About the northern border

[Topaz]

After watching the US news and the US Senators talked about the northern border and how easy it is to walk across from Canada to the US. First, the 9/11 terrorists DID NOT come from Canada, they came from Florida, just ask the CIA!!! Secondly, the Senators also said that terrorists were coming across the border at FT Erie to Buffalo. Well, if this is so, have they told their government about this so they can be arrested???? Yes, Canada/US is fairly easy yop walk across but how easy shouldn't have been broadcast on TV!! I knew parts were easy but after seeing the US filming how easy, I have to wonder if they aren't asking for someone to entry their country. I've heard different reports saying that Canada has 93 terrorist cells and I heard Canada has 50 cells etc. IF the US is so scared of terrorist coming across, then put up your fences, your cameras, your spy planes but Canada will remain a free country and you can pay for your own security.

[bush_cheney2004]

... IF the US is so scared of terrorist coming across, then put up your fences, your cameras, your spy planes but Canada will remain a free country and you can pay for your own security.

We already do pay for our own security....just ask the Millennium Bomber who came a visiting from Canada way.

Maher Arar didn't like US security (or the RCMP) one bit, and now you get to pay him $10 million!

[Shakeyhands]

We already do pay for our own security....just ask the Millennium Bomber who came a visiting from Canada way.

Maher Arar didn't like US security (or the RCMP) one bit, and now you get to pay him $10 million!

stupidest post you've ever made BC. The normal process caught the Millennium Bomber, apparently you have never crossed a border.

[bush_cheney2004]

stupidest post you've ever made BC. The normal process caught the Millennium Bomber, apparently you have never crossed a border.

Zing! One of my better posts it would seem. Diana Dean....America salutes you!

[Shakeyhands]

Yup... a plain old Customs guard. good for her.

[bush_cheney2004]

Yup... a plain old Customs guard. good for her.

Nope.....she was a Border Control Agent and federal police officer.....hardly plain or old at all. Need the best to catch those wiley border crashing Canadians with bombs in the trunk.

[jdobbin]

I have to wonder if they aren't asking for someone to entry their country. I've heard different reports saying that Canada has 93 terrorist cells and I heard Canada has 50 cells etc. IF the US is so scared of terrorist coming across, then put up your fences, your cameras, your spy planes but Canada will remain a free country and you can pay for your own security.

The report the U.S. Senators were quoting also mentioned that the U.S. had more terrorists cells operating within the U.S. than Canada. They didn't mention that fact when the cameras were rolling.

[Fortunata]

The Americans should spend a few zillion and fence the whole border. I for one, am getting pretty damn tired of their constant whining. It seems they jump on the blame bandwagon without a second (or rational) thought. Fence it, patrol it with the same amount of people per kilometer as their southern border. Then when terrorists come in through Florida they can't handily blame us.

[margrace]

When Elected American officials think they need some more press time then the mantra is Blame Canada. Its time they used some plain old honest truths. Maybe they aren't making enough on their shares in Private Health and Drug companies.

[bush_cheney2004]

When Elected American officials think they need some more press time then the mantra is Blame Canada. Its time they used some plain old honest truths. Maybe they aren't making enough on their shares in Private Health and Drug companies.

Oh, you mean like Canada does because Americans subsidize the R&D costs for health and pharma? And hell, the Grits and NDP used the blame "mantra" often come election time.

[Guest American Woman]

After watching the US news and the US Senators talked about the northern border and how easy it is to walk across from Canada to the US. First, the 9/11 terrorists DID NOT come from Canada, they came from Florida, just ask the CIA!!! Secondly, the Senators also said that terrorists were coming across the border at FT Erie to Buffalo. Well, if this is so, have they told their government about this so they can be arrested???? Yes, Canada/US is fairly easy yop walk across but how easy shouldn't have been broadcast on TV!! I knew parts were easy but after seeing the US filming how easy, I have to wonder if they aren't asking for someone to entry their country. I've heard different reports saying that Canada has 93 terrorist cells and I heard Canada has 50 cells etc. IF the US is so scared of terrorist coming across, then put up your fences, your cameras, your spy planes but Canada will remain a free country and you can pay for your own security.

I'm not sure what you watched, but in searching for a print version, this is what I found:

"With the exception of the U.S., there are more international terrorist organizations active in Canada than anywhere else in the world," Senator Ken Salazar, a Colorado Democrat, said after hearing how government investigators clandestinely carried red bags into the United States from Canada.

So the Senator was acknowledging that the U.S. has more active terrorist organizations than Canada.

On at least three occasions in widely separately locations, agents from the U.S. Government Accountability Office walked from Canada into the United States in broad daylight carrying heavy bags.

That would be an obvious problem with America's security, since they were able to walk into the U.S. with no problem. I don't see how that's blaming Canada.

[senator] Salazar said there's been far too much focus on the border with Mexico and not enough on the Canadian line, calling it "a huge disparity." He noted there are only 1,000 border patrol agents in the north compared with nearly 12,000 at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Again, that's an obvious problem with American security.

Do you have a souce/link that shows the Senators blaming Canada for our security problems?

[margrace]

I find this whole subject hard to understand. When there are a reported 3 Million illegal Mexican immigrants in the US and they are needed to sustain the economy in some states, what are we talking about here.

This border item is only a reason to keep people's minds on something other than the increasing deaths of soldiers in an illlegal war. As is the attacks on Mettel toys from China. As reported by Christopher Brauchli in "The Pot, the Kettle and US food exports of Toxic Almond and Bad Beef"

Quote; It was beef and almonds. The whole time we were fussing about the Chinese Gov't failure to impose strick standards of production and Mattel was recalling Toys because of Lead paint and other manufacturing deficiencies, ( some of which Mattel now acknowleges were design flaws) the Commission of Eurp ean Communities was quietly taking action against the United States because of Almond and the South Koreans were banning some US cows

New of what is really going on is very selective and getting people rilled up about the border makes good headlines I guess.

[geoffrey]

Mexicans aren't a new problem, they weren't invented as a distraction from Iraq.

Just keep in mind, we aren't even at 10% of the total casulaties from Vietnam. Iraq is, in brutal honesty, no big deal. Even the monetary cost is a pitance compared to Vietnam. And guess what, there were Mexican issues before and after Vietnam too.

U.S. Service deaths in Iraq = 3,831.

U.S. Service deaths in Vietnam = 58,209.

About 80,000 civilians have died in Iraq (mostly due to insurgent attacks, al Qaeda can stop killing Iraqi's whenever they want). Well over 1.1 million died in Vietnam.

The parallels aren't even close margrace. The US doesn't need a distraction. They've fought much bigger and more violent wars in the past.

[bush_cheney2004]

I find this whole subject hard to understand. When there are a reported 3 Million illegal Mexican immigrants in the US and they are needed to sustain the economy in some states, what are we talking about here.

Who knows, but it is always fun to read about Canadian illegal immigrants (or even terrorists) in the US as well as the northern border deserving different treatment than "Mexicans".

[Alexandra]

When Elected American officials think they need some more press time then the mantra is Blame Canada. Its time they used some plain old honest truths. Maybe they aren't making enough on their shares in Private Health and Drug companies.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/ed...46-a4a2fa74f9aa

.

Maybe the American officials do use some plain old honest truths:

Things are far different in the United States, where many such prosecutions are under way. And several of the defendants are Canadian, including Khalid Awan, who was sentenced to 14 years by a New York judge for helping fund a Sikh separatist organization. Also in New York, four Canadians alleged to have provided assistance to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka are set to go to trial next spring.

Clearly, the U.S. is doing our dirty work. That's not for the lack of information on our part, since we obviously have plenty of intelligence suggesting many cases of financial aid going to terrorists

......

[snip]

and,

This leads us to ask, Who's minding the store? Is anyone in charge here, and if so, why is nothing being done to proceed with prosecutions? Some people have suggested that the failure to act is because some in the political establishment don't think terrorism is a problem here.

Yet in 1985, Canada became the subject of what was then the worst act of airline terrorism in history -- the Air India bombing. This could happen again, and even in it doesn't, Canada needs to accept responsibility for terrorist-financing that could result in the deaths of many innocent people in other countries.

[snip]

Some in the 'political establishment' and all of those 'champagne socialists', Naomi Kleins, et al., consistently preach ad infinitum Canada has no terrorists and the only fear Canadians have of terrorism is from the American covert plans to steal all of Canada's resources.

Right, Margrace?

`

[Wilber]

With 4000 miles of border, much of it mountains and bush, the truly committed will get across it no matter what either country does. They could put 30,000 on the border but bad guys would still get through. Effective co-ordinated intelligence on both sides of the border is the route to security, not fences. That's like sucking your thumb. Makes you feel good but that's all.

[jennie]

With 4000 miles of border, much of it mountains and bush, the truly committed will get across it no matter what either country does. They could put 30,000 on the border but bad guys would still get through. Effective co-ordinated intelligence on both sides of the border is the route to security, not fences. That's like sucking your thumb. Makes you feel good but that's all.

Thank you wilber.

I knew it didn't make sense, and you said it well.

[Rue]

After watching the US news and the US Senators talked about the northern border and how easy it is to walk across from Canada to the US. First, the 9/11 terrorists DID NOT come from Canada, they came from Florida, just ask the CIA!!! Secondly, the Senators also said that terrorists were coming across the border at FT Erie to Buffalo. Well, if this is so, have they told their government about this so they can be arrested???? Yes, Canada/US is fairly easy yop walk across but how easy shouldn't have been broadcast on TV!! I knew parts were easy but after seeing the US filming how easy, I have to wonder if they aren't asking for someone to entry their country. I've heard different reports saying that Canada has 93 terrorist cells and I heard Canada has 50 cells etc. IF the US is so scared of terrorist coming across, then put up your fences, your cameras, your spy planes but Canada will remain a free country and you can pay for your own security.

Get serious.

A nation has a moral responsibility to protect its citizens. Just as Americans have a nasty tendency to try tell us how to handle our country and we don't appreciate it, don't try speak ob behalf of Canadians and do the same in reverse its equally as preumptious.

More to the point of course any idiot could get into the US from Canada and it must be a concern we share with them. That's what friends do. You take your friend's concerns for their safety seriously and if you are contributing to their legitimate concerns of security threats, you deal with them together in a cohesive and unified manner.

Security is not a one way thing by the way.

Unfortunately people like you take your freedom for granted and just assume it is without giving any thought to ther security that must be put into place to keep it that way for you.

Here is the point. When faced with a rude US Customs officer at the airport and some naive smug twit standing behind me telling me as we wait in line that its unfair he has to open his bag-I at least know one annoyance is for my own good.

Edited October 3, 2007 by Rue

[Wilber]

Thank you wilber.

I knew it didn't make sense, and you said it well.

It's a knee jerk reaction but it is not the answer. Working together is what will make both countries more secure.

[bush_cheney2004]

It's a knee jerk reaction but it is not the answer. Working together is what will make both countries more secure.

It probably looks that way from your vantage point, but the purpose and audience is altogether different. "Securing the Borders" has become a huge political problem and issue for election exploitation, made much more acute after 9/11. The USA has always had xenophobes like Pat Buchanan and L. Dobbs, but now this is a mainstream battleground for cheap labor, security, and state budgets. Appearances are far more important than reality in this case.

[Agaric]

Get serious.

A nation has a moral responsibility to protect its citizens. Just as Americans have a nasty tendency to try tell us how to handle our country and we don't appreciate it, don't try speak ob behalf of Canadians and do the same in reverse its equally as preumptious.

More to the point of course any idiot could get into the US from Canada and it must be a concern we share with them. That's what friends do. You take your friend's concerns for their safety seriously and if you are contributing to their legitimate concerns of security threats, you deal with them together in a cohesive and unified manner.

Security is not a one way thing by the way.

Unfortunately people like you take your freedom for granted and just assume it is without giving any thought to ther security that must be put into place to keep it that way for you.

Here is the point. When faced with a rude US Customs officer at the airport and some naive smug twit standing behind me telling me as we wait in line that its unfair he has to open his bag-I at least know one annoyance is for my own good.

The u.s. was attacked because of its bullying in other countries, what does that have to do with Canada?

Sorry but if someone runs around punching other ppl and they get slugged what does that have to do with the neighbour?

Let me illustrate what I am saying ...

The u.s. government is the schoolyard bully, the american people are the parent, so when the schoolyard bully goes around hitting other kids and finally one kid punchs back and gives a black eye the parents say "but our child is so kind and innocent, he would never hurt a fly, that vicious, evil child that hit ours, ill teach them a lesson!" so theres Canada, the next door neighbour, watching whats going on when the parent of the bully comes over and says "we need your help, we are a community! bullying is an issue you should help stop!" ...

If anything we dropped the ball by not pressuring the u.s. to be a better international citizen, we don't denounce the u.s. enough! and thats allowed them to harm many ppl and thats pushed some ppl to harm them back, no side is right but one side CLEARLY started the aggression and it wasent the terrorists ...

[M.Dancer]

The u.s. was attacked because of its bullying in other countries, what does that have to do with Canada?

Sorry but if someone runs around punching other ppl and they get slugged what does that have to do with the neighbour?

Wonderful.....they deserved it then did they?

[Agaric]

Wonderful.....they deserved it then did they?

It was a horrible thing that happened but it happened for a reason ...

They didnt attack because they hate ur freedom *L*

[M.Dancer]

It was a horrible thing that happened but it happened for a reason ...

They didnt attack because they hate ur freedom *L*

they fear that the culture of the west would infect Holy Saudia Arabia with these revolutionary concepts......

they attacked because they hate freedom in general....especially jewish freedom, women's freedom and the freedom to think on your own.....

you should really exercise the last....and that doesn't mean parroting some bumper sticker you saw .....

[Agaric]

they fear that the culture of the west would infect Holy Saudia Arabia with these revolutionary concepts......

they attacked because they hate freedom in general....especially jewish freedom, women's freedom and the freedom to think on your own.....

you should really exercise the last....and that doesn't mean parroting some bumper sticker you saw .....

No, they dont like womens freedom etc but they didnt attack because of it, they attacked because of american meddling in middle east affairs, supplying weapons and training to different groups, oil deals, etc, they see jewish and american involvement in the middle east as the reason they are held back as a society, now thats not true, the truth lays somewhere in between, american meddling IS what caused the attacks, to americans its just business, they dont have ethical boundaries when it comes to making money, lie, steal, cheat, as long as they get the money its ok, meanwhile arabs see it as america wanting to take over the middle east, they see it as a religious war also, both sides are full of ridiculous ideas and because both their populations are so poorly informed they both see the other as ultimate evil, the fact is if the u.s. was fair in its dealings then it wouldnt have such a rotten reputation ...