[GMMAC]

It may interest some that, prior to an editor inserting the headline above, Rory initially summitted his article under the pro President Bush working title "Magnanimous praise for Canada".

Personally, I believe Canada is considerably lower than 5th on al-Qaida's hit list.
Given the Martin government's tepid - at best - support for the War On Terror and its plainly lax security and immigration policies, it seemingly goes against the basic nature of even terrorist dogs to crap in a locale where they're permitted to sleep.

[Buckeye McFrog]

or they are taking OBL at his video word that he will not attack blue states or neutral liberal countries. Very
foolish!

[Cobra64]

While Martin grandly affirms: “We are in a war against terrorism and we are in it together: Americans and Canadians,” he knows full well that thanks to years of neglect by a succession of Liberal and Conservative governments, the Canadian armed forces are now so pitifully small and ill-equipped that they cannot effectively defend Canada from terrorists at home, let alone fulfil Canada’s responsibilities in helping to fight the enemy overseas.

Yup. Here we go again. Protecting the rest of the world; including our Northern "neighbors."

[Ticonderoga34]

I respectfully disagree. I understand your viewpoint, but I think that al-Qaida is out to destroy Western civilization. And Canada is a part of the West. To al-Qaida, there are no neutral countries. Only Islamic countries and the infidels.

The reasons that you state make Canada a easy target. Also, the next best thing to attacking America is to attack a country on the USA's border. If al-Qaida members were rational, they wouldn't attack Canada for the reasons that you state. However al-Qaida is a bunch of fanatics who are only looking to kill and destroy. So I think Canada is at risk.

[26lemoncharlie]

I think that I would describe Canada as a staging area for Al-Quida! Like Afganistan.

[SolutionsOnly]

Why would Islamic Terrorists attack Canada? That would be stupid given that all they have to do is move in and play the political correctness game? Given that Ontario is considering allowing Islamic law to be practiced in that province why attack when Canadians are willing to hand over the keys?

[Billthedrill]

I don't know if Canada would be a priority for al Qaeda, ceteris paribus. But the real al Qaeda of today finds its reach shortened and its teeth blunted by a vigorous and ongoing campaign to engage its elements in the Middle East. As such it must strike where it can, if at all.

The question is whether the assets it has in place in Canada (1) are sufficient to the task, and (2) have a target in mind that will benefit al Qaeda more than cost it. But as time goes on it becomes more and more important to al Qaeda to assert itself somewhere or lose the terror it has tried so hard to make its name evoke. That means that it may just take whatever it feels it can. That is something to worry about whether you're Canadian or American.