When we studied radicalisation to violence at CSIS in the 2000s, we found out that while anyone could engage in violent ideologies, the vast majority were young – ish. The age range tended to be 18-28. This is not to say that older, or on rare occasions younger, people did not get involved. This finding […]
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Passport to danger
What do you call it when a team of experts weigh in on an issue and provide a recommendation on a proposed new practice and the management ignores the recommendation, intending to forge on ahead with the change? Meh? Managerial discretion? Probably not too important? When it comes to the proposed new system of passport […]
Refugees and terrorism
The photo has already become iconic. The picture of the little Kurdish boy lying face down in the water has touched the lives of tens of millions around the world. It ranks up there with the girl running naked after a napalm strike in Vietnam and the vulture stalking a starving Ethiopian boy. This photo […]
Our services Whether you want a fuller understanding of groups such as Islamic State, updates on security situations in the world’s conflict zones or insight into dealing with the terrorist “insider threat”, we can help! Contact Phil Gurski Canadian Intelligence Eh!? Shedding light on a risky world, Borealis Threat and Risk Consulting provide you with […]
The true threat
Now that everyone and his uncle has had a chance to comment on the nuclear accord reached with Iran, it’s my turn. (Full disclosure: I was an Iranian analyst in the Canadian intelligence community for twenty years and was even fluent in Farsi at one point – alas no more!) There is no question Iran […]
I’m no fan of spaghetti westerns and the 1966 film starring Clint Eastwood among others has nothing to do with terrorism. It’s just that I can think of no better phrase to describe the interim report issued by the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence on countering the terrorist threat in Canada (see the […]
Losing faith
In a recent video appearance before the Canadian national security and defence committee, charged with preparing a report on threats to national security, former Muslim Ayaan Hirsi Ali warned the Canadian government that “you should be looking out for the sprouting of mosques and Islamic centres. You should be looking out for the establishment of Islamic schools […]
Not a Sunni proposition
I have already talked a bit about the Sunni-Shia split in an earlier piece (Brothers at Arms). Today’s thoughts are along a different pathway. When I worked in the intelligence world and looked at violent radicalization, the focus was entirely on Sunnis, not Shia. Of course, there were other kinds of violence to worry about […]
No way to run a railroad
The Canadian government has been in the counter terrorism (or countering violent extremism – CVE – as it is now known) for a long time. In addition to the hard response (CSIS, RCMP…) there is the softer approach. The latter involves engaging with Canadians and communities to talk about difficult issues like terrorism and radicalization. […]
And justice for all
What should Canadians make of Adil Charkaoui? I’d be surprised if you haven’t heard of him.