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Today in Terrorism: 30 October 2008, Assam, India

Bangladeshi Islamist terrorist group suspected in 13 near simultaneous bombs that kill 66 in Assam. I often wonder why countries or governments make what are known as ‘own goals’ or unforced errors. These are decisions or policies taken for what appear on the surface to be good reasons, at least by some, but which end […]

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Today in Terrorism: 26 October 2005 market attack in Israel

Six killed by suicide bomber at market in Israel; attack by Islamic Jihad

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Has CSIS been getting counter terrorism wrong all these years? Nope.

OK, OK, I am a little sensitive when it comes to articles on CSIS. I did work there for 15 years after all and was (and still am) very proud of what I and my colleagues did to help keep Canadians safe. No, we were not perfect but I think we did our best. So […]

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Counter terrorism agencies forced to juggle many balls simultaneously

In many ways you have to feel for security intelligence agencies. I know full well that this is not an easy thing to ask as I cannot imagine most citizens want to cut these organisations any slack, or acknowledge that what they are called on to do – what WE demand they do, i.e. to […]

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A Canadian (i.e. inoffensive) way to talk about terrorism

We Canadians are a deferential bunch. Our national phrase is ‘sorry’ (NB if you want to find a Canadian in a crowd quickly just step on everyone’s toes. The first person to say ‘sorry’ to you is the Canadian). We really try not to offend anyone. This deep-seated desire to be inoffensive even extends to […]

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We need to push back against elected officials’ racist ignorance and intolerance before it becomes hate and violence

This piece appeared in The Hill Times on April 8, 2019. When a massacre on the scale of the terrorist attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand hits the news we all engage in examinations of what may have led to events as horrific as this to occur. And this time was no different. There was a […]

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Netanyahu’s re-election will lead to more terrorism in Israel

If there is one nation that gets a disproportionate percentage of the headlines, especially in light of its small size (under nine million, including in lands many see as ‘occupied’ – more on that later), it is Israel. The world’s only ‘Jewish’ state (more on this later) is known for its high tech success and […]

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How local imam training can limit radicalisation and terrorism

I would imagine that many people would reject state involvement in religion as a matter of principle Isn’t there, after all, a belief that the two are responsible for different functions? The state is supposed to look after everything that has to do with, well, running a state, and religion is concerned about things like […]

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Readin’, ‘Ritin’ and Radicalisin’: schools and the links to terrorism

This piece appeared in The Hill Times on March 18, 2019. One of the many beauties of living in a liberal, secular democratic society is the freedom to disagree and debate. There are always many sides to an issue and we have the liberty to express our opinions without the fear of being arrested. Many […]

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The parallels between school shooters and terrorists

Staying with the Lewis Carroll theme for a bit, in 1876 the English writer penned the poem ‘The Hunting of the Snark’. The ‘Snark’ was described as follows: Some have feathers and bite, and some have whiskers and scratch. It also sleeps late into the day. While the snark is very ambitious, and has very […]