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Perspectives

Is CSIS a den of racism and Islamophobia? No, but…

Ever since Michelle Shephard of the Toronto Star broke the news of a $35 million lawsuit by 5 CSIS employees I have agonised over what to write and even whether to write about this issue.  I turned down several requests for interviews from major Canadian TV networks and a few radio stations since I did […]

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Perspectives

CSIS and the courts at loggerheads?

These past couple of months have not been good for Canada’s spy service.  First, the Federal Court ruled that CSIS has been negligent in informing it of a programme whereby it ‘illegally kept’ data (which it had collected legally under warrant) on Canadians.  Then there is the criticism that the Service shared questions with the […]

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Perspectives

Why the US needs a CSIS for counter terrorism

I know for sure that this blog is going to raise some hackles, especially among my US friends and colleagues.  Why?  Because I am going to argue that the current US counter terrorism architecture is inadequate to deal with the threat and needs a serious overhaul.  The solution I am proposing, however, will go against […]

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Perspectives

CSIS and disruption

CSIS Director Michel Coulombe appeared before the Senate National Security and Defence Committee today and stated that his organisation has used its new disruption powers over twenty times since 2015.   This measure was controversial when introduced by the former Conservative government and is still seen by some as too strong for a service that […]

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Podcast Spies Like Us

Queen of Canada or Empress of Idiots?

Spies Like Us – Season 3 Episode 1 The guys are back in the virtual bar for another season! After two months of R&R they delve into the arrest of a self-appointed ‘Queen of Canada/World”, counselling sessions for ISIS terrorists (‘couch jihadis’?) and why ‘native extremist’ investigations were warranted. Oh, and another poem by Phil […]

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Canadian Intelligence Eh! Podcast

Has the Philippines really defeated ‘jihadism’?

Episode 289 – One nation’s success against Islamist extremism could serve as a model The Philippines has long been beset by jihadi groups such as the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Front (BIFF) and the one bunch with the unintended acronym MILF – the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Of late, one does […]

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Canadian Intelligence Eh! Podcast

Where’s the uprising over Gaza?

Episode 288 – What will take for Arab states to launch another ‘Arab spring’? Almost 15 years ago the world awoke to an amazing event. A Tunisian fruit vendor had his wares seized and was insulted by a police officer, leading to his later suicide and a call for change in Tunisia. This spawned a […]

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Canadian Intelligence Eh! Podcast

Chinese influence in Canada is getting worse and worse

Episode 287 – When will Canada take PRC meddling in its affairs seriously? That China has infiltrated Canadian society at so many levels is beyond doubt. “Police” stations, harassing dissidents, interfering in our elections, the list goes on and on. And, despite reports and inquiries these anti-democratic activities do not seem to garner the necessary […]

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Canadian Intelligence Eh! Podcast

How dangerous a threat to international security is AI?

Episode 286 – Is The Terminator in the offing? You cannot get far these days without some article and warning about Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the possible extermination of humanity. How close are we to that and what can we do about it? Are there good sides to AI? I am joined by a true […]

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Canadian Intelligence Eh! Podcast

How US gun culture threatens international public safety

Episode 285 – Why are people seeing the US as an example to follow when it comes to gun violence? You cannot go a day, it seems, without a mass shooting in the US. Far too many deaths and injuries have been caused so much that the leading cause of death for people between one […]