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Showing posts with the label terrorism

The End of the Innocence

Yesterday, a lone gunman shot a 24 year-old military reservist, part of a two-man honour guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier at Ottawa's War Memorial, ironically in the shadow of the Peace Tower. He died later in hospital despite attempts by civilians and first responders to save his life. Then the gunman crossed the street ran across the lawn of Parliament Hill and entered the Centre Block, down the very corridor where the government and opposition parties were separately caucusing. The head of Parliamentary security, known as the Sergeant-at-Arms encountered the gunman and shot him dead, thus saving countless lives. I was glued to my television for much of the day in total disbelief of what I was witnessing. This is Canada and an armed attack, let alone on our seat of government, just doesn't happen. When I was in my early thirties I worked on Parliament Hill as a journalist. I had easy access to everywhere in the parliamentary precinct. The House of Commons, the ...

Fly The Friendly Skies

Boy, oh  boy, those poor folks trying to get out of Dodge on an airplane this week.  Since that Nigerian guy tried to blow up his crotch and a plane last week in Detroit Transport Canada has clamped down on security at Canadian airports.  Havoc has ensued.  Line ups, delayed and cancelled flights.  No carry-on luggage allowed.  I'd hate to be an air traveller trying to get home or get away on holidays. The more I thought about this story, the more questions I asked myself. Southwest Airlines picked the wrong time to go with their "all checked bags fly free" promotion. The guy sewed the explosives into his underpants.  It gave me visions of the guy in Spinal Tap going through security with a cucumber in his pants wrapped in aluminum foil. No skid marks! Although, now that I've seen the size of the um, er, packet of explosives this guy had little to brag about...if you know what I mean. The guy's from Nigeria.  What's up? Did he want to...