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Canada Fears Al-Qaida Sleeper Cells

Intelligence Links Algerian In Custody To LAX Millenium Bomb Plotter

TORONTO -- An Algerian immigrant arrested in the Canadian capital of Ottawa has links to a senior member of the al-Qaida terrorist network, Canadian intelligence authorities allege.

Mohamed Harkat was awaiting orders to carry out a terrorist attack and his presence in Canada suggests other al-Qaida associates are in the country, the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service concluded in court documents released Monday.

Canadian authorities are considering whether to deport Harkat.

The intelligence service alleges that Harkat, who was arrested last week in Ottawa, trained in the same terrorist training camp as Ahmed Ressam, who was arrested in 1999 while attempting to cross into the United States with a carload of explosives destined for the Los Angeles airport. Ressam was found guilty of terrorism and other felony charges in April 2001.

"The willingness of Islamic terrorists to use Canada as a staging ground was demonstrated by Ressam," the agency said in its report.

Harkat, 34, also had contacts with Abu Zubaydah, who U.S. officials say recruited and controlled al-Qaida operatives around the world, according to the agency documents. Zubaydah is believed to be a top lieutenant in Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network. He was arrested last March in Pakistan.

"The willingness of Islamic terrorists to use Canada as a staging ground was demonstrated by Ressam," the report says.

The agency said Harkat arrived in Canada in 1995 from Malaysia and was granted refugee status in 1997 after he convinced federal officials he was carrying a fake Saudi Arabian passport for fear of persecution by the Algerian government.

Harkat's lawyer, Bruce Engel, has said his client is not guilty.

"He categorically and unequivocally denies any involvement, association -- direct or indirect -- with any terrorist organization," Engel said after visiting Harkat in detention.

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2002

Answers

December 18, 2002

Guess what, Canada? The Chretien Liberals finally admit al-Qaida is here

By BOB MACDONALD -- Toronto Sun

Well, what do you know? The Chretien Liberal government is finally admitting that Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida Muslim terrorist network has cells in Canada.

Hey, it only took 15 months for Prime Minister Jean Chretien's regime to do it. Yep, a year and three months after the terrorist attacks that murdered more than 3,000 innocent people, including 25 Canadians, on Sept. 11, 2001.

Following those horrific attacks by 19 Arab terrorists believed trained and directed by al-Qaida, a dithering Chretien kept declaring that there were no terrorists - especially al-Qaida cells - in Canada. He ignored his own CSIS intelligence agency that had reported previously that there were as many as 50 cells, including al-Qaida, in this country.

In fact, CSIS had reported that Ahmed Ressam, who had lived in Canada as an Algerian refugee claimant, had belonged to an al-Qaida cell in Montreal and had journeyed to Afghanistan for terrorist training at an al-Qaida base.

Ressam was only caught by the Americans in late 1999 when he tried to cross from Canada into the U.S. with a carload of explosives and fuses. His target was to blow up Los Angeles airport terminals and as many innocent people as possible.

After weeks of denials, Chretien finally emerged from a closed session with U.S. President George W. Bush at the White House to admit there were "perhaps cells" in Canada.

I've written about that sorry record of the Liberal regime and its hesitant, lame dealings with the terrorist threat many times. This included criticisms of the government's shameful, repeated cutting back of the budgets of both CSIS and our armed forces.

Foot dragging

But, from the start, Chretien dragged his feet in acknowledging the threat and taking action, or in giving strong support, as have Britain and Australia, to the U.S.-led efforts to defeat this huge terrorist threat.

It seemed the Liberals were more concerned with what they have always paid great attention to - the "immigrant vote" that they have long considered their key to holding power.

I recall criticizing the fact that on the same day that a memorial service was being held in Hamilton for one of the pilots of the hijacked Sept. 11 airliners, Chretien instead visited a mosque in Ottawa to apologize to the Muslim gathering for any discomfort they might be feeling.

From the start, President Bush declared "we're at war" and emphasized that it would be a long, tough fight to eradicate al-Qaida and its supporters. But as the months have passed, an increasing number of Canadians - probably influenced by the anti-U.S. stance of such media as our taxpayer-financed CBC - have attacked the American-led efforts.

However, now that Chretien is facing increasing pressure from his own party to speed up his retirement, his government has seen fit to acknowledge that al-Qaida cells do exist in Canada.

And that's probably why new Solicitor-General Wayne Easter said yesterday that the arrest of Mohamed Harkat, an alleged al-Qaida "sleeper" terrorist, shows that Canada really is vulnerable to terrorism.

"Terrorism is an international phenomenon - we're not isolated from that as Canadians," he declared.

CSIS claimed in a report filed at a closed deportation hearing for the 34-year-old Harkat that he is an al-Qaida terrorist trained in Afghanistan and available to carry out a terrorist operation in Canada when ordered.

In its report, CSIS said it "believes that Mohamed Harkat is an Islamic extremist; a support of Afghani, Pakistani, and Chechen extremists; was and is a member of the bin Laden network; and, that Harkat's role in this terrorist network is exemplified by his actions and intentions."

Harkat, his wife and his lawyer deny the charges and the hearing continues.

However, deputy prime minister John Manley obviously realized the import of the Harkat case and tried to paper over Chretien's longstanding stubbornness in denying Canada is under any al-Qaida threat.

"I think that we've known and we've acknowledged since Sept. 11, 2001 that there have been al-Qaida operatives that may be in Canada," he said.

"I don't think that it's surprising that somebody would be found, if indeed he is one of them," he added.

Yep, the Liberals may be coming around - although Manley is still saying "may" and "if" when it comes to al-Qaida cells.

Will it take some horrendous, deadly attack in Canada to convince them?

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2002

Will it take some horrendous, deadly attack in Canada to convince them?

And how much will it cost US taxpayers?

-- Anonymous, December 18, 2002