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Tuesday » June 6 » 2006

White House relieved about Canada anti-terror arrests but critics cite threats

Beth Gorham
Canadian Press


Tuesday, June 06, 2006


WASHINGTON (CP) - The White House may be relieved about anti-terror arrests that may have thwarted major bomb attacks in Canada but American border patrol agents increased their checks of traffic crossing into the U.S. Monday.

And observers say the case will make American legislators think twice about delaying strict new identification measures for people entering the United States.

Asked about the reaction of U.S. officials to Canada's massive counterterrorism case, White House spokesman Tony Snow described it as "relief."

"Not only relief, but we congratulate Canadian authorities on intercepting such a plot . . .. U.S. and Canadian authorities have been pretty vigorous in working the intelligence on this."

Yet the bust last week of an alleged homegrown terrorist cell with a huge cache of fertilizer used to make bombs is raising more questions about whether good policing and co-ordinating information with Canada is enough to keep the Unites States safe.

U.S. Border Patrol Chief David Aguilar said patrol stations, especially those adjoining Ontario, are on high alert even though there were no apparent U.S. targets involved in the Canadian investigation that resulted in 17 arrests.

"There is definitely a ramp-up of operations specific to this past weekend," he said.

"Our efforts are (directed at) all threats along all borders of our nation."

The renewed emphasis on securing the northern border is coming at a critical time in Canada's push to postpone plans to require passports or special high-technology ID cards at land crossings.

"We're vulnerable at all our points of entry," said Frances Townsend, homeland security adviser to President George W. Bush.

New York Republican Peter King said on the weekend that Canada harbours a "disproportionate" number of al-Qaida terrorists because of "very liberal" immigration laws.

"I'm not sure I'd say it's a disproportionate number," Townsend told CNN. "It is a subject of real concern."

Snow refused to be drawn into the debate.

"I'm not going to get into characterizing al-Qaida penetration and alleged al-Qaida penetration in Canada," he said.

"This has become a hot political issue in Canada. But far be it for me to try to get involved in internal Canadian politics."

Asked about whether Canada poses a threat as a staging ground for terrorists, Townsend cited the current 1,000 U.S. patrol agents and $120 million US in advanced technology monitoring the northern border.

She also emphasized the border ID plan as a way of ensuring terrorists don't cross into the United States.

While the Senate voted last month to put off the plan for 17 months until June 1, 2009, it's still a long way from becoming law and the House of Representatives has yet to weigh in.

"There's not a chance in hell Canada's going to score another victory like that again in the short term and the Senate could revisit that decision," said conservative analyst Patrick Basham at the Democracy Institute.

Canada's huge counterterrorism operation "isn't as reassuring to Americans as many Canadians would assume. It's fodder for the tough on border security folks down here," Basham said.

Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman, who shares Canada's worries about the ID plan, was quick to release a statement calling for "a common sense approach to not strangling the economies of our border communities."

"Our vigilance against terrorism is required today and is not being put on hold," he said, but officials need time to test any new procedures to ensure they work and conduct an economic impact study.

Scotty Greenwood, executive director of the Canadian American Business Council, said Canada's anti-terror case underscores the need to implement the ID program properly to increase security and that's going to take longer.

But Michael Cutler at the Center for Immigration Studies in Washington said any delay would be a mistake.

"We're under pressure right now and we have to be careful for your sake and ours," said Cutler, a former longtime immigration agent.

"We really need to know who we're letting into this country. What responsible homeowner leaves their door open at night?

"It's not a slight against Canada. We're not saying we don't trust you. It'll be a pain in the butt for American citizens as well."

Business groups worried about trade shouldn't be making security decisions, he said.

Counterterrorism officials have long been worried about ad-hoc cells of homegrown extremists unleashing terrorist plots like the unspecified ones allegedly planned in Canada.

"The same thing can happen here," said Democratic Senator Joe Biden, who blasted recent counterterrorism funding cuts for Washington and New York, the two cities targeted in the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

"There's potential in every country around the world for terror cells, unknown terror cells to be present," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.

"We face it in the United States. You face it in Canada," he said.

While most of the U.S. security focus has been on the influx of illegal immigrants at the border with Mexico, where U.S. National Guard troops headed Monday to support border agents, there have been increasing calls among some for measures in the north.

House legislators, for instance, want to study the feasibility of building a security wall along parts of the Canada-U.S. border.

© The Canadian Press 2006








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