generalspeaking

There's Genuine Risk

"As long as there's a genuine risk, we should take the measures necessary to protect members [of the military] and their families. But at the same time, we need to make sure this is based on a genuine risk and we don't use this as a means to shut down contact between the Canadian Forces and the general public."
Royal Military College of Canada professor Christian Leuprecht

"Rest assured that the safety and well-being of Canadian Armed Forces personnel is this government's primary concern. [Defence officials constantly assess potential threats, reviewing security measures] to protect our men and women in uniform."
"At the same time, we always encourage our members to remain vigilant."
"[The deliberate attack] underscores the threats that remain at home and abroad."
Defence Minister Rob Nicholson

"The Canadian Armed Forces recognizes the continuously evolving security environment and the importance of minimizing any risks associated with all personnel being deployed on current operations."
CAF spokesman Daniel Le Bouthillier

"This event [deliberate targeting of Warrant Officer Vincent] does raise awareness in that they do need to be cautious about things. But with every increase in security, we need to figure out how much liberty, freedom and accountability we're giving up."
Stephen Saideman, defence expert, Carleton University

With the deliberate running-down with a vehicle of two Canadian Forces members on Monday in Quebec, Canadian Forces were informed to "remain vigilant". A 53-year-old, Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and a companion were struck, Officer Vincent fatally, in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu by 25-year-old radicalized Muslim convert Martin Rouleau Couture who was himself mortally shot by police as he led them on a high-speed chase away from the mall where the officer was shot.

In the wake of that deliberate targeting of a member of the Canadian Armed Forces, and in recognition of Islamic State propagandists inciting through social media that those sympathetic to their incendiary, violent cause strike out at all countries that have engaged themselves in fighting the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, security experts had much to say about Canada's response to the newly-recognized threat of homegrown jihadist attacks.

Defence Minister Rob Nicholson speaking from a military base in Alberta where six CF-18s were departing from to make common cause with the U.S.-led bombing campaign against Islamic State in Iraq, made note of stepped-up security measures in the wake of senior ISIS leaders urging their members and sympathizers of the glory to be had in attacking Canadian military members to retaliate for Canada's incendiary decision to battle ISIS.

Dr. Leuprecht, a senior fellow at Queen's University also mused on "the changing nature of warfare and conflict in the 21st Century", due to a proliferation of communications technology enabled by the Internet. He spoke as well of his distrust of the efficacy of measures such as limits on when military personnel should wear their uniforms and the upgrade of security at military bases as well as at events such as Remembrance Day ceremonies as being instrumental in preventing the micro-terrorist attack.

Two days later it would be interesting to hear whether or how or why they might alter their thoughts on Canadian security measures within the country to help fend off any planned 'revenge' attacks by Islamist jihadists. The allusion by Dr. Leuprecht made to Remembrance Day ceremonies came to the reality of the horror of a member of the Armed Services being gunned down at that very site where in three weeks' time Remembrance Day ceremonies will take place.

Up to the present time, there have been quite a few plots that Canadians of Muslim descent have been involved in planning, all of them apprehended, foiling their plans. They have faced trial and have been found guilty of their plots, from members of the Toronto 18 to Momin Khawaja, To Chiheb Esseghaier and Raed Jaser, on to Hiva Mohammad Alizadeh and Misbahuddin Ahmed.

The only Islamist jihadis who successfully carried out their atrocities in the expectation that they would be performing the exalted work of Islam in perpetrating Sharia-demanding jihad meriting them a place in Paradise and renown everafter in the annals of Islamofascism's book of heroic martyrs, have so far been 'radicalized' loners, Canadian-born converts to Islam. Isn't that touched with irony?

On Wednesday, Canada's disbelief that jihad would be brought home was changed when yet another 'lone-wolf' enterprisingly took the Islamic State incitements to violence under his belt and, toting a rifle, Islamic head scarf around his face, shot at point-blank range a reservist on ceremonial duty before the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the National Cenotaph, then went on to enter the Centre Block of the Parliament buildings in search of Parliamentarians to deliver his jihadi message to.

Labels: Armed Forces, Atrocities, Government of Canada, Islamists

posted by Pieface @ Friday, October 24, 2014