Suetaz

U.S. Propagandizing Canada Again
London Free Press | 2004-02-16 04:19:04

Generous freedoms and weak policing are blamed in a U.S. congressional report.

JIM BRONSKILL, CP

OTTAWA -- Canada has been branded a "favored destination for terrorists and international criminals" by the research arm of the U.S. Congress. Generous constitutional freedoms, weak law enforcement and lightly patrolled borders have made the country an inviting place for dangerous extremists to set up shop, says a new report by the Library of Congress in Washington.

"Canada has played a significant role as a base for both transnational criminal activity and terrorist activity," the report says.

The report, titled Nations Hospitable to Organized Crime and Terrorism, was completed in October by the congressional library's federal research division under an arrangement with the Central Intelligence, Crime and Narcotics Center.

The centre, staffed by members of various U.S. intelligence agencies, analyses information about illicit drug trafficking.

The authors drew on government studies, police and intelligence reports, media stories, academic articles and "personal communications with regional experts."

The report notes the recent co-operation between Canadian and U.S. officials in fighting terrorism. It also acknowledges Canadian steps to toughen anti-terrorism and immigration laws, but casts doubt on whether they go far enough, saying Canada's "liberal democratic identity" may limit adoption of sterner measures.

The Canadian government has expended great efforts to try to dispel a nagging image of the country -- particularly in the eyes of some hawkish Americans -- as a terrorist haven.

The congressional library report could undermine that effort since the document is intended for politicians, aides, lawyers, and other movers and shakers on Capitol Hill.

Representatives of the Canadian government and public- interest groups quickly took issue with the report.

"While we may have areas that we must continue to work on, every country has areas that it must work on in the fight against terrorism," said Alex Swann, a spokesperson for Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan.

"The issues that we have to deal with are pretty common ones globally."

Janet Dench of the Canadian Council for Refugees questioned the quality of the report's research, calling it one-sided and "laughably amateurish."

...more pressure from the U.S. for Canada to do as the U.S. says...
Their bashing of our "liberal democratic identity" is what sets Canada apart from the U.S. Perhaps it's time for Canada to return the favor and bash the U.S. for their 'oppressive republican identity'.

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FitShaced

and thats a bad thing?

solutions

__________________
3 monkeys sitting under a coconut tree
discussing things as they are set to be
Said one to the other, now listen you two
there's a strange rumor that can't be true
they say man was descended from our noble race
but the very idea is a big disgrace
no monkey ever deserted his wife
or her baby to ruin their lives.
Damian Marley - Educated Fools

Suetaz

I quite agree solutions! I used to have a lot of respect for the US. After reading the truth about the US government, I still have respect for US citizens, but zero respect for the government. Actually, I have less respect for all forms of government, but the US takes the cake at being the worst government in the world with King George in power.