Xtreme Islam

For some, it's just adolescent business as usual, even if the adolescents in question have reached adulthood. Never heard of arrested adolescence? That's when young people haven't been adequately civilized and guided toward usefully acceptable social activities, and the allure of the illicit, the adventurous, the moral and ethical challenges become too endearing to them in their state of perpetual addiction.

If you don't like your inherited social, cultural, heritage, religious status, have a good hard look around and exchange it for one that bristles with the promise of excitement. If these adolescents are not athletically inclined to respond to the allure of extreme sports, why then they fasten on the temptation of extreme tribal religions, and which now has greater qualifications currently than Islam?

So of course it stands to reason that disaffected, socially averse Canadian youth like their counterparts in Europe and Latin America and the United States will explore the byways of fanatical Islamism's jihadi militia contingents promising the opportunity to seek training in exotic locales, and what's even better, the chance to demonstrate acquired proficiencies in destruction and blood-letting.

So why be surprised that the RCMP is in the process of investigating claims of a dozen Canadians having a presence in al-Qaeda training camps in Pakistan. The orientation they have accustomed themselves to makes them fit for the prevailing atmosphere in the North West Frontier provinces where Pakistan's very own wild west is vividly alive and rolling out fresh new recruits for global jihad.

The source is impeccable, from Asia Times Online, whose bureau chief has a well-respected reputation for knowing of what he writes through trusted sources. It's the trip and the training of a lifetime for these young Canadian men, some of whom have not been born into the traditions of Islam. Which is no deterrent to joining the exciting fray.

Graduation from jihadi training camps guaranteed, and certification as genuine Islamist mujahadeen is priceless to the self-esteem of these Canadians. Think about it: it's like Timothy McVeigh meeting Anwar Awlaki, a contagion of priceless opportunity to demonstrate one's battle mettle.

Initiation in Afghanistan, confirmation in Pakistan; practise makes perfect in Canada.

"According to Taliban sources, the 12 will remain in the tribal belt until it is felt that they are sufficiently trained to successfully carry out terror activities in Canada. Shahid apparently is confident he can recruit more Canadians".... Syed Saleem Shahzad

Cool, growing trends in affirmative action.