So... Terrorist do work in Canada

[Pikache]

http://www.nationalpost.com/home/story.html?id={0CD0FB97-29DE-4653-9FB7-E0BB272D79D8}

Hezbollah uses Canada as base: CSIS
Agency wiretaps show suspected operatives using laundered money to buy materiel

Stewart Bell
National Post

Thursday, October 31, 2002
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The terrorist group Hezbollah has been using Canada as an offshore base for raising money and purchasing supplies needed to carry out and videotape attacks against Israel, documents obtained by the National Post show.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service documents detail how Hezbollah has laundered tens of thousands of dollars through Canadian banks while drawing on the accounts to shop for military equipment.

Hezbollah agents shopped for blasting devices, night-vision goggles, powerful computers and camera equipment used to record attacks against Israeli forces, according to dozens of CSIS wiretaps obtained yesterday.

The Canadian operation was so successful that CSIS agents overheard suspected Hezbollah operatives in Vancouver in early 1999 congratulating each other in a monitored telephone conversation.

"Ali Adham Amhaz informed Mohamad Hassan Dbouk that he was watching the latest news on today‘s operation involving Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Amhaz congratulated Dbouk for Hezbollah‘s success in their improving ability which was making Israel retaliate for the attacks."

Even as they lived in Canada with their families as immigrants the Hezbollah operatives apparently remained disdainful of their new surroundings, denouncing "the Canadians and the Zionists" in a wiretapped conversation.

Hezbollah is a radical Shiite group formed in Lebanon in 1982 that is funded by Iran and Syria. It is responsible for kidnappings, hostage takings and bombings that killed hundreds of Americans in the early 1980s.

Although defended recently as a political movement by Jean Chrétien, the Prime Minister, and Bill Graham, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hezbollah has been running secret operations in Canada for more than a decade.

Mr. Chrétien declined to condemn Hezbollah after he attended an event at the francophone summit in Beirut two weeks ago that was also attended by the group‘s leader.

But Canadian police and intelligence reports show the group has been using Canada in recent years to buy materiel, forge travel documents, raise money and steal luxury vehicles.

CSIS reports dated April, 2002, show that in 1999 and 2000, Hezbollah sent detailed shopping lists to agents who were allegedly part of a network with operatives in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal who filled the orders and shipped the equipment back to Lebanon in courier packages.

Hundreds of thousands of dollars were moved through various Canadian banks such as the Bank of Nova Scotia to finance purchases for what the participants referred to as the "resistance" and the "brave people."

Canadian Hezbollah agents also discussed a scam they called a "miracle strike," which involved taking out life insurance on someone and then having them killed in a bombardment in Lebanon.

Two of the alleged Canadian agents, Lebanese immigrants identified as Mr. Dbouk and his brother-in-law Mr. Amhaz, shopped at a "military supply warehouse and looked at some military supplies and instruments in Vancouver." Mr. Dbouk inquired at one company about buying "any equipment used to blow up rocks."

The agents were cautious to protect the secrecy of their work, although apparently unaware their every phone call was being recorded by CSIS agents who were already on to their clandestine procurement operation.

"Amhaz expressed his concern about depositing large sums of money in the bank account and suggested that Dbouk give him smaller sums of money to avoid suspicion [by the banks]," CSIS wrote.

"Dbouk advised Amhaz that he would give instructions that the money be transferred to Ali Bassal in Montreal, after which time Dbouk would fly/travel to Montreal to get the cash and return to B.C."

Mr. Dbouk fled Canada and returned to Lebanon but Mr. Amhaz still resides in Burnaby, B.C. The U.S. sought to have him extradited to stand trial but dropped the case without explanation. Mr. Amhaz has denied any involvement with Hezbollah.

The extent of Hezbollah operations in Canada first came to light in the 1990s when an agent named Mohammed Hussein al-Husseini was arrested for deportation. He told CSIS about a vast cross-Canada network.

He also confessed that agents had spied on Canadians and sent information about Canadian life and infrastructure back to Lebanon "in case there‘s a problem with Canada."

In two cases, alleged Hezbollah agents wanted for terrorist activities overseas were found hiding out in Edmonton and Ottawa.

One of them has been charged with taking part in a 1993 bombing attack in Saudi Arabia that killed 19 Americans.

"Hezbollah has members in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto -- all of Canada," Mr. Al-Husseini, a member of Hezbollah‘s security organization, told CSIS before he was deported in 1994.

"Hezbollah wants to collect information on Canada, on life in Canada, its roads and so on, in case there‘s a problem with Canada." He was reportedly referring to videotapes of Canadian landmarks sent to Hezbollah.

The RCMP has also linked auto theft rings in Ontario and Quebec to Hezbollah, saying that a portion of the criminal proceeds were funnelled to the group, and that luxury SUVs stolen in Canada were being driven by high-ranking Hezbollah leaders in Lebanon.

The CSIS reports on Hezbollah‘s Canadian activities were made available recently to U.S. attorneys prosecuting accused operatives involved in a North Carolina cigarette smuggling ring.

***
Frankly I‘m not surprised, but still dismayed that the government haven‘t done anything about this.

 

[humint]

Dont‘ be surprised. There is a lot of organised crime linked to terrorism going on.

Moreover, there are examples of fundraising activities for good-will causes ‘back home‘ that directly or indirectly supports terrorism.

The problem is not that the gov doesn‘t know that these activities go on, but that they (these activities that truly support terrorism) are few and far between and that there simply isn‘t enough people in CSIS, and other related security agencies, to keep up on the problem (i.e. to do extensive background checks on people and all ‘humanitarian‘ activities).

For example, CSIS only has about 1600-1800 people in the agency, not that much if you think about it. And, these people are involved in all sorts of stuff including counter-terrorism (domestic and intl), counter-subversion, counter-espionage, security screening, target hardening and security infrastructure, intl organised crime, etc.

Now, it should be pointed out that the fed gov has recently started an agency called FINTRAK that will track financial records and it is hoped that it will be able to identify in-country support of terrorist groups based abroad.

 

[NMPeters]

I just pulled this off the Canadian Press (CP) Newswire:

OTTAWA -- The federal government won‘t ban the humanitarian arm of the militant Hezbollah organization.

Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham says it‘s not fair to target innocent aid workers.

Graham spoke amid reports that Israel is holding Fawzi Ayoub, a Canadian citizen accused of being a Hezbollah militant sent to Israel to organize Palestinian attacks.

Israel also claims Hezbollah has been using Canada as a base to raise money for such attacks.
Graham says just because the military arm of Hezbollah is banned under U-N regulations, the charitable wing of the group shouldn‘t be penalized.

Graham says Ottawa doesn‘t believe it‘s appropriate to label innocent people as terrorists.

But Canadian Alliance M-P Stockwell Day says Hezbollah is a terrorist organization whose stated mandate is the destruction of peace in the Middle East.

Canadian consular officials from Tel Aviv are expected to visit Ayoub tomorrow.
(CP)

 

[Harry]

Must be trade off for letting Israeli operatives function with Canadian passports.

In the eternal words of Homer Simpson, DUOHH :blotto:

When will Poppa Doc Crouton and his Shining Path Grits figure it out. Right about the time the stars and bars go up the poll on the hill.

P.S. I find it amazing that many an MP if asked the question has no idea of the connection between Air India (x2-Japan, Atlantic) and a major Canuck Airport. And we wonder why some sleezeball can get off on the Air Bus scam...

 

[unknown_caller]

I was at the CTV website and they had posted where American politcal commentator refered to Canada as "Soviet Canuckistan". He does have a point. I guess as long as the potential terrorists contribute Papa Doc Crouton adn his Liberal party then they get to stay in the country.

CTV News Staff

American talk show host and failed presidential candidate Pat Buchanan is making no apologies for attacking Canada over its objection to a U.S. law which Ottawa decried as racial profiling.

Speaking on his MSNBC talk show on Thursday, Buchanan called Canada a "Soviet Canuckistan" after a Canadian outcry blasted the U.S. government for forcing Canadian visitors of Middle Eastern descent to be fingerprinted and photographed.

The U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Paul Cellucci, later said Canadians would be exempted from the new law after Ottawa bitterly complained it violated human rights in both countries.

Buchanan said the U.S. has made great strides in beefing up security and defence since Sept. 11 to protect its borders, and equated Canadians to freeloaders.

"It‘s the blame-America-first crowd,‘‘ Buchanan said. "The Canadians . . . have been defended by the United States, they pay nothing for defence."

Ottawa‘s current military budget is 1.1 per cent of the size of the economy -- beating only tiny Luxembourg‘s 0.7 per cent but far below the 2.1 per cent NATO average and the 3.0 per cent in the United States.

Buchanan said Americans don‘t want to hear what he calls "carping criticism" from Canada and said Prime Minister Jean Chretien has done an appalling job of keeping up Canada‘s end of North American security.

"That place is a complete haven for international terrorists,‘‘ Buchanan said. "Even their own retired security guys say it‘s a complete haven. We . . . need lectures from some people, not from Soviet Canuckistan."

Reaction to Buchanan‘s comment was swift.
Maude Barlow, a spokesperson for the Council of Canadians, said the failed presidential candidate‘s statements were "disgraceful" and based on "ignorance."

"The Sept. 11 terrorists came from within the U.S. There‘s no evidence to support the statement that Canada is a haven," Barlow told the Canadian Press. "We don‘t have snipers running around with guns . . . that‘s not our culture."

The Prime Minister‘s Office had little to say on the matter Friday.

"Pat Buchanan‘s views are well-known and we certainly don‘t share them," said PMO spokesperson Jim Munson.
In responding to the criticism, Buchanan said Canada needs to grow up and be a "big boy" and realize the U.S. has as much right to criticize Canada as Canada does the U.S.

Earlier this week, Ottawa issued a rare travel advisory to its citizens heading to the U.S. It warned Canadians born in Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria and Sudan that the Americans had introduced new security measures on the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and should expect to be fingerprinted and photographed upon arrival.

Ottawa said Canadians should "consider carefully" if they really need to go to the U.S. for any reason. An ensuing backlash forced Washington to backdown, saying it will no longer subject Canadians to the tough new law.
It‘s not the first time that Buchanan has given Canada a tongue lashing.

In 1990, Buchanan wrote that if Canada shattered following the failure of the Meech Lake constitutional accord, "America would pick up the pieces."

Two years later, he said: "For most Americans, Canada is sort of like a case of latent arthritis. We really don‘t think about it, unless it acts up."

 

[Zoomie]

Whoah... What does harbouring terrorists have to do with the so-called "Airbus scandal"? A little FYI, there is no scandal, the PM had nothing to do with the choice of Airbus over Boeing.

 

[Harry]

Zoomie, quick to jump on the Airbus thingy, and exactly which scuzball was I making ref to.

All the Airbus scam proved is that a GOOD lawyer can make swiss cheese out of the most flagrant and obvious acts. Especially when the investigating agency through whatever machination left holes in their case large enough to do Cuban Eights in an Airbus. Look at their track record investigating decks...

My point is simple, the Gendarme seem to have a real problem with high level investigations. Air India is long past it‘s stale date and the Gendarme is still flogging Herbie‘s to no end. I have yet to see anything happen from a judicial stand point with the three indicted men whom the RCMP have identified. And then to think Graham feels that the money laundering, err, fund raising of the Hezbollah is for good ends, shake your head, Sir.

As for the Airbus, the scuzball I was making ref to was none other than Carl baby. He has his fingers in many pies and never seems to get burned.

 

[Zoomie]

Sorry Harry, I was quick to jump on that issue. Sorta has personal implications for me, I have family in Big Red. Your point is well brought up. We tend to spend alot of our investigative resources on issues that could just sit on the back-burner....

 

[Pikache]

http://www.nationalpost.com/home/story.html?id={735AA009-2CFF-4274-B40E-A8BCF1B0D7C1}

More criminals allowed into Canada
600 convicted of serious crimes get special permits

Tom Blackwell
National Post


Tuesday, November 05, 2002
ADVERTISEMENT


Growing numbers of criminals, suspected terrorists and war criminals were allowed into Canada last year on special permits issued by the federal government.

Among those admitted were more than 600 people convicted of a serious crime here or abroad and 11 people who authorities believe engaged in "terrorism, espionage or subversion by force."

All were granted permits by the Immigration Minister that let them enter Canada, despite having backgrounds that normally would keep them out.

A spokeswoman for Citizenship and Immigration Canada said each permit was thoroughly reviewed, issued on compassionate or national-interest grounds, and deemed not to be a security threat.

Many could have been Americans with distant criminal pasts on their way to Alaskan cruises, or veteran guerrillas invited to take part in international talks, said the official.

But one security expert said he fears at least some of the permits were granted to people who should be kept out of Canada at all costs, if only as a matter of principle.

"If we are supposed to be against war crimes, if we are supposed to be against the use of child soldiers ... then we should at least be sticking to principles by restricting travel to Canada by people who are involved in causes that do these things," said John Thompson of the Mackenzie Institute, a security think-tank.

"I haven‘t really heard of any major international peace conferences [in Canada] but I have heard of some insurgent groups staging their own propaganda lectures here, in their own community."

Mr. Thompson said he suspects permits are meted out in part to insurgent movements with whom the federal government has, or had, some sympathy, such as the Tamil Tigers and some Middle Eastern groups.

Sergio Karas, a veteran Toronto immigration lawyer, said the statistics raise serious questions, especially regarding the top officials of regimes guilty of war crimes and terrorism.

"What kind of social good could there be by allowing them to enter Canada?" he asked.

Susan Scarlett, of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, said there is nothing to fear from those who come in on the permits, noting most have been screened by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.

"The decision to issue a permit is only made ... after it has been determined that the health and the safety and the security of Canadians are not at risk," she said. "Every application is considered very carefully."

The permits are issued for limited periods to people who ordinarily would not be allowed into Canada on various grounds.

Figures just released by the department reveal that 606 people convicted of a serious crime here, or believed to have committed one abroad, got permits in 2001, up from 464 in 2000 and 377 in 1999.

The 11 suspected of having taken part in terrorism, espionage or forcible subversion represented an increase from two the year before and one in 1999.

One person whom authorities believe may still engage in terrorism or espionage got a minister‘s permit, down from nine in 2000.

Ten senior officials of governments that engaged in terrorism, human rights violations, war crimes or crimes against humanity received permits to enter Canada, up from two the year before and zero in 1999. Permits also went to two people suspected of having committed war crimes or crimes against humanity outside Canada.

The typical person allowed in with a criminal conviction served their sentence long ago, perhaps a touring rock star with a distant drug conviction, Ms. Scarlett said.

The criminal numbers might have increased last year because of ex-con Americans who got permits to travel to Vancouver and pick up one of the increasingly popular cruise ships headed for Alaska, she said. Others might be admitted to attend funerals or for some other compassionate reason, she added.

Those with terrorist or war-crimes backgrounds are typically given access to Canada to attend peace talks, take part in international conferences or sign treaties, Ms. Scarlett said.

The figures generally are miniscule, given that there are 200 million trips by people in and out of Canada every year, she said.

Privacy legislation prevents the government from releasing any details of the minister‘s permits, Ms. Scarlett said.

But Mr. Thompson said such details should be divulged, if only for the sake of immigrants who may have been victims of the war criminals or other permit holders in some other country.

SPECIAL PERMITS:

People issued special permits by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to enter Canada included:

Category of immigrant:

Persons who have been convicted in Canada of a serious offence or for whom there are reasonable grounds to believe they have been convicted of a serious offence outside Canada

2000: 464

2001: 606

Category of immigrant:

Persons for whom there are reasonable grounds to believe they may engage in terrorism, espionage or subversion by force

2000: 9

2001: 1

Category of immigrant:

Persons for whom there are reasonable grounds to believe they have engaged in terrorism, espionage or subversion by force

2000: 2

2001: 11

Category of immigrant:

Persons for whom there are reasonable grounds to believe they have committed war crimes or crimes against humanity

2000: 1

2001: 2

Category of immigrant:

Senior officials of a government that engaged in terrorism, human rights violations, war crimes or crimes against humanity

2000: 2

2001: 10

Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada, National Post

***
This is pretty messed.