There have been at least 68 Islamist terror plots aimed at the U.S. since 9/11 — six attempts this year alone. And the problem is actually bigger than the number suggests. That is because the list does not include activity by the likes of al-Qaeda and ISIS in Canada.
To America’s enemies, North America is just one big target. They don’t make much of a distinction at all over which innocents they put in their crosshairs.
The recent conviction of Islamist terrorists involved in plotting an attack in British Columbia on Canada Day two years ago is a reminder that we are all in this together. In fact, over the course of the trial it was revealed that the pair of would-be murders were inspired by the Boston Marathon bombing.
If there is good news, it is that U.S. and Canadian officials work very closely together on combating terrorism. The recent passage of the USA Freedom Act, for example, means as much up north as it does down here. The act preserved key law enforcement investigative tools for tracking down suspected terrorist activities.
Terrorists don’t respect our borders. When U.S. authorities pick up intelligence over a threat here, it is just as likely that the information may be important to the security of Canada. The reverse is true as well.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member