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.

Comments

[Debbie]

Well thanks Butch, I'm flattered. I appreciate the offer. If you need me to help you out sometime, I would be glad to do so. I post some at Hyscience, Freedom's Zone (Richard has been very welcoming). I also have post some at a few other sites when I can find the time, for Rosemary (DOD Daily News, Love America First, Knickerbocker News, Causes of Interest).

But Right Truth is my baby, ha.

In the Bullpen is where I started. Chad graciously offered to let me start posting there and I didn't scare anybody off... so he let me keep posting. He is my mentor. So anything good I do, I give him credit for getting me started.

Let me know if you need me and I will do my best.

[Butch]

Debbie,

Any time you want to cross-post feel free...

[Debbie]

That's a very kind offer, shlemazl. We are working out our schedule now. I will keep your offer in mind, but I think we have everything pretty well organized. But you never know ...

[shlemazl]

Have fun. Let me know if you need any help/a place to stay. You can contact me by e-mail.

[Debbie]

shlemazl, I have heard horror stories like the ones you share from others. I don't know what the answer is. Perhaps the border guards are 'a-holes' as you say.

I'm headed up that direction for some 'undercover invesstigations' in the next few weeks. I plan to go through the Toronto area where the recent terror subjects were arrested. I plan to cross the border in several different places to see how I am treated.

I will be in several different states, and traveling also through Canada. So I will have some first hand experiences to share with readers when I get back.

Check back with me. I will be also be reporting as I go. I'll have my trusty laptop with me at all times. ha

[shlemazl]

As a British citizen, living in Canada, I've had a few encounters with US border guards.

When I travel by car, they always take me to a side building for a "chat" before letting me enter the US. Canadians are just waved through without delay.

Once in the building, I have to wait for 30-40 minutes before a lazy, but friendly border guard finally gets to question me on where I am going. In the mean time 2-3 of his colleagues play computer games.

For the pleasure, I get charged $7.

My brother in law, who is a director of a well-known British Bank, got held up in Toronto airport and missed his flight on his way to New York. He was asked where he was staying. He answered: "Waldorf-Astoria". This did not satisfy the US guard. She wanted him to supply a precise address, which he did not have. Apparently she apologized once he missed his flight and told him that she acted under instructions "to be difficult" on that night.
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Don't you think something is wrong with this system?

Note that I support US efforts to check documents and improve security at the border, but your border guards are a-holes.

[Butch]

I concur: Let the 'Cat fight' begin...

[Always On Watch]

Canada's open-borders policy will reap horrific rewards. And such rewards need not be a spectacular attack. Islamification can easily be propagated from within, once the demographics allow for "peaceful" change.