Senate report: Canadian security full of holes
TORONTO (AP) — Canada’s security net is full of holes, with most border crossings guarded by a lone staffer and airport security so lax that missing security badges and uniforms recently turned up for sale on eBay.
A new Senate security report calls for reform, a boost in defense spending and improved cooperation with the United States. Canadians have relied too long on luck to avoid a terrorist attack, it says, scolding: “Unfortunately, luck is notoriously untrustworthy.”
The 315-page report by the Senate Standing Committee on National Security and Defense, the first released under the year-old government of Prime Minister Paul Martin, said most of Canada’s 160 land and maritime border crossings have only one person at the posts.
Indonesia orders security clampdown after terror warnings from Australia, Britain, New Zealand
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia ordered a nationwide security crackdown Thursday after Australia, Britain and New Zealand warned terrorists were preparing to attack ahead of Christmas.
Australia’s warning was unusually specific, saying it had “credible information” that terrorists could be targeting Hilton hotels in the country. The foreign ministry warned Australians in Indonesia to avoid all international hotels and other places where foreigners gather.
Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation, has been hit by three terror attacks blamed on Islamist militants in the past three years. Local police and foreign governments repeatedly have warned more attacks were likely.
“We are doing our utmost to increase our vigilance,” said Jakarta police spokesman Ciptono, who uses a single name. “In light of the threat, the national police chief has ordered the Christmas and New Year’s security operation, which was supposed to start Saturday, to begin immediately.”
Yup, my brother-in-law lives 13 miles south of the Canadian border, in a rather rural area. A couple of months ago he told me that the crossing near him is manned by one person; occasionally.
EL-UNIVERSAL.com.mx - Wire services: "MARA GANG WORKING AS HIRED GUNS" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The Mara Salvatrucha and MS-18 are Central America's largest and most ruthless street gangs, but crackdowns in Honduras and El Salvador drove much of the gangs' membership into southern Mexico, especially in Chiapas, Veracruz and Oaxaca.") (December 15, 2004) (Read More...)
BROWNSVILLE HERALD.com: "BANGLADESHI'S ARREST PROMPTS CONCERN OVER BORDER SECURITY" by Sergio Chapa (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Federal court records show Fakhrul Islam, age unknown, was arrested Dec. 4 with 13 other undocumented immigrants as they tried to pass through a wooded area east of Brownsville. The records said a man later identified by Border Patrol agents as a member of the Mara Salvatruchas gang was traveling in the same group as Islam. The Central American gang has alleged links to al-Qaida.") (December 10, 2004) (Read More...)
OFFICER.com (NBC4.com): "THREAT REPORTED AGAINST PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY POLICE" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "PALMER PARK, Md. -- Police officials in Prince George's County, Md., say they are taking a very ominous threat against their officers very seriously. Law enforcement officials say they have received tips indicating that a violent street gang known as MS-13 may be planning to ambush and kill police officers.") (Updated November 12, 2004) (Read More...)
FBI.gov - Seeking Information: "ADNAN G. EL SHUKRIJUMAH" (ALIASES: "Adnan G. El Shukri Jumah; Abu Arif; Ja'far Al-Tayar; Jaffar Al-Tayyar; Jafar Tayar; Jaafar Al-Tayyar") (VIEW POSTER. Click Here.)
So they DID turn up on eBay!
Thanks for the link, JellyJam.