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Perspectives

A call for the end of blasphemy laws

When I was quite young, growing up in London (Ontario), an elderly man would make and take care of an outdoor ice rink for the neighbourhood kids. He would not charge anything for this and – yes I know this is nostalgic! – there is nothing better than playing hockey outside during a Canadian winter. […]

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Perspectives

Making CSIS ‘smarter’ at counter-terrorism, easier said than done!

Don’t let perfect be the enemy of the very good when it comes to Canadian counter terrorism.

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Perspectives

A humble plea for transparency and honesty when declaring ‘expertise’ on terrorism

We all know that ‘experts’ are a dime a dozen. It seems that you cannot read an article or watch an interview without someone introduced as an ‘expert’ on this topic or that topic. And in truth it is good to have real experts available to help us understand complicated topics as none of us […]

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Perspectives

More options for listening to episode 16 of the podcast An Intelligent Look at Terrorism

You can have a listen to episode 16 of my podcast in the series An Intelligent Look at Terrorism on several platforms: Podbean https://www.podbean.com/eu/pb-45wsf-bcb22c Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/2ObFoHk Google Podcasts https://bit.ly/30JuCJQ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LookatTerrorism/videos/493836844706757/  Youtube https://youtu.be/vRAA4ho_LJA  Let me know what you think!

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Canadian Intelligence Eh! Podcast

Podcast 16 – A journalism grad looks back at how a 12 year old saw 9/11

So excited about this interview with my daughter Erin on what it was like to witness 9/11 as a 12 year old and what terrorism means to her now. Have a listen!

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Perspectives

Are some Canadians ‘useful idiots’ when it comes to terrorism?

PLEASE! Before you excoriate me and engage in ad hominem attacks based on the title of this blog – not that I have not been subject to both before! – read to the end. Then, if you still think I am a knuckle-dragging troglodyte have at ‘er. Shortly after the creation of the Soviet Union […]

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Perspectives

What should parents do when their son becomes a terrorist?

As some of you may know, I am a grandfather (yes, I am THAT old!). I have an almost 2-year old grandson and, duh!, he is the most perfect grandchild. Ever. In the history of the planet. Of that there is no doubt and I should know since I am his grandfather. What is that […]

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Perspectives

Why Canada should NOT be in a hurry to re-embrace Saudi Arabia

This piece appeared in The Hill Times on August 12, 2019. I never worked in foreign affairs or for Foreign Affairs (or Global Affairs Canada as it is now known, having once been designated External Affairs and many other names) but I know a little about about the subject. After all, you cannot work in […]

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Perspectives

A Canadian terrorist is a Canadian terrorist is a Canadian terrorist

We all remember when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau uttered the famous line “a Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian” right? It was during one of the Munk debates in the lead up to the 2015 federal elections after which he became our leader. In that debate, Mr. Trudeau was responding to plans by the […]

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Perspectives

Pre-terrorism can at times be identified more easily than you may think

My wife and I are quite taken by British programming. We have watched Midsomer Murders – all 19 seasons we have access to – at least twice and other similar series on Netflix and Acorn TV. We are currently making our way through George Gently, starring Martin Shaw (and Lee Ingleby, who also played Stan […]