The arrest of 17 Muslims in Canada accused of plotting to bomb buildings in Toronto is deeply disturbing. It shows that the lure of terrorism continues to spread and that the virus has not been checked. This ought not to surprise. Last year, President Bush disclosed that the US and its allies had thwarted at least 10 serious Al-Qaeda terrorist plots since 9/11. There will be those who refuse to believe the claim on the grounds that they do not believe anything President Bush says. It is certainly unfortunate that his willingness to take the US to war in Iraq on the basis of a deception has for many people destroyed his credibility. It has been especially counterproductive in the war against terrorism.
But there is no reason to doubt this particular claim. The Kingdom has been fighting Al-Qaeda-inspired terrorism since 9/11. The situation now appears under control following the capture or killing of ringleaders but, as we all know, there have been attacks in the Kingdom, shootouts with militants, plots have been uncovered, explosives and weapons caches found. That is just in one country. Add to the list the bombings that have taken place all over the world — Bali, Casablanca, Madrid, Istanbul, London, Balsan, Delhi, Amman — together with all the other atrocities elsewhere plus all those foiled before they could take place and President Bush’s figure looks like an underestimate. Indeed, a report published just two months ago says that in Europe alone, 30 terrorist plots have been foiled since 9/11.
The bigger picture then, against which the Canadian plot has to be seen, is that for all the successes in thwarting the terrorists, they are still at it, plotting and preparing; and for every terrorist caught or killed, there is another waiting to take his place.
What is particularly disturbing, however, about this latest case is that the virus should have spread to a country that has welcomed Arab and Muslim immigrants over the years and has earned itself a reputation for honesty and fairness on the Palestinian issue; Canada has long been perceived in the Middle East as much more friendly to Muslims and Arabs than its neighbor to the south.
It is claimed that the growth of militancy and extremism among some young Muslims in Europe is due to frustration and a sense of exclusion from the society in which they were born and live. Does this plot mean the same is happening in Canada?
For the sake of Canada’s own future stability, that needs to be investigated and, if true, addressed; the top of the Canadian agenda too has to be a potential backlash. The attack on a mosque in Toronto on Sunday was clearly linked to the arrests; thankfully the vandalism was relatively minor — no more windows broken, possibly the work of just one person. Even so it is a lesson. Hatred breeds hatred. The rot, on both sides, has to be stopped before it grows. But we have every confidence that the Canadian authorities, supported by the country’s small Muslim community, by other faith communities, by political parties and by the wider Canadian public which takes pride in the country’s cultural diversity and openness, will quickly move to do just that.
