Terror Plotters Lurk In Canada, U.S. Charges

The U.S. noted "only one person" has been arrested under anti-terrorism legislation passed in Canada after terrorist attacks in the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001. A spokeswoman for Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day said Canadian officials were still reviewing the U.S. report and would not comment on its specifics. "What I can tell you is that Canada's new government believes in maintaining a vigorous counter-intelligence program to safeguard our nation's security," said Day's communications director Melisa Leclerc. "This government does not tolerate inappropriate activities and will restore our reputation as a leader and dependable partner in defending freedom and democracy in the world." The State Department's harsh language on Canada contrasted with its statements in the report of Iraq, which it said was "not currently a terrorist safe haven" despite the continued attacks carried out by al-Qaeda leader Abu Musab al Zarqawi and other groups in the country. While praising Canada for playing "an important counterterrorism leadership role worldwide" -- specifically through its military presence in Afghanistan -- the State Department said the Arar case had cast a chill over relations between the countries' intelligence agencies. Arar, an Ottawa engineer and Canadian citizen, was detained by U.S. authorities in September 2002 during a stopover in New York on a flight from Tunisia to Canada. Suspected of terrorism ties, he was sent to Syria under a policy called "extraordinary rendition." A federal inquiry into Arar's detention found he had been tortured while in Syrian custody. The U.S. says the RCMP gave them information suggesting Arar was a security risk. The ensuing controversy led to restrictions on intelligence sharing that still hamper the "free flow" of information about terror suspects, the U.S. said. Full story: http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=b89b530b-c18e-49df-9e37-2db786f04c40&k=62749

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