'Al-Qaeda sees Canada as a legitimate target'

[scribblet]

No kidding Sherlock - is it just a matter of time and are we prepared?

'Al-Qaeda sees Canada as a legitimate target'

AFGHAN MISSION CITED

Stewart Bell, National Post

Published: Saturday, June 30, 2007

Canada has become a legitimate target for terrorists, thanks to its part in the NATO military mission in Afghanistan, says a declassified intelligence report.

The Intelligence Assessment, marked Secret but released under the Access to Information Act, says al-Qaeda and its supporters continue to name Canada in their threats.

"AQ [al-Qaeda] sees Canada as a legitimate target whose profile is heightened, in part because of its participation in the conflict in Afghanistan," the report says. cont....

[ScottSA]

This logic is often used by the left to argue for withdrawal, and it astounds me. The fact that an enemy may like you less because you attack him is hardly news, and to avoid a confrontation on those grounds is to outdo even the great French tradition of an unbroken string of abject routs from 1066 to date.

[geoffrey]

Good thing we're in Afghanistan then, eliminating a source of funding and political support for those that want to kill us.

[jbg]

This logic is often used by the left to argue for withdrawal, and it astounds me. The fact that an enemy may like you less because you attack him is hardly news, and to avoid a confrontation on those grounds is to outdo even the great French tradition of an unbroken string of abject routs from 1066 to date.

The West overall will be the entities "routed" with this mentality.

[cybercoma]

This logic is often used by the left to argue for withdrawal, and it astounds me.

It's especially astounding in the case of Spain. They used that excuse to withdraw from the war in Iraq, yet that didn't seem to help the spanish tourists in Yemen this week at all.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6262302.stm

Seven Spanish tourists and at least two Yemenis died in the blast at the Queen of Sheba temple in Marib.

[Riverwind]

It's especially astounding in the case of Spain. They used that excuse to withdraw from the war in Iraq, yet that didn't seem to help the spanish tourists in Yemen this week at all.

How many terrorist attacks have occurred in Spain since the withdrawal from Iraq?

Terrorism against the west is directly connected to the foreign policy. It is silly to deny that connection. The 'home grown' terrorists in the UK would not exist today if the UK had stayed out Iraq.

The world would have been a much safer place today if Bush had stayed out of Iraq. There still would have been some whining about western involvement in Afghanistan but Afghanistan on its own would not have been enough to trigger the attacks that we have seen recently. It was the invasion of Iraq that created this mess.

[bush_cheney2004]

The world would have been a much safer place today if Bush had stayed out of Iraq. There still would have been some whining about western involvement in Afghanistan but Afghanistan on its own would not have been enough to trigger the attacks that we have seen recently. It was the invasion of Iraq that created this mess.

Oh great...I'm sure this makes the families of dead and injured Canadian Forces feel much better....they are only dying because of "some whining". Iraq has been attacked and "invaded" since 1991.

[madmax]

No kidding Sherlock - is it just a matter of time and are we prepared?

'Al-Qaeda sees Canada as a legitimate target'

AFGHAN MISSION CITED

Stewart Bell, National Post

Published: Saturday, June 30, 2007

Canada has become a legitimate target for terrorists, thanks to its part in the NATO military mission in Afghanistan, says a declassified intelligence report.

The Intelligence Assessment, marked Secret but released under the Access to Information Act, says al-Qaeda and its supporters continue to name Canada in their threats.

"AQ [al-Qaeda] sees Canada as a legitimate target whose profile is heightened, in part because of its participation in the conflict in Afghanistan," the report says. cont....

Declassified Intelligence? This is quite a story. I believe you can get the original dictated by OBL and Ayman clearly stating that Canada's participation in Afghanistan will make us a target for Al Qaeda. How a target can be"Legitimate" when being executed by those trying to create terrorism doesn't make any sense. Since this targeting of Canada was common knowledge back in 2001 I have to wonder how this is breaking news.

[madmax]

This logic is often used by the left to argue for withdrawal, and it astounds me. The fact that an enemy may like you less because you attack him is hardly news, and to avoid a confrontation on those grounds is to outdo even the great French tradition of an unbroken string of abject routs from 1066 to date.

Your comments have no bearing on the posting or the title put forth by scribblet. There is nothing common between the Norman Victory over the English in 1066 and the current confrontation in Afghanistan.

[madmax]

This logic is often used by the left to argue for withdrawal, and it astounds me.

It's especially astounding in the case of Spain. They used that excuse to withdraw from the war in Iraq, yet that didn't seem to help the spanish tourists in Yemen this week at all.

The Yemen government is battling Al Qaeda terrorists in Yemen, not Iraq.

[cybercoma]

How many terrorist attacks have occurred in Spain since the withdrawal from Iraq?

How many terrorist attacks have occurred IN the United States since they invaded Iraq?

[cybercoma]

The Yemen government is battling Al Qaeda terrorists in Yemen, not Iraq.

What's your point?

The Spanish Government withdrew from Iraq to protect its citizens from al-Qaeda. Seven of its citizens were murdered by al-Qaeda in Yemen.

I guess the Spanish Government's attempt at protecting its citizens from terrorists by pandering to them has failed.

[jbg]

Terrorism against the west is directly connected to the foreign policy. It is silly to deny that connection. The 'home grown' terrorists in the UK would not exist today if the UK had stayed out Iraq.

The world would have been a much safer place today if Bush had stayed out of Iraq. There still would have been some whining about western involvement in Afghanistan but Afghanistan on its own would not have been enough to trigger the attacks that we have seen recently. It was the invasion of Iraq that created this mess.

This Letter to the Editor of the New York Times, written October 29, 1969 (link) (since it is a letter to the editor there is no copyright issue) long predates US involvement in Iraq. This letter shows that for some time, brutality towards groups no one cares about has been tolerated "with hardly a ripple," and that warfare has been a more or less constant staple of the Arabs:

Jihad and Pan-Arabism

It is time that the public be informed of the nature of Pan-Arabism. Unfortnately, when we discuss the Arab problem we see it only in the context of the Middle East. However, there is more than Israel involved in an expansionist policy by the Arabn nations united under the slogan of "jihad."

We are all cognizant of th epressures being exerted by the Arab states against the only real democracy in the area, Israel. But what about the war of genocide being waged by the Arabs of Northern Sudan against the black tribes of the south or, if you wil, the chilfren of Islam from the Northern frontier of Nigeria systematically annihilating the black Ibos from the Eastern frontier? Or perhas Arabs waging guerilla warfare against the black Government of Chad?

It is the real tragedy that after the holocaust in Europe under the master murdered, Hitler, and the resultant cry of shame when the public was told the truth, that the civilzed world can now watch genocide being committed with hardly a ripple. Perhaps the fact that the victims could be Jews and blacks makes it easier for Christian civilization to swallow. After all, Jews and blacks have had centuries of experience in being murdered.

Seymour K. Cummins

New York, New York

October 29, 1969

[madmax]

The Yemen government is battling Al Qaeda terrorists in Yemen, not Iraq.

What's your point?

That you are spinning.

[geoffrey]

al-Qaeda likely doesn't base it's attacks on a country foreign policy of the day. It's Jihad against the West, not a particular nation. The way their organization seems setup discourages a top down attack approach. It seems like they've been assisting local groups in select attacks. There is no reason to believe that withdrawl from Afghanistan would immediately quell the radicialism of certain Muslim elements in Canada.

In fact, I'd say the elimination of money and technical expertise through our mission in Afghanistan is far more productive. The US keeping things busy in Iraq drains resources to be used elsewhere as well.

[ScottSA]

Terrorism against the west is directly connected to the foreign policy. It is silly to deny that connection. The 'home grown' terrorists in the UK would not exist today if the UK had stayed out Iraq.

What utter tripe. Not only is it as foolishly untrue as arguing that 911 wouldn't have happened if not for Iraq, but exactly what is your point...that we ought to stay out of all foriegn engagements because the enemy might shoot back? WTF is wrong with people who think this is a viable argument?

[Riverwind]

What utter tripe. Not only is it as foolishly untrue

Untrue? There is overwhelming evidence that Iraq has radicalized Muslims everywhere. Even the US government admits that. If there was no Iraq there would have been no attacks in London or Madrid. Claiming that they would have happened anyways is complete foolishness.

9/11 was an attack orchestrated by a relatively small group of people who wanted to trigger a revolution in Saudi Arabia. They attacked the US because they think the House of Saud is a puppet of the US. Immediately after 9/11 there was wide spread sympathy for the US - even in the Muslim world:

Iranian President Mohammad Khatami issued a condemnation of "the terrorist attacks" and expressed "deep sorrow and sympathy" for the victims.[ii]

Think about it: the Iranian president said that on Oct 12, 2001!

The invasion of Iraq pissed away all that good will and created the nightmare we have today.

[bush_cheney2004]

The invasion of Iraq pissed away all that good will and created the nightmare we have today.

Nonsense..the invasion of Iraq that created "the nightmare" started in 1991. Numerous attacks against US interests preceded both 9/11 and the second invasion of Iraq. Iraq was also attacked numerous times between 1991 and 2003.

"Good will" is a Canadian wet dream.

[Riverwind]

Nonsense..the invasion of Iraq that created "the nightmare" started in 1991.

The Iraq War in 1991 was supported by many Muslim nations. After the war was over the US maintained a military presence in Saudi Arabia which was the trigger for the attacks up to and including 9/11. The UK and Spain were not threatened at all by these groups before Iraq.

Many Muslims condemned the 9/11 attack and accepted the need to go into Afghanistan. All Muslims were opposed to second Iraq War. The facts are obvious to anyone who is willing to look at them.

[gc1765]

I agree with Riverwind.

[bush_cheney2004]

Many Muslims condemned the 9/11 attack and accepted the need to go into Afghanistan. All Muslims were opposed to second Iraq War. The facts are obvious to anyone who is willing to look at them.

Oh really...ALL Muslims? Do you really believe such a sweeping example of ignorance?

Do you know that the invasion was staged from several nations where Islam is the predominant religion, including Kuwait (85%)? Many Kurds are Muslim....DUH!

The Kurdish population welcomed the American troops in 2003 by holding celebrations and dancing in the streets

[Riverwind]

Do you know that the invasion was staged from several nations where Islam is the predominat religion, including Kuwait (85%)?

Yes - and their leaders found themselves with a very irate population because of that.

I guess you could exclude a small number of Muslims like Chalibi. However, the overwhelming majority of Muslims opposed the War.

[bush_cheney2004]

Yes - and their leaders found themselves with a very irate population because of that.

I guess you could exclude a small number of Muslims like Chalibi. However, the overwhelming majority of Muslims opposed the War.

..as he back-pedals very quickly from ALL MUSLIMS? What an absurd assertion to make.

[Riverwind]

..as he back-pedals very quickly from ALL MUSLIMS? What an absurd assertion to make.

Does not change the fact that Iraq has radicalized Muslims around the world and made us all a lot less safe.

[bush_cheney2004]

..as he back-pedals very quickly from ALL MUSLIMS? What an absurd assertion to make.

Does not change the fact that Iraq has radicalized Muslims around the world and made us all a lot less safe.

No, it makes YOU a lot less safe if you want to live in fear. That's your choice. Better watch out for those "radicalized" Haitians and Afghanis too. LOL!