Are we being fed Bullshit by the Canadian media re: terrorism?

Is Canada really at risk? Or is the media just desparate for a local spin?
Today's attacks prompted a disgusting display of "are we prepared" by the Canadian media. As well, transit systems in major cities were placed on high alert, an utterly useless measure if you ask me.
I doubt the terrorist hit-list goes, "New York, Madrid, London, Saskatoon."
What really got me was the Skytrain and the TTC's answer, "We've put a vigilant alert out for operators to watch for suspicious behaviour."

What the fuck is that? "Hey guys do you job today; okay?"

That lackluster response combined with the media saturation leads me to believe the major Canadian media had seemingly nothing better to do than spin this in that manner.
I doubt those who reported such stories even believed in them, so they've in effect created a fear without seriously examining the the story.

Any "experts" I saw today offered shallow phrases like, "Yes, we're vulnerable, it could happen anytime anywhere." As "proof" Canada is in danger of an attack.

If we are really concerned, let's be concerned, asses the situation and give an honest assesment to the people of Canada.
Thoughts?

but it's hard to imagine Canada being attacked...

However domestic terrorism.
I've always wondered how Canada would respond these days.
I'm sure many who were around for the FLQ bombing campaign and the October crisis would be collected, but the youth of Canada are so sheltered when it comes to such things.

Trying not to be an ignorant American here, but keeping up with our own politics, policies, and assorted bullshit--as well as the politics, policies, and assorted bullshit of other Imperialistic, Colonialist empires keeps one a bit...preoccupied.

Around 50 bombs ignited through Montreal in the early 70s... then the military was called in after an MLA and British Diplomat were kidnapped... Canada was effectively under Martial law for a month.

I hadn't realized it had gotten so heavy there. Then again, I was still in single-digits, age-wise, when that happened. I know that Quebec and the rest of Canada have had their differences--French as opposed to British influences and all that.

I'd be surprised to hear that Canada would be on any international terrorist's hit-list, though.

and surrounded by hippies. It's no wonder I didn't know anything about it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_Crisis



ANd a pic I hope is never taken again

it got that bad.

Thanks for the history lesson. Very interesting.

Who the fuck would care?

Bush wouldn't bother making a statement for a few days until some diplomat shoved an umbrella in his ribs and prodded him into it, and then it would amount to "too bad, but I told you so" -- and O'Reilly and Coulter would say it's about damned time; the rest of the world would say "where's that exactly?"

Oh yeah, and we'd say "excuse me" for getting in the way of the bomb. ;)

Not much satisfaction in that for anybody looking to rile folks up and get a bunch of air time on Fox.

So do you believe we are being fed this bullshit? Who is directing the media to do it? Was it the CBC running this fearmongering?

However I do believe in the media overreacting.

Virtually all our papers and other media outlets belong to one of three companies. If any one of those decides to scare people shitless, they don't need the other two.

Newspapers don't just decide to scare people shitless. These terrorist stories are just the result of sensationalism for the sake of selling papers, not to scare the public into consumption.

Virutally all of the major outlets are owned by three companies, but the smaller canadian media isn't as bad.

They ROCK!

:toast:

Saskatoon was a hotbed of political intrigue and world gov't dealings.

That was a great line! :rofl:

re Canada threat. I doubt there is much of one.

re terrorism in general, if someone wants to bomb something, they'll find a way to do it....."vigilant alert" or not. A suicide bomber with a backpack isn't likely to be caught.


I also thought it was odd that we're all beefing up security ONLY for our mass transit systems. Doesn't that effectively tell terrorists that everything else is wide open?

Not trying to be glib about it, but security measures can only get us so far.

that would make a few headlines in the US.

column inches still have to be filled as you know.

So this week it's 'Canada's a terrorist target!' time.

I mean...pretty well all that can be said about SSM and/or Belinda has been said...ad nauseum.

raising the 'fear' level when it suits them. It was very interesting, imo, that they never really emphasized we were on the list BEFORE the US and Britain invaded Iraq which, no doubt, imo, would shift the focus of those who are doing the bombing. The bottom line is, imo, we are simply a middle power without empire ambitions nor imposing our beliefs on anyone therefore there is little reason for anyone to attack us.

The only country to attack Canada was the US and there is no reason there would be reason for others to perpetrate an attack in Canada. We are neither big enough nor influential enough in the oil/religious/colonial/ wars to count and that is just fine with me. We will do what needs to be done if something happens, we always have in the past and will do again.

but the member countries of the "Coalition" in Iraq are far more popular targets for them.

I doubt CBC would say something like that.