As a Canadian, I can assure you that the current Canadian federal Liberal government does NOT take the Islamist threat seriously (if, indeed, the Public Security Minister, Ann McClellan, even understands the issue). For examples, Canada's port and airport security has been shown consistently to be weak and easily evaded. CAIR routinely provides an unattributed op-ed piece through Sheema Khan to The Globe and Mail (self-described as "Canada's national newspaper"). Canadian indian reservations on the St. Lawrence River serve as active and efficient conduits of drugs and illegal aliens into the States. Infinite rights of appeal and public funding for bogus "refugee" claimants (many of whom are Muslim). The list is endless.

My suggestion, if the Americans want to better secure our mutual border, is to threaten to throttle trade between the two countries. Canada is the States' largest trade partner, with trade of $2B/day between the two nations. That said, if Tom Ridge were to make toughened Canadian immigration and public security measures a quid pro quo for continued NAFTA access to US markets, the Canadian government would fold like a cheap suitcase. The fact is, Canada needs trade with the US to survive; the US does not need us.

More generally, the orderly implementation of a continental security cordon that has been mooted between Canada and the US would make more sense. Simply integrate and equalize the security and immigration regimes of both nations, to the tougher of the two standards. All it will take is another Ahmed Rassam (attempted-LAX bomber) attempting to slip through the US border to cause the US to hermetically seal our border.

Earl
Proud of my country, ashamed of its government.

There is a fence between the US and Mexico. Remind me why there isn't one on our northern border?

answer to basil:

(1) very costly to fence 4000 miles of border -- most of which is very rural. cost/benefit analysis i would imagine would be in the extreme disadvantage. money could be used far more effectively in other ways.
(2) except for skirmish over some island near vancouver, america and canada have always been friends and consider our quarrels to be more or less family disputes.
(3) america protects canada by sea already -- so it makes much more sense for the canadians to get more serious than for us to alienate them.

i appreciate your comments, earl. as an american who has visited canada much and has many canadian friends, i have a lot of hope that canadian policy will come around.

Nathan,i assume you are a regular person,just like all of us posting on this message board,and yet your logic is far better and it makes far much sense than that of most of our senators,congresmen and media.....
Why is it that the people who are in positions of power and that the americans have trusted with the security or the country,why are these people so confused,reluctant to face the reality,and careless ?!
Don`t they realize that the destruction of our country means their own destruction?!
And if they are suicidal,why can`t we vote them out of office?

This fence idea is ridiculous. Canada has borders with only one country, the US, and both countries have comparable levels of wealth, democracy, justice and law enforcement. All we need is similar criteria for entry between the two countries coupled with good biometrics and seamless sharing of information. Customs offices along the US-Canada border could then be removed, freeing the resources for the ports & airports.
The main problem currently is the blatantly anti-american attitude of the party in power (the Liberals). Once they are quicked out by the Conservatives this spring, I predict an improvement at the border.
Joaquin, in Canada.

I admit I was not serious about a fence, but I am surprised that so many posters believe America should let Canada be responsible for our border security. Someone suggested things might get better after the next election? And have you ever seen seamless sharing of information between two countries, especially with the contempt the current Canadian government has for America.

This is not acceptable. It is our border, and if Canada wants to allow terrorists asylum, we should act in our own interests. Earl was right, we should put heavy pressure on Canada, and if they won't clean up the situation, a little embarrassment, such as a symbolic stretch of fence, is in order. Ahmad Rassam came from Canada, and we just can't take these chances. Canada will probably wise up after a 9/11 type in their country, but we don't have to wait for that day.

I read Earl's post. I understand his thoughts on this. I think America and Canada can work together to stop all of this. It would be costly to build a 4000 mile barrier, but look how much we lost on 9/11.

I have no problem with Canada. I do know that alot of the French Canadiens hate us. Hopefully we can come to some resolution on this.

My main concern is our border with Mexico. This is the real tragedy. Mexicans come here illegally, but no matter the job situation, they're still here illegally, and their asses should be booted out. They even shoot at border patrol officers in an attempt to get in here. What should that tell everyone of us about the element they are trying to bring to the U.S.?

If we don't take this country back, and soon, it will be lost to Arab and Mexican criminal bastards forever.

The issue of national security is paramount. And, it isn't mentioned in the Presidential primaries. National Security is more improtant than the budget and the tax cuts right now. We need a huge push for this issue to be put on the table. I know Bush will, but Kerry won't say a word.

Perhaps because he's financially backed by people from terrorist supporting countries. And people are actually considering electing this guy to run the country. My goodness gracious, can't the lefties see what's happening here?

D.C.

yes, the lefties can see quite clearly, d.c. and they are secretly jubilant that perhaps america will fall -- it's what they always wanted which helps to explain their undying love for communism and hopes that we would also become communist during the cold war. the left would like for all of us to believe that they are american, too -- they just want a different america than the one our forefathers and ancestors fought and died for.

Ted, you're exactly right. What a shame it is too. Why anyone would want death and destruction in their own land is way beyond me. I feel that this train of thought could be considered treason.

They have to be out of their minds. What could they benefit from being under the thumbs of these nightgown wearing bombers with fan belts on their heads?

D.C.

I want to know what these groups plan to do? Why haven't they 'made their move yet?' (G-d forbid)

Response to D.C.:

You mention that a lot of French Canadians hate the U.S. As a pro-American French Canadian, I unfortunately have to agree with you: the society I live in is overwhelmingly leftist and has a serious anti-American and anti-Israeli bias. This is extremely sad, since we, as a democratic people, stand for the same principles and values as the Americans do.

I think one can blame, among other things, the French influence for Québec's anti-American bias. Most of our intellectuals, writers and politicians have strong ties with French scholars and therefore inherit their inaccurate views on the U.S.

Nevertheless, there is a growing movement of opposition to such bigotery within Québec. Many are profoundly fed up with the usual crap about so-called "American imperialism".

Only, we don't get our voices heard in the media. But this is bound to change, trust me.

Alex