« On The Incredible Barbaric Murder Of U.S. Soldiers - 'Where's The Outrage'? | Main | Islamic Jihadists Butcher Russian Hostages »

June 25, 2006

Cat fight over immigration - Canada and USA

The claws are out and the 'hissing' has started between Canada and the US on each countries immigration policies, and how they may be aiding terrorists. Canadian authorities are struggling to convince U.S. officials and lawmakers that Canadian immigration and asylum policies are not establishing a breeding ground for terrorists.

While South Florida was home base for several of the 9/11 hijackers, defence lawyers are expected to emphasize the fact the men had not obtained materiel to enable them to carry out any attack. A similar argument is being made on behalf of the 17 in Canada, but authorities say they must act before suspects get their hands on weapons or explosives to ensure that no attack is possible.

An FBI spokesman said the investigation holds no links to Canada.

Still, beyond praise from U.S. administration officials for Canada's own counter-terrorism bust, there have been some startling reactions south of the border.

New York congressman Peter King has said Canada has a "disproportionate" number of al-Qaeda terrorists, while Indiana's John Hostettler said Canada's in denial about its terrorism problem.

They didn't respond to interview requests yesterday.

Canadian security analyst David Harris also raised eyebrows when he told U.S. legislators at a hearing this month Canada should shut its doors to all immigrants until it fixes safety risks.

Asked about the latest U.S. terror case, Mr. Harris said it reinforces the need for stricter border control.

"This reflects an endemic problem throughout the western world and points out all the more reason why we need to secure our border," he said from Ottawa.

Ambassador Michael Wilson is planning a series of briefings on Capitol Hill to inform legislators about Canada's security offensive. source

After the early June arrests of 17 Canadian Muslims on charges of planning to bomb landmarks, take politicians hostage and behead the prime minister, Canadians are taking a second look at multicultural policies. Both countries agree that the 4,000-mile U.S.-Canadian border security needs improvement. Canada says "its immigration laws are no less stringent than America's".

Canada has portrayed itself not as an American-style "melting pot" but as a "mosaic" in which immigrants could maintain their cultural characteristics. The Toronto area, home to almost half of Canada's immigrants and many of the suspects in the southern Ontario terrorist plot, is sprinkled with ethnic neighborhoods in which Italian, Portuguese or Hindi is spoken and street signs are written in Chinese characters or Greek letters. ...

Rabbinical courts are permitted to rule on matters of religious jurisdiction in Jewish communities, and Canadian Muslims tried unsuccessfully two years ago to establish similar Shariah courts to settle some family and civil issues. ...

Prime Minister Stephen Harper argued at the opening of a United Nations World Urban Forum in Vancouver on Monday that Canada's diversity was its greatest defense against terrorism.

Terrorists "hate open, diverse and democratic societies like ours because they want the exact opposite -- a society that is closed, homogenous and dogmatic. But their vision will be rejected," he said. source

If this bickering back and forth between Canada and the US results in better border patrols then I say let the cat fight begin.

Cross Posted at Right Truth

Posted by Debbie at June 25, 2006 9:38 AM