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Perspectives

October 8, 2002: Al Qaeda attack in Kuwait

Two AQ terrorists attacked unarmed US Marines engaged in exercises on Kuwait’s Failaka Island in 2002, killing one and wounding one.

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Canadian Intelligence Eh! Podcast

Podcast 30 – Counter terrorism expert discusses with former Al Qaeda top bomb maker

What happens when you gather together a former Al Qaeda bombmaker, a guy who wanted to be a monk and a former CSIS analyst to talk about terrorism?

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Perspectives

Remember Al Qaeda? It’s baaaacckkk!

When you have been at war with something for almost two decades it is important to declare ‘victory’ at some point. Those whose support you – i.e. the public/taxpayer – need and want to see some results for the actions they are backstopping. Fighting for years with no sense that you are winning is a […]

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Perspectives

Podcast #4 – W(h)ither Al Qaeda?

Here is the script that accompanies episode #4 of the podcast “An Intelligent Look at Terrorism”: W(h)ither Al Qaeda? There are a lot of good pieces on the status of Al Qaeda and here are links to a few of them: https://www.cnn.com/2018/09/08/opinions/where-is-bin-ladens-partner-in-crime-ayman-al-zawahiri/index.html https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/trump-isis-syria-iraq-iran-terror-islamic-state-washington-a8769936.html https://ctc.usma.edu/fighting-the-long-war-the-evolution-of-al-qaida-in-the-arabian-peninsula/ Here is a piece on the assessment of the Office of […]

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Perspectives

No, Al Qaeda never went away

Ready for a “where were you when…?”  question?  I launched my first book last week in Ottawa and my host, the CBC’s Hannah Thibedeau, asked me what my favourite part of ‘An end to the war on terrorism‘ was.  She had warned me she was going to throw that one at me so I had […]

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Perspectives

New Orleans Attack Signifies That Groups Like ISIS and Al-Qaeda Are Still Very Much a Threat

This piece first appeared in The Epoch Times Canada on January 6, 2025. For many around the world, the transition from one year to another is something to celebrate. We usually engage in reviews of the previous 365 days, make resolutions for the next, and party with our friends or attend events to ring in […]

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Canadian Intelligence Eh!

Talking with Jesse Morton, former Al-Qaeda recruiter in the US

Episode 106 – A fascinating conversation with Jesse Morton, former to Al Qaeda recruiter in the US

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Perspectives

Does Calling Drug Cartels ‘Terrorists’ Help? Hint: no

This piece first appeared in The Epoch Times Canada on January 23, 2025. Some people may be surprised to learn that the word “terrorism” is not that old. Oh sure, we had the Reign of Terror in France in the late 1790s, but the common use of the concept really only dates to the middle […]

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Canadian Intelligence Eh! Podcast

Terrorism, especially jihadist terrorism, remains a terrible scourge globally

Episode 262 – Terrorist deaths remain high around the world and jihadis are responsible for most of them That terrorism is a daily phenomenon somewhere in the world in any given 24-hour period should come as a surprise to no one who follows the news. Tracking terrorist attacks and groups is a full-time job, however. […]

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Podcast Quick Hits

Canada must get serious on national security…STAT!

Episode 260 – In the teeth of a crisis it is time for Canada to step up It is only six weeks since the new administration in the US and already Canada has been threatened with annexation (as the ’51st state’), expulsion from the 5 eyes intelligence alliance, and a ‘redrawing’ of the international border […]