Two letters to Canadian neighbors,

Almost every American is very glad your authorities have broken the terrorist ring that was planning atrocities within Canada including, we're told, an attack on your Parliament Building.

Apart from legal proceedings against those arrested, two results of today's events will be your renewed discussions of internal security measures and security cooperation between Canada and America.

I'd like to say a few things to you about Canadian-American security cooperation.

I don't think the current security cooperation between our countries is as strong as it needs to be.

Both our countries are plagued by loud, leftist elements, particularly in media and universities, who don't understand civilization is now in engaged in a fight every bit as serious as the one it faced in the 1930s and 40s. The leftists seem to delight in any difference or distancing that occurs between our countries.

Those people are at best foolish. As civilized nations, we have a great mutual stake in defeating the terrorists. That's more likely to happen if Canada and America are shoulder-to-shoulder as we were in WW II.

Below is a copy of a letter I wrote in Jan. 2003 which The Wall Street Journal published. You'll quickly see its relevance to today; and to the discussions you will be having concerning internal and Canadian-American security cooperation.

Obviously, I hope one outcome of your discussions is that our two nations draw closer together. Discord between us only cheers the left and serves the terrorists.

Sincerely,

John
www.johnincarolina.com
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Canada Is Not at Risk? Take a Reality Check

January 6, 2003

To the editor:

Your Dec. 18 article "Canada Bristles at U.S. Scrutiny of Its Citizens in Terror Probes" ends with American immigration policy expert Mark Krikorian's observation that "Canada has little incentive to tighten up its immigration system because its own security is not at risk, but the U.S. is at risk."

Actually, both countries are at risk; and Canada has plenty of incentive to tighten its immigration system.

Terrorists passing through Canada's immigration system may successfully attack their intended target, a nuclear power plant on the American side of the border. But because of wind direction, the major fallout and casualties could be in Canada.

And a nuclear suitcase bomb, meant to explode in New York or San Francisco, might accidentally be set off while a terrorist is changing planes at Toronto's Lester Pearson Airport.

Thoughtful readers can no doubt think of many other plausible instances in which Canada would be the victim of terrorist attacks, both intended and unintended.

Surely our Canadian neighbors realize that, like all civilized people, they are at risk from terrorist attacks. If not, God help them and us.

Sincerely,

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