Volume 18, Number 18, April 28, 2004

Comment

Global Security: It is Time For Canada to 'Fish or Cut Bait'

The loneliness of our neighbour's sons and daughters, the American soldier in Fallujah, is a shame.

The American soldier again stands tall for us Canadians in a quest for enhanced global security by containing the uproar of a dangerously failed statehood and terminating another genocidal maniac's rule just as was done in Bosnia.

Ignoring the contributions of brave Brits, Poles, Danes, Dutch, Ukranians, Italians and thousands of other valiant troops from dozens of other nations serving now in Iraq is an unforgiveable mistake made every day by everyone, it seems.

Those valiant young soldiers fight terrorists, spill their sweat and blood, and all the while administer humanitarian aid to any willing takers in Iraq, just as did the American soldier in Bosnia-Herzegovina after we, our U.N. pals and the former Western Europan Union screwed up there but good (See The Wednesday Report Volume 8, Number 12 April 20, 1994).

It is reprehensible that Canadians sit and do nothing to assist our loyal friend and ally while enjoying the rich prosperity allowed us by having America as a good geographic neighbour, protector and trading partner. 

Once Al Qaeda issued its pronouncement that any country denouncing the "Coalition" will be spared brutal terrorist attacks, Canada should have mustered as if Bin Laden's threat were a 'call to arms'. Damn us if we cower and cringe at the command of the psychopathic fear-monger, Usama Bin Laden, who all the while hides in tunnels and caves.

'Too few resources to support the United States in Iraq', says our new Prime Minister.

No. It is not true. We have the resources. We could make the stretch and contribute a sophisticated and worthwhile effort to truly make a difference in the scheme of global security.

• Canada has considerable expertise and experience in providing assistance for national elections in troubled regions. 

• Canada has the wherewithal and an immensely popular approach to teaching the nuances of public law enforcement to those who want and need to learn.

• Canada's solid reputation earned by years of contributions to global peace and stability initiatives would elevate the local perception of an international effort aimed at fixing Iraq. 

'We don't have enough soldiers because of our extensive U.N. commitments in Afghanistan and elsewhere', implies our new Prime Minister who must soon face the electorate in a national election. 

Don't say "not enough soldiers". Too many millions of dollars have been poured illegally into patronage pots by our central government to now make that argument. Find the money. Find the soldiers. We hired our central government politicians to make tough decisions, not excuses and not to purloin our tax dollars.

Iraq is a 21st Century pivotal point in global security. This is not the time to manage public policy and global security obligations exclusively on the basis of popularity polls: this is a time for true leadership and a deeper understanding than what is apparent in the bafflegab that emits from the players in North America's own tribal warfare, otherwise known as electioneering.

Well, as paradoxical as it may seem, Canada may have to wait till after an election for true leadership from our current Prime Minister, who will, and certainly should, win the next federal election. But let that not be as it was in Spain.

Beneath the veneer of anti-Americanism that shellacs international headlines and TV sound bites these days there is an emerging thread of facts as well as informed conjecture, which for future historians may vindicate the U.S. and Britain's, decision to invade/free Iraq --with the help of troops from Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Japan (non-combattant logisitics support), Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Thailand, Ukraine and friends.

1. Saddam wasn't 'taken out' in 1991 after Kuwait was freed because, according to the U.S. theory at the time, Saddam had effectively glued an unlikely mix of conflicted ethnic and religious elements which once unglued would explode in violent civil war and embroil the Persian Gulf Region.

   Without Saddam Hussein's brutal totalitarian rule, no process could contain the inevitable civil war. "It would be worse than the former Yugoslavia and much faster", some said. The global impact would be more than economic as oil shipments and sea traffic in the fragile Gulf region became unreliable or ground to a halt.

   By the summer of 2003 it was absolutely clear Iraq had been a failing nation prior to invasion and Saddam's grip on power, previously unknown to the West, was collapsing. With Saddam's dynasty in near ruin, it was only a matter of time before Iraq would have blown into fractional conflict divided along ethnic lines with ethnic alliances all around the circle of its neighbours.

   Undoubtedly the inevitable collapse of Saddam Hussein's iron rule would have brought Syria and Iran as well as Saudi Arabia  into the fray and the West would only have been a spectator as the Gulf Region exploded into conflict. Who would have fetched the spoils then? Syria? Iran? And what if any cities would be retired to smoking rubble after Israel were attacked?

   The inevitable collapse of Iraq needed to be contained with strong measures.

2. Jordanian law enforcement professionals seized a potpourri of chemical weapons yesterday. Where are they from? 

   According to limited information emerging from Jordanian officials, the mix was potent comprising choking agents, nerve gas and blistering agents--Saddams fetishes in a few hundred barrels. We don't know the exact chemical compounds but the existence of Al Qaeda CW capabilities is clear enough given that the tons of contraband including explosives was seized from the possession of eight confessed Al Qaeda agents. Add the name of Abu Musab Zarkawi (Ahmad Al-Khalayla), (see also Video: American Hostage Beheaded by Zarkawi?) their direct commander, and it is no stretch to suggest the chemicals may be a secondary proliferation of Saddam Hussein's hidden, illegal CW stash.

3. Haven't you wondered, "from where came the chemical weapons and nuclear weapons programme elements handed over by Mohammar Qaddafi"? Is it possible that this mismatched pile of dangerous paraphernalia of destruction was purchased from pre-war Iraq? We don't know. That's purely conjecture, but the Lybia-Iraq connections go back a long way.

4. In this issue you can read about a corrupt, "U.N. Oil For Food Programme" that improperly benefited France, Germany and Russia among others. That may have been the real reason to oppose a U.N.-backed invasion of Iraq instead of the fibs we all heard. Now that the cat is out of the bag, perhaps Europe can put on its most intellectually-honest thinking cap, get its hypocritical and longish Pinocchio nose out of the air, then 'lend a hand' in Iraq.

5. Former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien who like his popular mentor, the late Pierre Trudeau, hated the Canadian military but hated the United States even more. Not just rejecting the U.S. request for Canada's assistance Chretien went on to insult and berate the U.S. and its leadership in late 2002 and early 2003. 

Now that Canada has resolved its problem of "bad leadership"--quoting the grandson of Winston Churchill who made this observation in a 5 April 2003 Larry King interview-- it is now time to properly join our nation's primary ally.

Micheal John O'Brien, Editor

Canada Creates Homeland Security Framework

Wary of criticism that Canada is a security risk and has allowed its military capability to fail from neglect and underfunding, and as a prelude to the first U.S. Presidential meeting with Canada's new political leader, Paul Martin (who succeeds the recently retired Jean Chretien),  Canada's federal government  has issued a statement which promises a better effort on seaport security and more extensive identification and tracking of its citizens. 

The new plan appears to have as its model the "U.S. Joint Warfare: Homeland Defence" style of coordinated institutions and agencies.

It will also create a federal-provincial forum on emergencies, a national security advisory council, and a cross-cultural roundtable aimed at engaging Canada's various ethnic and religious communities on security matters.

"Working to prevent attacks like the one launched against commuter trains in Madrid requires a more integrated approach to national security," says Canada's latest "White Paper" on security entitled   Securing An Open Society: Canada's National Security Policy

Such an approach will also help us to develop a long-term strategic framework to more effectively prevent and respond to other types of security threats. "In short", says the Martin government, "we need to take the historic step of issuing Canada’s first-ever comprehensive statement of national security policy which provides an integrated strategy for addressing current and future threats to our country."

The statement was issued yesterday by Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan in Canada's federal Parliament. "Securing An Open Society: Canada's National Security Policy", sets out what the government says it believes is "an integrated strategy and action plan designed to address current and future threats".

"The National Security Policy is an integrated strategy that demonstrates the Government of Canada's leadership and commitment to protecting Canadians," said the Deputy Prime Minister.

"A key element of the policy is to ensure domestic partners will be engaged in improving our national security system, through:

• a permanent, high-level federal-provincial-territorial forum on emergencies, which will allow for regular strategic discussion of emergency management issues among key national players;

• the National Security Advisory Council, which will give the Government the benefit of advice by security experts external to government in evaluating and improving our system; and,

• the Cross-Cultural Roundtable on Security, which will better engage Canada's ethno-cultural and religious communities around ongoing security-related issues.

"A Government's most important duty is to ensure the safety and security of its citizens," said the Deputy Prime Minister. "The National Security Policy protects our collective security interests in a way that reflects core Canadian values of tolerance, openness and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms."

The policy is a long-term strategic framework focused on three core national security interests:

1. protecting Canada and Canadians at home and abroad;

2. ensuring Canada is not a base for threats to our allies; and,

3. contributing to international security.

"The National Security Policy assesses the threats to Canadians, articulates our national security interests and outlines an integrated management framework for national security issues," says a government release. "It provides a blueprint for action in six key areas - intelligence, emergency management, public health, transportation, border security, and international security."

"New investments detailed in the policy will address the need for enhanced tools and capacities across the Government of Canada in order to fulfill its security responsibilities and activities. Key new measures include:

• enhancing intelligence capabilities ($137 million);

• securing critical government information systems ($85 million);

• fully implementing the RCMP Real Time Identification Project and improving the national fingerprint system ($99.78 million); and 

• implementing the Passport Security Strategy, including facial recognition biometric technology on the Canadian Passport, in-line with international standards ($10.31 million).

"The policy also outlines new structures and strategies which will enable the Government of Canada to better anticipate and effectively manage complex threats:

• the creation of the Integrated Threat Assessment Centre ($30 million) and Government Operations Centre ($14.95 million) to improve the sharing and dissemination of threat information and better coordinate responses;

• the creation of Health Emergency Response Teams made up of health professionals from across the country, increasing Canada's ability to respond to health emergencies;

• strengthening marine security, including measures to improve coordination, enhance capacity and develop greater marine security co-operation with the United States ($308 million);

• the development of a Critical Infrastructure Protection Strategy for Canada - with the provinces, territories and the private sector - beginning with the release of a position paper this summer setting out key elements; and 

• the convening of a high-level national Cyber-security Task Force with public and private representation to develop a National Cyber-Security Strategy ($5 million).

While the Government of Canada says it is determined to take a leadership role in defining and protecting the national security of Canada, it claims to recognize and value the partnership it has with provinces, territories and front-line responders. The government release yesterday says the federal Liberals are committed to co-locate federal, provincial, territorial and municipal emergency operations centres.

Highlights of 'New Canadian Security Policy':

Current Threats

The world is a dangerous place, even if the relative safety of life in Canada sometimes obscures just how dangerous it is. As recent events have highlighted, there is a wide range of threats facing Canada from pandemics to terrorism. These threats can have a serious impact on the safety of Canadians and on the effective functioning of our society.

Terrorism.

• Religious extremism, including that practiced by a network of groups known collectively as al-Qaeda, remains a threat to Canada.
• Violent secessionist movements pose risks to Canadian citizens. Major secessionist movements from other countries have been active in Canada in a variety of ways.
• State-sponsored terrorism continues to be a serious problem and contributes to a more dangerous world that affects Canada’s security and prosperity.
• Domestic extremism, while not very prevalent in Canada, has in some cases resulted in violence and has threatened Canadians, including immigrant communities and religious minorities.

Proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. 

The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and their delivery systems, poses a risk to Canadians. Evidence exists that terrorist organizations and states with troubling international records have sought and experimented with such weapons an example being the foiling of a planned attack using the deadly chemical ricin in 2003 in the United Kingdom. Whether or not Canada was the primary target of such an attack, the impact on our security could be immense. The physical effects of such attacks would not respect borders and would have a significant impact on the global economy. 

Failed and failing states.

The growing number of failed or failing states is one of the most disturbing of recent security developments. These states contribute to spreading instability and can be a haven for both terrorists and organized crime groups that exploit weak or corrupt governing structures to pursue their nefarious activities. These activities have had consequences far beyond their borders, including for Canada. 

Foreign espionage. 

Foreign espionage against Canada did not stop with the end of the Cold War. As a highly advanced industrial economy, Canada is subject to foreign espionage that seeks to steal Canadian industrial and technical secrets for gain. Economic espionage can impact on our prosperity by undermining the competitiveness of Canadian companies. 

Though Canada may not face the same level of military threat from foreign states as during the Cold War, some countries remain interested in our defence and security plans, particularly as they relate to our defence co-operation with the United States and other allies. 

Natural disasters. 

Many regions of Canada have been subject to severe natural disasters in recent years which have taken lives and caused extensive property damage. Critical infrastructure vulnerability. 

The August 2003 electrical blackout that affected Ontario and eight U.S. states demonstrated how dependent we are on critical infrastructure and how vulnerable we are to accidents or deliberate attack on our cyber and physical security. 

Cyber-attacks are a growing concern that have the potential to impact on a wide range of critical infrastructure that is connected through computer networks. 

Organized crime. 

Organized crime in Canada is increasingly becoming part of a globalized network that supports the narcotics trade, migrant smuggling and the trafficking in persons, weapons smuggling, money laundering, theft (including identity theft), commercial fraud and extortion. A number of terrorist movements have advanced their activities by developing links with organized crime. Elements of organized crime are also increasing their attempts to undermine our justice system.

In Response to the Threat

Funding Promises:

The government has earmarked a modest $690 million spread over five years to accomplish its hastily prepared and less than ambitious goals:

• $308 million for marine security, including establishment of operations centres, increased on-water presence of the Coast Guard, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canadian Forces Maritime Command, and additional aerial surveillance. 
• $137 million to bolster the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and DND's Communications Security Establishment.
• $85 million for defences against assaults on vital computer networks and collaboration with the U.S. on a continent-wide early warning system to fend off cyber-attacks. 
• $100 million to improve the national fingerprint system through digital technology. 
• $30 million for an Integrated Threat Assessment Centre to be located at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. 
• $15 million to create a Government Operations Centre for managing national emergencies. 

Intelligence

Emergency Planning and Management

Transport Security

International Security

Editor's note: Readers may obtain a complete copy in PDF format: Securing An Open Society: Canada's National Security Policy.

Corrupt "Oil For Food" Under U.N. Investigation

An independent U.N. panel will conduct an inquiry into allegations of impropriety in the administration and management of the Iraq Oil-for-Food Programme.

The panel is to be chaired by Paul A. Volcker, former Chairman of the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve System. Its other two members are Justice Richard Goldstone of South Africa, who previously served as the Chief Prosecutor of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda, and Mark Pieth of Switzerland, a Professor of Criminal Law and Criminology at the University of Basel with expertise in money-laundering.

The panel will have the authority to:

1. Investigate whether the procedures established by the UN for the administration and management of the Programme were violated;
   

2. Determine whether any United Nations officials, personnel, agents or contractors engaged in any illicit or corrupt activities in the carrying out of their respective roles in relation to the Programme, and; 
   

3. Determine whether the accounts of the Programme were in order and were maintained in accordance with UN regulations and rules. 

The members of the independent panel will have the authority to access all relevant United Nations records and information, written or unwritten, and to interview all relevant United Nations officials and personnel. The panel is authorized to obtain records and interviews from persons unaffiliated with the UN who may have knowledge relevant to the inquiry, including allegations of impropriety. It is also authorized to seek cooperation from UN Member States to conduct its inquiry. The Security Council today adopted unanimously a resolution welcoming the appointment of the panel and calling upon the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), Iraq and all other Member States – including their national regulatory authorities – to fully cooperate with the inquiry.

Within three months of the initiation of its work, the panel should provide the Secretary-General with a status report of its work. The Secretary General has stated that he will employ his authority so that the Organization's privileges and immunities do not impede efforts to hold accountable those who have engaged in unacceptable conduct.

"Obviously, these are serious allegations which we take seriously, and this is why we’ve put together a very serious group to investigate it," Secretary-General Kofi Annan said last week. "The organization will take whatever steps may be appropriate to address the issues raised by the inquiry. We have assembled a group of respected individuals that I hope will complete its work as soon as practicable."

"As to the impact on our activities in Iraq, I hope the Iraqis realize that even if there have been wrongdoings by certain members on the U.N. staff, the United Nations as a whole, did make a genuine effort to fill in their humanitarian needs," he added. "There were hundreds of U.N. staff who worked very hard and diligently to establish the food distribution system and ensure that supplies did go in and, I think, that positive aspect of it should not be overlooked either."

The panel’s report is to be made public once completed.

Anan says 'Don't blame U.N. and the Secretariat'

In candid remarks made last Thursday to a press scrum, the U.N. Secretary General said, "I think it is unfortunate that there have been so many allegations, and some of it is being handled as if they were facts, and this is why we need to have this investigation done."

Anan pointed out that despite some corruption of the process, much good was accomplished through the programme and that some elements of its infrastructure may be helpful for planned elections.

"And in all this what has been lost is the fact that the Oil-for-Food Programme did provide relief to the Iraqi population;" added Anan, "every household was touched. With the government, we set up one of the best distribution systems, to such an extent that even some suggested we should use the distribution cards for elections, to show you how pervasive [it was]. So that should not be overlooked. The fact that there may have been wrongdoing by a few, should not destroy the work that many hard working U.N. staff did.

"And secondly," he continued, "if the Iraqi government has smuggled oil and done all sorts of things, I don't think it is fair to lump it all together and blame the U.N. and the Secretariat. Because there are things that were definitely beyond our control, not only the Secretariat, but even the Member States. And so, once the issues have been looked at and separated, I hope people will put things in perspective and will be able to get the facts out. And I'm very keen on Mr. [Paul] Volcker, Judge [Richard] Goldstone and Mr. [Mark] Pieth to really get to work and give us a report as soon as possible."

Bombardier/CAMP Pen Deal for Maintenance Tracking Service

CAMP Systems of Long Island McArthur Airport in Islip, NY will assume responsibility for providing maintenance-tracking services for Bombardier business jets. 

Under the terms an agreement concluded last week, CAMP will also provide service for more than 700 Bombardier business aircraft currently enrolled in Bombardier’s in-house Computer Integrated Maintenance Management System (CIMMS). 

Bombardier customers will enjoy private access to their maintenance tracking information through an expanded suite of services on a 24-hour basis, seven days a week, via a secure Internet site. 

To support a strong integration moving forward, CAMP is retaining Bombardier teams of CIMMS specialists in Wichita and Montréal, and will offer extensive training seminars at locations worldwide to help familiarize customers and operators with its maintenance tracking systems. We’re confident that we will offer the high level of technical and product expertise that customers have come to expect from Bombardier Aerospace, said Ken Grey, president of CAMP Systems. 
According to Mr. Grey, his organization is well prepared to begin working with Bombardier customers. We believe both current CIMMS customers as well as future subscribers will be pleased with our web-based maintenance tracking system and will also benefit from CAMP’s mixed fleet capabilities, stated Mr. Grey. 

Bombardier developed CIMMS in 1994 as an extensive maintenance programming and inventory record tracking service for all Bombardier-built business jets. It provides immediate access to new material, revisions, updates and information on service-related subjects including service bulletins and airworthiness directives. 

CAMP has been providing computerized maintenance tracking services for the business aviation market for over 35 years. In 1986 the company pioneered on-line, fully functional, real-time access to its central database of maintenance information via CAMP LINK. It introduced its industry-leading internet access platform in 2001. 

1st Challenger 300 Delivered To Corporate User

Dean Phillips Inc. has taken delivery of a new Bombardier Challenger 300 super midsize business jet, marking the first delivery of the all-new jet to a traditional operator. 

Aircraft serial number 20010 was delivered to Dean Phillips Inc. mid month. It marks the fifth Challenger 300 to enter into service to date; the first four aircraft have been operating since January with Bombardier’s Flexjet fractional ownership program. 

At the start of this month, the Bombardier Flexjet Challenger 300 fleet had already logged over 1,000 flight hours in daily service across America. The in-service fleet, including the function and reliability test aircraft had already logged over 1,800 hours in daily service worldwide. The sensational jet has successfully criss-crossed over the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans and proven its reliability in extensive tours in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East. 

Dean Phillips Inc. is a growing multi-national company with interests in banking and financial services, natural gas processing, propane distribution, agriculture and food processing. It has operations and offices in the United States, Europe and Australia. 

A Bombardier customer since 1993, the company also currently operates a Bombardier Learjet* 60 midsize business jet, and previously operated a Bombardier Learjet 31A. 

We needed a larger aircraft and we liked how Bombardier developed this new Challenger 300, observed Dean Phillips, president and chief executive officer. It offers an excellent step-up for us, providing fast and comfortable transportation to our various operations in the U.S. and Australia. 

Peter Edwards, president, Bombardier Business Aircraft, said the Phillips’ decision underscores the benefits of Bombardier’s wide-ranging and flexible product line. The Challenger 300 offers a perfect fit between our Learjet 60 and Challenger 604 and sets the standard by delivering true transcontinental range, best-in-class cabin and value. 

Powered by two new Honeywell HTF7000 high bypass turbofan engines delivering 6,826 pounds (30.4 kN) of thrust at takeoff, the Bombardier Challenger 300 can cross the United States within just five hours. A 4,750-foot (1,448-m) takeoff distance and a landing distance of 2,610 feet (796 m) give it exceptional short airfield accessibility. 

It delivers a top speed of Mach 0.82 (541 mph; 870 km/h) and a maximum non-stop range of 3,100 nautical miles (5,741 km) with eight passengers and is approved to a maximum operating altitude of 45,000 feet (13,716 m). Its 28.6-foot-long cabin (8.72 m) provides a superior working environment with a well-appointed standard interior that features double-club seating, reclining seats, ergonomic tables and power outlets

U.S. Navy Awards Atlantis SAITS Contract

Atlantis Systems International, (a unit of Atlantis Systems Corp, Ontario Canada) has been awarded a contract worth over $6.5 million by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems to provide Student Aircraft Interface Trainer Stations (SAITS) for the U.S. Navy's F/A-18 Visual Environment Maintenance Trainers. The SAITS will form part of a major upgrade to the trainers, giving them the flexibility to support maintenance training on the Navy's F/A-18E, as well as future versions of the aircraft.

"We are very pleased to be working with Boeing to provide an innovative, cost-effective training solution for the U.S. Navy's front-line fighter/attack aircraft," said Martyn Exon, Atlantis VP and General Manager. "This contract builds on Atlantis' successful performance on the F/A-18 Integrated Maintenance Training System (IMTS), for which Boeing is also the prime contractor. Our experience in developing advanced student interface technology for the IMTS will be of great benefit to the Navy on the SAITS project." (Atlantis was awarded the $32 million IMTS contract in 2002.)

The SAITS trainer stations will be deployed at the Lemoore Naval Air Station in California and the Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia, and are scheduled for delivery in 2006. They will be developed by Atlantis at the Company's facility in Brampton, Ontario. Award of the SAITS contract was facilitated by the administrative and business services of the Canadian Commercial Corporation, a Canadian government Crown Corporation.

Publisher and Editor In Chief:
Micheal John O'Brien
The Wednesday Report is published and printed weekly in hard copy by MPRM Group Limited
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