Threatening Peace and Security

"There are steps we're taking that we've never taken for a Remembrance Day event. We have no information to say anything is going to happen, but we want to be ready."
"People may feel more safe by seeing them, and the officers may feel more safe carrying their weapons. And on the other hand, if something were to happen, we have them on the ready to use [weapons in the hands of protective personnel]."
Constable Marc Soucy, Ottawa Police Service

"We all will continue to wear our uniforms proudly"
"We're obviously proud to wear our uniform, and doing so signals our resolve in the face of any threat."
Lieutenant Kirk Sullivan, spokesman, Canadian Joint Operations Command

This, in the aftermath of a terrifyingly unexpected series of events that took place in Quebec and Ottawa when two converts to Islam who had succumbed to the allure of violent jihad undertook to murder two Canadian Military personnel, Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and Corporal Nathan Cirillo, respectively. The culmination of the attack on Corporal Cirillo at the National Cenotaph was the assault by the gunman on Parliament.

Issues of security are now of the essence, understandably. There had been no intelligence gathered that had warned of an impending attack in Ottawa. In the Quebec attack, the killer had been identified months previously as a suspect for jihad and apprehended, his passport removed when he attempted to leave the country for Turkey, to join Islamic Jihad. The second attacker also attempted to renew his passport to travel to Libya.

It is estimated that 50,000 members of the public gathered at the National War Memorial close to Parliament Hill this November 11th. Greater numbers appeared this year in response to the atrocious attack on the Canadian Military as a symbol of hatred toward Canada and its values in attempting to halt the progress of the currently most-threatening Islamist threat in the formation of revolving Islamist terror groups committing bloodthirsty mayhem.

Never before for such a commemoration of Canada's military defence history have sharpshooters been deployed atop buildings surrounding the Cenotaph. Felt now to be a very immediate requirement for the presence of the public to be safeguarded against any possible new attacks, let alone the presence of Canada's political and ceremonial elite, including the Queen's daughter, Princess Anne.

The wreath-laying ceremony saw the Governor-General, the Prime Minister, the Chief of the Defense Staff and other Canadian dignitaries lay wreaths in memory of those who have fallen over the last century in defence of Canada and democratic values threatened by conflicts led by totalitarian ideologies. Foreign diplomats paid their respects laying wreaths as well. The Mothers of Canada and the Youth of Canada's laying of wreaths perhaps the most touching.

All of those present had every right in a free and tolerant society to expect that they would be free from danger in appearing at that very public place, during a national ceremony in reflection of our obligation to those who have gone before, and those who now serve. It is unspeakable that Canadian soil is now in danger of being assaulted by representatives of a faroff conflict reflecting a psychopathic religious vendetta against civilization.