Lessons In Good Citizenship
The trial of yet another of the original "Toronto 18" jihadists is currently in session. One of the more adult of the terror conspirators, Shareef Abdelhaleem, has pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against him. He charges, through his lawyer, that the undercover agent working for the RCMP, handsomely paid for his exercise in civic duty, cannot be believed. His testimony has been dearly bought, therefore whatever he claims to be fact and truth has been negated.
That is as may be; the undercover agent, Shaher Elsohemy, giving testimony at the trial against Mr. Abdelhaleem, who is accused of being a key player in the foiled 2005 conspiracy to attack high-profile, high-value targets in Ottawa and Toronto, did indeed take steps to monetarily advantage himself - grossly - while playing the role of responsibly-involved Canadian citizen. Nonetheless, the evidence he has been advancing is valuable.
It is also intriguing beyond expectation, given that the father of the accused has been implicated for his role in encouraging his son to commit acts of Islamist jihad as warranted and justifiable under Islam. Mr. Abdelhaleem's father issued a fatwa, effectively giving religiously-sanctioned permission to his son to engage in violent jihad against the country which has given them both a safe haven.
In a spirit of thanksgiving, the elder Abdelhaleem affirmed for his son and his son's co-conspirators that a plot to detonate truck bombs was Islamically sound, according to Mr. Elsohemy's testimony. And, presumably, Abdelhaleem senior knows whereof he speaks, since he operated an Islamic education facility in Mississauga. Dare we presume to hazard a guess as to the number of prospective jihadists were there recruited?
The bombs were meant to target the Toronto Stock Exchange, a Canadian Security Intelligence Service site, and a military base. And oh yes, for good measure, something on Parliament Hill, to take the prime minister hostage and teach him a good Islamist lesson of non-interference in Muslim affairs, presumably.
Of course Mr. Abdelhaleem was intent, along with his conspiracy-colleagues, on making a point. The plan was more about wreaking havoc on the country's institutions, rather than indulging too enthusiastically in mass murder. The plan was to keep deaths at a minimally-acceptable level; at least on Mr. Abdelhaleem's part.
Some of his colleagues were a trifle more engaged with the potential of creating an atrocity of sensationally bloody note, using shrapnel in their bombs to greater effect, and just incidentally making a name for themselves throughout the global network of honourable mujaheddin.
Tch, sometimes the best laid plans just go awry....
That is as may be; the undercover agent, Shaher Elsohemy, giving testimony at the trial against Mr. Abdelhaleem, who is accused of being a key player in the foiled 2005 conspiracy to attack high-profile, high-value targets in Ottawa and Toronto, did indeed take steps to monetarily advantage himself - grossly - while playing the role of responsibly-involved Canadian citizen. Nonetheless, the evidence he has been advancing is valuable.
It is also intriguing beyond expectation, given that the father of the accused has been implicated for his role in encouraging his son to commit acts of Islamist jihad as warranted and justifiable under Islam. Mr. Abdelhaleem's father issued a fatwa, effectively giving religiously-sanctioned permission to his son to engage in violent jihad against the country which has given them both a safe haven.
In a spirit of thanksgiving, the elder Abdelhaleem affirmed for his son and his son's co-conspirators that a plot to detonate truck bombs was Islamically sound, according to Mr. Elsohemy's testimony. And, presumably, Abdelhaleem senior knows whereof he speaks, since he operated an Islamic education facility in Mississauga. Dare we presume to hazard a guess as to the number of prospective jihadists were there recruited?
The bombs were meant to target the Toronto Stock Exchange, a Canadian Security Intelligence Service site, and a military base. And oh yes, for good measure, something on Parliament Hill, to take the prime minister hostage and teach him a good Islamist lesson of non-interference in Muslim affairs, presumably.
Of course Mr. Abdelhaleem was intent, along with his conspiracy-colleagues, on making a point. The plan was more about wreaking havoc on the country's institutions, rather than indulging too enthusiastically in mass murder. The plan was to keep deaths at a minimally-acceptable level; at least on Mr. Abdelhaleem's part.
Some of his colleagues were a trifle more engaged with the potential of creating an atrocity of sensationally bloody note, using shrapnel in their bombs to greater effect, and just incidentally making a name for themselves throughout the global network of honourable mujaheddin.
Tch, sometimes the best laid plans just go awry....
Labels: Canada, Conflict, Crisis Politics
posted by Pieface | 6:36 PM
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