National Post (National Edition)
U.S. domestic terrorism presents threat to Canada
Even more vigilance will now be required
Canada is not immune from the hate crimes and domestic terrorism perpetrated by white supremacists that afflicts the United States. The difference is that the Americans have pneumonia and, so far, we only have a cold.
Last week's riot in Washington, D.C., provides the most shocking example of the grave and present threat gripping the U.S., due to its history of violence, racism and white supremacy, as well as the political cover provided by President Donald Trump and many Republicans.
The question now is: How big is this problem?
There is evidence of a visible army of maladjusted males who hate minorities, women and democracy, and who are capable of quickly forming “flash mobs” to swarm and cause violence at legislatures, political rallies and peaceful protests throughout the United States. Their biggest success was last week's insurrection, but their crowning political achievement this century was the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Va., that Trump never condemned.
In 2019, the director of FBI testified that there had been considerably more arrests involving domestic terrorism linked to white supremacists in recent years than arrests of foreign terrorists.
This presents a clear and present danger to neighbouring Canada. There is the spillover effect in terms of influence and recruitment, but also the fact that there will be an influx of people fleeing U.S. law enforcement in the ensuing crackdown. The ability to easily disappear into Canada's vast territory across a virtually unguarded border is a worry. So is our lame refugee and immigration system.
Worldwide, the influence of American domestic terrorism is being spread digitally, infecting young, isolated males. For instance, this year a former Canadian Forces reservist was charged in the U.S. for being part of a neo-Nazi conspiracy to open fire at a gun rally. He allegedly recruited members in Winnipeg and had been active for some time.
Likewise, in July, a gunman from Manitoba was arrested and faces 22 charges after being apprehended with weapons on the grounds of Rideau Hall. In 2017, the Quebec City mosque shooter killed six and injured nine. And in 2018, the Toronto's “incel” van attacker killed 10 and injured 16. The list goes on.
All democracies are affected. France and Germany are so riddled with hate crimes that they now have more police per capita than the United States. And, lest it be forgotten, the two worst white supremacist attacks in recent memory were mounted in idyllic Norway and New Zealand.
On Oct. 6, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security finally named white-supremacist groups as “the most persistent and lethal threat in the homeland.” Two days later, the FBI arrested 13 men in Michigan for allegedly plotting to kidnap and execute the state's governor.
American public opinion has shifted after watching the terrible footage of a Capitol policeman being beaten to death and a hangman's gallows erected by face-painted crazies. The majority want Trump out immediately, according to polls, and many of his Republican “enablers” face censure or have been forced to resign. Some may face charges of incitement.
The debacle in Washington should be a wake-up call in a country that has more cops, soldiers and guns per capita than most countries. Last month, America's federal institutions were breached by a massive Russian cyberattack and last week, its Capitol building was sacked because it was inadequately protected.
Fortunately, Canada instituted stringent security measures following attacks against Parliament in 2014 and Quebec's national assembly in 1995. But even more vigilance will now be required as our lawless neighbour clamps down on its violent underclass. Canadian police, military and parents should take note.