WASHINGTON - A U.S. congressman who says Canada's in denial about terrorism is applauding as "sound advice" the idea of shutting out immigrants and refugees until the country fixes its security risks.
Indiana Republican John Hostettler, who held a hearing Thursday on Capitol Hill, also said the House of Representatives shouldn't agree to delay strict new border identification measures in light of Canada's sweeping anti-terror arrests last week.
"We do not want to have to worry about a neighbour that has a very different attitude than we do about terrorism," Hostettler said after the meeting.
Americans, he added, would demand the Canada-U.S. border be shut down in the event of another terrorist attack like the one on Sept. 11, 2001, even if Canada played no role.
He accused Prime Minister Stephen Harper of "laughing off" an alleged terrorist beheading plot when he quipped last week that he can "live with all these threats as long as they're not from my caucus."
And Hostettler, who chairs a judiciary subcommittee, had nothing but praise for the views of David Harris, a Canadian security analyst, who used to be with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.
Harris told the legislators that Canada's immigration system is a big part of its terrorist problem, noting the country takes in double the number of immigrants and three or four times the refugees as the United States.
He suggested a moratorium on newcomers and opposes extending a deadline requiring a passport or high-technology identification card at land crossings beyond Jan. 1, 2008.
"We are in a life and death struggle and a race against time," he said.
And if the views of subcommittee members were any indication, Canada's push for a delay could face a rough ride in the House.
Representatives facing re-election this year have been anxious to show that they're tough on security and not solely penalizing the Mexican border with a huge crackdown on illegal immigrants.
Canada's worried the ID plan will cause huge lineups at the border, seriously denting trade and tourism.
Senators have already agreed to postpone the measure until June 1, 2009, but the issue must be resolved between the House and Senate.
Despite a recent U.S. government report that says the plan likely can't be implemented in time, a Homeland Security official insisted Thursday it will be finished.
"It is far too early to declare defeat. I have every expectation we will hit the deadlines," said Paul Rosenzweig, acting assistant secretary for policy development,
"Every day of delay is another day of risk on the northern border."
Although he admitted the technology for new ID cards hasn't yet been chosen and no contracts let, he said a year from now would be time enough to consider a delay.
Rosenzweig said U.S. officials are negotiating with Canadians about any additional documents that might be acceptable but said they must have the "equivalent security and validity" of a passport.
Homeland Secretary Michael Chertoff "made no secret deal to accept a baptismal certificate" when he met Canada's Public Safety Minister Stockewell Day earlier this year, he said.
Day has said American officials have promised they'd look at approving enhanced drivers' licences and birth certificates.
It was clear from the subcommittee meeting that Canada's sweeping counterterrorism operation last week is giving some the jitters.
"Canada's problem is growing," said Janice Kephart, a border security expert who served as a counsel to the 9-11 commission.
Demanding passports of all Canadians entering the U.S. is the best solution, she said, because it forces terrorists to either go to a passport office in Canada or try to get in illegally.
"It forces them into a corner."
Kephart also supports more border patrol agents along the Canadian line, noting there's one for every 400 metres along the Mexican border but only one agent every 22 kilometres in the north.
It seems the fact that Canada even has terrorists came as a huge surprise to some.
"Until a few days ago, few among us were particularly aware that Canada hosts an abundance of terrorists and as many as 50 terrorist organizations," Hostettler told the committee.
"I hope the arrests in Canada of 17 Jihadists, mostly homegrown, will cause the opponents of secure borders to reconsider, because the threat won't go away."
Canadian immigrants, he said, "demonstrate an unsuccessful adoption of traditional Canadian values, or at least, a lack of assimilation by many north of the U.S. border."
"I do believe we in the United States have a much more clear focus on the problem of terrorism and have moved beyond denial that our own citizens are capable of terrorism. That doesn't seem to be the case north of the border."
Harris agreed, saying Canadians are used to seeing themselves as peacemakers and Boy Scouts.
"It's very hard for such a people to perceive that they could be the object of a rabid hatred," he said.
"Canadians are at least a generation behind in understanding the nature and scope" of the terrorist threat.
http://start.shaw.ca/start/enCA/News/WorldNewsArticle.htm?src=w0608117A.xml
Now I understand that America should be scared by the supposed plot and they should be but I believe they should make suggestions at the most, not demanding what Canada should do and not do with its immigration policy. We are still a foreign country.
Indiana Republican John Hostettler, who held a hearing Thursday on Capitol Hill, also said the House of Representatives shouldn't agree to delay strict new border identification measures in light of Canada's sweeping anti-terror arrests last week.
"We do not want to have to worry about a neighbour that has a very different attitude than we do about terrorism," Hostettler said after the meeting.
Americans, he added, would demand the Canada-U.S. border be shut down in the event of another terrorist attack like the one on Sept. 11, 2001, even if Canada played no role.
He accused Prime Minister Stephen Harper of "laughing off" an alleged terrorist beheading plot when he quipped last week that he can "live with all these threats as long as they're not from my caucus."
And Hostettler, who chairs a judiciary subcommittee, had nothing but praise for the views of David Harris, a Canadian security analyst, who used to be with the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.
Harris told the legislators that Canada's immigration system is a big part of its terrorist problem, noting the country takes in double the number of immigrants and three or four times the refugees as the United States.
He suggested a moratorium on newcomers and opposes extending a deadline requiring a passport or high-technology identification card at land crossings beyond Jan. 1, 2008.
"We are in a life and death struggle and a race against time," he said.
And if the views of subcommittee members were any indication, Canada's push for a delay could face a rough ride in the House.
Representatives facing re-election this year have been anxious to show that they're tough on security and not solely penalizing the Mexican border with a huge crackdown on illegal immigrants.
Canada's worried the ID plan will cause huge lineups at the border, seriously denting trade and tourism.
Senators have already agreed to postpone the measure until June 1, 2009, but the issue must be resolved between the House and Senate.
Despite a recent U.S. government report that says the plan likely can't be implemented in time, a Homeland Security official insisted Thursday it will be finished.
"It is far too early to declare defeat. I have every expectation we will hit the deadlines," said Paul Rosenzweig, acting assistant secretary for policy development,
"Every day of delay is another day of risk on the northern border."
Although he admitted the technology for new ID cards hasn't yet been chosen and no contracts let, he said a year from now would be time enough to consider a delay.
Rosenzweig said U.S. officials are negotiating with Canadians about any additional documents that might be acceptable but said they must have the "equivalent security and validity" of a passport.
Homeland Secretary Michael Chertoff "made no secret deal to accept a baptismal certificate" when he met Canada's Public Safety Minister Stockewell Day earlier this year, he said.
Day has said American officials have promised they'd look at approving enhanced drivers' licences and birth certificates.
It was clear from the subcommittee meeting that Canada's sweeping counterterrorism operation last week is giving some the jitters.
"Canada's problem is growing," said Janice Kephart, a border security expert who served as a counsel to the 9-11 commission.
Demanding passports of all Canadians entering the U.S. is the best solution, she said, because it forces terrorists to either go to a passport office in Canada or try to get in illegally.
"It forces them into a corner."
Kephart also supports more border patrol agents along the Canadian line, noting there's one for every 400 metres along the Mexican border but only one agent every 22 kilometres in the north.
It seems the fact that Canada even has terrorists came as a huge surprise to some.
"Until a few days ago, few among us were particularly aware that Canada hosts an abundance of terrorists and as many as 50 terrorist organizations," Hostettler told the committee.
"I hope the arrests in Canada of 17 Jihadists, mostly homegrown, will cause the opponents of secure borders to reconsider, because the threat won't go away."
Canadian immigrants, he said, "demonstrate an unsuccessful adoption of traditional Canadian values, or at least, a lack of assimilation by many north of the U.S. border."
"I do believe we in the United States have a much more clear focus on the problem of terrorism and have moved beyond denial that our own citizens are capable of terrorism. That doesn't seem to be the case north of the border."
Harris agreed, saying Canadians are used to seeing themselves as peacemakers and Boy Scouts.
"It's very hard for such a people to perceive that they could be the object of a rabid hatred," he said.
"Canadians are at least a generation behind in understanding the nature and scope" of the terrorist threat.
http://start.shaw.ca/start/enCA/News/WorldNewsArticle.htm?src=w0608117A.xml
Now I understand that America should be scared by the supposed plot and they should be but I believe they should make suggestions at the most, not demanding what Canada should do and not do with its immigration policy. We are still a foreign country.