[Gabriel]

The story at CBC.

The short version of this story is that we have a man named Khaled Nawaya coming from the USA (not a citizen of the USA) into Canada not declaring that in his possession he had nearly $1 million worth of gold Canadian minted coins. He lied and said he had about $10K on his person. Additionally, he had a scarf that depicted an American and Israeli leader as monkeys, had 9/11 conspiracy DVDs and a ring featuring the insignia of Hizbollah. The best part of this story? He was released on bail.

I watched an interview with his lawyer on CBC this evening, where the explanation for his massive amount of gold was a fear he had that American banks would collapse and that he wouldn't be able to recover his money in such an event. Apparently he successfully sued a school he was attending in the USA (something regarding flight training/aerodynamics) for wronging him in some way, illustrating that he is playing the system. His visa in the USA (I think it was a student visa) has since expired. The lawyers basically pleased ignorance across the board.

This man needs to be be arrested, thoroughly investigated, and most likely deported. What is wrong with this country?

Look for more stories about the guy from other sources, as this CBC article is very thin and weak (as usual).

[DogOnPorch]

Par for this ol' course of ours. Soon he'll sue us...maybe he'll take US liberty silver half-dollars as payment.

[Argus]

This man needs to be be arrested, thoroughly investigated, and most likely deported. What is wrong with this country?

Actually, I believe him. He's been in the US for the last few years acting as a flight instructor at a flying school. If he was going to blow things up or train people to fly into buildings that was his opportunity. I also don't find it hard to believe he'd be suspicious of US banks, or that he would lie about how much money was taking across the border. Where he comes from, telling people at the border you had a million bucks in your car would be a quick way to lose your money and your life. As for him hating Israel and the US - that's par for the course among Muslim immigrants.

I don't think we ought to be bringing in people like this as immigrants, but I doubt he's got any terrorist aspirations.

Edited November 13, 2009 by Argus

[Gabriel]

Actually, I believe him. He's been in the US for the last few years acting as a flight instructor at a flying school. If he was going to blow things up or train people to fly into buildings that was his opportunity. I also don't find it hard to believe he'd be suspicious of US banks, or that he would lie about how much money was taking across the border. Where he comes from, telling people at the border you had a million bucks in your car would be a quick way to lose your money and your life. As for him hating Israel and the US - that's par for the course among Muslim immigrants.

I don't think we ought to be bringing in people like this as immigrants, but I doubt he's got any terrorist aspirations.

It's not worth the risk! Get him out of here.

[Smallc]

So what should we do with him then? Should we ignore our own laws and our own Constitution just because you or I may thing he's a bad man (I haven't decided yet)?

[lictor616]

The story at CBC.

The short version of this story is that we have a man named Khaled Nawaya coming from the USA (not a citizen of the USA) into Canada not declaring that in his possession he had nearly $1 million worth of gold Canadian minted coins. He lied and said he had about $10K on his person. Additionally, he had a scarf that depicted an American and Israeli leader as monkeys, had 9/11 conspiracy DVDs and a ring featuring the insignia of Hizbollah. The best part of this story? He was released on bail.

I watched an interview with his lawyer on CBC this evening, where the explanation for his massive amount of gold was a fear he had that American banks would collapse and that he wouldn't be able to recover his money in such an event. Apparently he successfully sued a school he was attending in the USA (something regarding flight training/aerodynamics) for wronging him in some way, illustrating that he is playing the system. His visa in the USA (I think it was a student visa) has since expired. The lawyers basically pleased ignorance across the board.

This man needs to be be arrested, thoroughly investigated, and most likely deported. What is wrong with this country?

Look for more stories about the guy from other sources, as this CBC article is very thin and weak (as usual).

ahahahahhahh!!!! ohg god...

I can almost see the hapless well-to-do liberal customs agent saying: "don't forget your C4 sir here it is, enjoy your trip to canada!"

to which Khaled Nawaya would have replied: "burn in hell you filthy infidel kuffar dog, Insha'Allah!"

the agent then would have a glowing sense of self righteousness for his deed:

"look at how tolerant we are! how wonderful!"

[PocketRocket]

Based on this......

Nawaya, who was born in Saudi Arabia and holds Syrian citizenship, said most of the money came from a lawsuit he won in the United States, where he had lived since 1993.

....my tendency would be towards NOT believing him. Living in the USA for 17 years, he's certainly absorbed enough about their law, and probably ours, to know that carrying nearly a million in gold across a border is going to cause questions to be asked.

Something smells fishy, especially in light of the fact that...

Nawaya declined to comment on the politically related items the CBSA found or his decision to mislead border guards about the money.

According to that CBC piece, he says.......

.....says he's the victim of profiling.

Maybe his acts were a deliberate attempt to provoke "profiling"-type behaviour to set himself up to be able to win another big lawsuit, this time at the expense of Canadian taxpayers.

Luckily......

Nawaya's Canadian lawyer admitted Nawaya's behaviour at the border did not serve him well. "He raised their alarm bells, needlessly," Phil Rankin said.

.....and in so doing may convince him that any such lawsuit is likely going to go against him.

Don't know if this guy is terrorist material or not, but he's definitely playing some sort of game.

[GostHacked]

Pocketrocket

If he is claiming to be from Saudi Arabia, then you definately want to keep an eye out for him. Or deport his ass back to Saudi Arabia. No citizenship, no papers, no documents. GTFO.

This guy is a terrorist hands down.

[PocketRocket]

GostHacked: I agree that keeping a close eye on this guy is a good idea. Still cannot say for certain he's a terrorist, though. Could just be some wise guy playing the "profiling" game for personal gain through lawsuits. But seeing as he broke some fairly serious laws in his border-crossing, there may well be adequate grounds to deport him, which would solve the problems that could arise as a result of either scenario.

[M.Dancer]

Not sure what is more likely, terrorist financier or money launderer.

[Army Guy]

All in favour , say I, there you go ladies and gentlemen Canadian democracy in action the I's have it, bring in the shipping crate, lets see food, water, phoney passports, , case of gold coins, and one bag of lies.....all right seal it up....and put it on that boat there.... Somolia...it's a muslim country right....peaceful religion....he'll be OK... NEXT...

[Smallc]

We have to follow our own laws. We can change the laws, but we have to follow them. Justices also have to follow precedence. We can't do things just because we feel a certain way.

[Oleg Bach]

The story at CBC.

The short version of this story is that we have a man named Khaled Nawaya coming from the USA (not a citizen of the USA) into Canada not declaring that in his possession he had nearly $1 million worth of gold Canadian minted coins. He lied and said he had about $10K on his person. Additionally, he had a scarf that depicted an American and Israeli leader as monkeys, had 9/11 conspiracy DVDs and a ring featuring the insignia of Hizbollah. The best part of this story? He was released on bail.

I watched an interview with his lawyer on CBC this evening, where the explanation for his massive amount of gold was a fear he had that American banks would collapse and that he wouldn't be able to recover his money in such an event. Apparently he successfully sued a school he was attending in the USA (something regarding flight training/aerodynamics) for wronging him in some way, illustrating that he is playing the system. His visa in the USA (I think it was a student visa) has since expired. The lawyers basically pleased ignorance across the board.

This man needs to be be arrested, thoroughly investigated, and most likely deported. What is wrong with this country?

Look for more stories about the guy from other sources, as this CBC article is very thin and weak (as usual).

I believe you. Our courts suck up to the Americans. Personally while at the court of appeal I witnessed an American who was being extradited.. He had some dirt on Cheney and he was terrified for his life - Our Judges smuggly like lackey henchmen delived him to the Americans. Don't believe for a second that our judial system is not based on money and power and maintaining and elitist status quo...It's all about big buisness - If a decision enhances the power and authority of big buisness- than that decision will always be made on behalf of big buisness - whether it is moral or not - Our courts are controled by bankers...the banker lawyer types appoint the judges and the judges do what they are told. To release those that could destablize society back onto society is a tacit policy that has been in place for a while - the powers that be approve of and want a destablized society - it's easier to control.

[GostHacked]

GostHacked: I agree that keeping a close eye on this guy is a good idea. Still cannot say for certain he's a terrorist, though. Could just be some wise guy playing the "profiling" game for personal gain through lawsuits. But seeing as he broke some fairly serious laws in his border-crossing, there may well be adequate grounds to deport him, which would solve the problems that could arise as a result of either scenario.

Exactly, we don't even need to go to the terror laws to deport this guy. Turn him away at the border, red flag him and see if he makes another attempt to cross the border. Is he claiming refugee status or asylum at all? If not, then deport his ass.

[Oleg Bach]

Exactly, we don't even need to go to the terror laws to deport this guy. Turn him away at the border, red flag him and see if he makes another attempt to cross the border. Is he claiming refugee status or asylum at all? If not, then deport his ass.

IF America used it's resourses wisely they would have used ALL of their forces to seal off the boarders..and investigated internally on a massive level. Instead they went running off like cowboys on some sort of adventure that has cost billions and thousands of lives.

[noahbody]

Confiscate the gold he tried to smuggle across and put it towards the cost of prosecution.

[Oleg Bach]

Confiscate the gold he tried to smuggle across and put it towards the cost of prosecution.

That's exactly the way the system already works. Check out the average male in the family court ststem. They use HIS tax dollars to screw him..kind of like prosecuting him with his own money - May as well put this all ready existing rule of thumb across the board.

[Gabriel]

I must say I'm really glad to see so many folks in here of the right opinion on this issue. I'm again having this feeling that I've found a small island of sanity on the internet - the vast majority of forums I've frequented are filled with VILE and REPREHENSIBLE people who hate America and Canada and Western values, and who support terrorists and our enemies. Cheers to this forum - God Bless Canada!

I'm also glad that nobody's labelling this as some sort of inappropriate profiling. This man should be booted out of the country regardless of his ethnicity. Failing to declare nearly a million dollars? Being a supporter of terrorists and our enemies? Being a snake that abuses our free system/society and sues people to get rich? We don't want you here!

Unfortunately, we've got some stupid judges who can't see reality.

[Smallc]

Unfortunately, we've got some stupid judges who can't see reality.

Also, they have to deal with this thing called the law. It's ind of important in a free and democratic society that we follow it any apply it equally. It's also important under our system (and so many others) that we follow precedence in the matter.

Regardless, they may have let him go, but you can bet that CSIS won't be too far away from him most of the time.

[Gabriel]

So what should we do with him then? Should we ignore our own laws and our own Constitution just because you or I may thing he's a bad man (I haven't decided yet)?

What are you even talking about? The judge had complete discretion to deny bail based on the circumstances! The judge clearly made an irresponsible choice by allowing this man to go free. You don't gamble with national security. If what this man did and had on him DOESN'T justify detention until a thorough investigation has been done, what does? What does a man like this have to do or have on his person to justify, in your opinion, a denial of bail? Perhaps if he had a firearm on him you'd also support a judge releasing him on bail. Don't be ridiculous. Turn your brain on, this man should NOT be walking around freely. And to top it off, he's blaming these events on unjust racial/ethnic profiling!!!

[Smallc]

What are you even talking about? The judge had complete discretion to deny bail based on the circumstances!

We can't just sit here and say, yep, he's a terrorist....lock him up. Obviously the evidence of him being a direct and immediate threat didn't satisfy the judge to the extent where precedent could be ignored and bail revoked.

[Gabriel]

Also, they have to deal with this thing called the law. It's ind of important in a free and democratic society that we follow it any apply it equally. It's also important under our system (and so many others) that we follow precedence in the matter.

Regardless, they may have let him go, but you can bet that CSIS won't be too far away from him most of the time.

Keep on rambling about the law... it has nothing to do with the law. It's judge's discretion. There's no precedent for a man crossing the border (with citizenship from a semi-hostile country), lying about nearly a million dollars on his person, while having on his person paraphernalia from a terrorist organization and political disparaging scarf denigrating our allies (which is often in line with anti-Western pro-terrorist ideology), as well as 9/11 conspiracy theory DVDs/tapes. This is a unique case. The judge could have (and SHOULD have) denied him bail. Yet you insist on babbling about the law as if you know what you're talking about.

[Smallc]

Turn your brain on, this man should NOT be walking around freely.

I don't agree with you, so obviously I'm not thinking. Typical right wing black and white thinking. I think this man is very suspect, but I'm not about to say I know more about the case and the circumstances than the presiding judge.

And I really don't care what he's blaming. He committed a crime and he will go to court as a result. He will be watched as the authorities feel is necessary.

I don't know all the circumstances and neither do you. Perhaps you shouldn't rush to judgment so fast. What ever happened to innocence until proof of guilt.

[Smallc]

Yet you insist on babbling about the law as if you know what you're talking about.

And you do know? You know all of the precedent? You know what the 'right' decision was? You have an opinion based on incomplete circumstantial evidence, one which the judge obviously doesn't agree with.

Edited November 13, 2009 by Smallc

[Gabriel]

We can't just sit here and say, yep, he's a terrorist....lock him up. Obviously the evidence of him being a direct and immediate threat didn't satisfy the judge to the extent where precedent could be ignored and bail revoked.

And obviously the judge made the wrong decision and gambled with Canadian national security. Again, nothing to do with the law (which you rambled on about nonsensically for a few posts), and everything to do with a judge who doesn't grasp the CLEAR realities of the threats we're facing from fundamentalist/extremist Islamic terrorism. This case also has nothing to do with precedent - it's an entirely unique case. You can be sure security officers (law enforcement, NCIS, etc) are CRINGING at the absurdity of this decision.