terrorism

Thursday April 26, 2018

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday April 26, 2018 

‘Raw hatred’: why the ‘incel’ movement targets and terrorises women

October 22, 2014

When a van was driven on to a Toronto pavement on Tuesday, killing 10 people and injuring 15, police chief Mark Saunders said that, while the incident appeared to be a deliberate act, there was no evidence of terrorism. The public safety minister Ralph Goodale backed this up, deeming the event “not part of an organised terror plot”. Canada has rules about these things: to count as terrorism, the attacker must have a political, religious or social motivation, something beyond “wanting to terrorise”.

Why have the authorities been so fast to reject the idea of terrorism (taking as read that this may change; the tragedy is very fresh)? Shortly before the attack, a post appeared on the suspect’s Facebook profile, hailing the commencement of the “Incel Rebellion”, including the line “Private (Recruit) … Infantry 00010, wishing to speak to Sgt 4chan please. C23249161.” (“4chan is the main organising platform for the ‘alt-right’,” explains Mike Wendling, the author of Alt-Right: from 4Chan to the White House.)

June 6, 2006

There is a reluctance to ascribe to the “incel” movement anything so lofty as an “ideology” or credit it with any developed, connected thinking, partly because it is so bizarre in conception.

Standing for “involuntarily celibate”, the term was originally invented 20 years ago by a woman known only as Alana, who coined the term as a name for an online support forum for singles, basically a lonely hearts club. “It feels like being the scientist who figured out nuclear fission and then discovers it’s being used as a weapon for war,” she says, describing the feeling of watching it mutate into a Reddit muster point for violent misogyny.

Who are the ‘incels’ and how do they relate to Toronto van attack?

It is part of the “manosphere”, but is distinguished from men’s rights activism by what Wendling – who is also the editor of BBC Trending, the broadcaster’s social media investigation unit – calls its “raw hatred. It is vile. It is just incredibly unhinged and separate from reality and completely raw.” It has some crossover with white supremacism, in the sense that its adherents hang out in the same online spaces and share some of the same terminology, but it is quite distinctive in its hate figures: Stacys (attractive women); Chads (attractive men); and Normies (people who aren’t incels, ie can find partners but aren’t necessarily attractive). Basically, incels cannot get laid and they violently loathe anyone who can. (Continued: Guardian) 

 

Tuesday January 31, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday January 31, 2017

Quebec City mosque shooting: Alexandre Bissonnette identified as alleged gunman

Quebec provincial police now say that only one of the two men detained Sunday night in connection with the mass shooting at a mosque in Quebec City that killed six people is considered a suspect.

Surete du Quebec said in a statement just after noon Monday the second person is considered a witness, but they did not offer any names. Media reports identified the “witness” as Mohamed Belkhadir. Earlier reports said the man’s name was Mohamed Khadir or El Khadir.

Reports from Quebec media, including La Presse, TVA, and Radio Canada, say that Alexandre Bissonnette is the lone person suspected in the shooting.

The horrific attacks occurred inside the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec in Quebec City’s Ste-Foy neighbourhood just before 8 p.m. ET, when a masked gunman entered the building and opened fire, according to witnesses and police.

The victims were identified as men who ranged in age from 35 to 60. Five people remain in hospital, with two of those in critical condition and the three others stable. At least 14 others suffered minor injuries and were released, according to the University of Quebec Hospital Centre spokeswoman Genevieve Dupuis.

Thirty-nine people escaped the mosque shooting without injuries.  (Source: Global News) 



 

Thursday December 1, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Thursday December 1, 2016 The world according to Trump, and the peril ofÊisolationism We have yet to see the shape ofÊDonald Trump's foreign policy. But as we wait, so do nervous leaders across Europe, Latin America, Asia andÊAfrica. With his arrival in the Oval Office, American alliances and policies forged over decades may well be in play. Meanwhile, in Moscow,ÊPresidentÊVladimir PutinÊsmiles at the election outcome. Hmm. That would be worrisome enough if the U.S. role in geopolitics would start from scratch on Inauguration Day. It won't. PresidentÊBarack ObamaÊalready has reduced America's global involvement and influence. That backward lean is a key reason why Trump will inherit so many foreignÊpolicy predicaments. An America that on his watch slips further to the sidelines, an insular America that regards trouble on the other side of the world as someoneÊelse's problem, would risk eroding diplomatic partnerships and defense pacts. That would imperil American interests overseas and at home:ÊConflicts elsewhere often make themselves felt here. Witness theÊIslamic State-inspired attacks in San Bernardino, Calif., and Orlando, Fla. OrÊremember 9/11.Ê(Continued: Chicago Tribune Editorial)Êhttp://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-trump-foreign-policy-obama-putin-russia-edit-20161110-story.html This cartoon was colourized from the same image published on September 13, 2001. https://mackaycartoons.net/2001/09/13/thursday-september-13-2001/ USA, maps, wall, isolationism, isolationist, terrorism, security, America, 9/11, Donald Trump

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday December 1, 2016

The world according to Trump, and the peril of isolationism

We have yet to see the shape of Donald Trump’s foreign policy. But as we wait, so do nervous leaders across Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa. With his arrival in the Oval Office, American alliances and policies forged over decades may well be in play. Meanwhile, in Moscow, President Vladimir Putin smiles at the election outcome. Hmm.

That would be worrisome enough if the U.S. role in geopolitics would start from scratch on Inauguration Day. It won’t. President Barack Obama already has reduced America’s global involvement and influence. That backward lean is a key reason why Trump will inherit so many foreign policy predicaments.

An America that on his watch slips further to the sidelines, an insular America that regards trouble on the other side of the world as someone else’s problem, would risk eroding diplomatic partnerships and defense pacts. That would imperil American interests overseas and at home: Conflicts elsewhere often make themselves felt here. Witness the Islamic State-inspired attacks in San Bernardino, Calif., and Orlando, Fla. Or remember 9/11. (Continued: Chicago Tribune Editorial)

This cartoon was colourized from the same image published on September 13, 2001.

 

Friday August 19, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Friday August 19, 2016 Ottawa pledges deradicalization hire despite skepticism at anti-terror effectiveness Following the fatal police shooting of would-be suicide bomber Aaron Driver, CanadaÕs Public Safety Minister says the Liberals will Òup our gameÓ in the fight against terrorism by imminently hiring a deradicalization adviser. ÒWhat the incident in Strathroy demonstrates is that this is important,Ó Ralph Goodale told reporters on Wednesday. He said the new adviser will be hired within weeks and could succeed in counter-terrorism challenges where police and intelligence services are falling short. Mr. Driver, 24, from Strathroy, Ont., was killed last week. Federal authorities had red-flagged him as an aspiring terrorist, but nothing could make him reconsider his sworn allegiance to the Islamic State. Despite a degree of monitoring, he had managed to put together an improvised bomb and a video in which he promised to shed Canadian blood for the terror group. The creation of a deradicalization adviser, who will run a $10-million-a-year office, fulfills a 2015 campaign promise by the Liberals. At the time, the party criticized the then-Conservative government for its law-and-order approach to fighting terrorism. Details are under wraps, but observers are keen to see how the approach will take shape, especially since the global track record of such initiatives is mixed. ÒThere are all kinds of these programs all over the world. EveryoneÕs got one,Ó said Phil Gurski, a former analyst at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. And yet, he added, no one has really figured out the best approach. CSIS recently canvassed outside experts for feedback on which governmentsÕ deradicalization Ð or Òcountering violent extremismÓ (CVE) Ð programs are working best. Many replied that none are known to be working particularly well. ÒSome expressed skepticism as to the relevance of CVE initiatives, highlighting

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday August 19, 2016

Ottawa pledges deradicalization hire despite skepticism at anti-terror effectiveness

Following the fatal police shooting of would-be suicide bomber Aaron Driver, Canada’s Public Safety Minister says the Liberals will “up our game” in the fight against terrorism by imminently hiring a deradicalization adviser.

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator - Tuesday November 17, 2015 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada will "do its part" in the military fight against ISIS, but remains committed to withdrawing warplanes from the mission. During a news conference at the G20 summit in Antalya, Turkey, Trudeau said Friday's attacks in Paris will not prompt the government to reverse course on a plan to pull out Canada's fighter jets. Instead, Canada will step up training of local troops, he said. "I know that Canada will continue to, and be seen to be continuing to, do its part in the fight against this terrorist scourge," he said. The Liberal platform during the campaign for the recent federal election committed to end the combat mission and "refocus" on training local forces in Iraq. Trudeau said that commitment remains, but he has not set a timetable for when Canada will withdraw from the U.S.-led air combat mission. "We made a clear commitment in the campaign to stop the bombing mission by Canadian jets and replace it with a role for Canada that is still a serious military role, but leaned more towards training of local troops to be able to bring the fight directly to ISIL," he said, referring to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). "That's the commitment we made very clearly throughout the campaign and we have a mandate to do that." On Sunday, two of Canada's fighter jets were involved in a strike against an ISIS fighting position in Iraq, according to the Department of National Defence. The G20 leaders released a joint statement at the G20 summit, calling the attacks in Paris "an unacceptable affront to all humanity" and reaffirming solidarity in the fight against terrorism as a major priority. The statement says counterterror actions must be part of a comprehensive approach that includes fighting radicalization and recruitment, hampering terrorist movements and preventing terrorists from exploiting the internet. "The direct or ind

November 17, 2015

“What the incident in Strathroy demonstrates is that this is important,” Ralph Goodale told reporters on Wednesday. He said the new adviser will be hired within weeks and could succeed in counter-terrorism challenges where police and intelligence services are falling short.

Mr. Driver, 24, from Strathroy, Ont., was killed last week. Federal authorities had red-flagged him as an aspiring terrorist, but nothing could make him reconsider his sworn allegiance to the Islamic State. Despite a degree of monitoring, he had managed to put together an improvised bomb and a video in which he promised to shed Canadian blood for the terror group.

The creation of a deradicalization adviser, who will run a $10-million-a-year office, fulfills a 2015 campaign promise by the Liberals. At the time, the party criticized the then-Conservative government for its law-and-order approach to fighting terrorism.

Details are under wraps, but observers are keen to see how the approach will take shape, especially since the global track record of such initiatives is mixed. “There are all kinds of these programs all over the world. Everyone’s got one,” said Phil Gurski, a former analyst at the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. And yet, he added, no one has really figured out the best approach.

CSIS recently canvassed outside experts for feedback on which governments’ deradicalization – or “countering violent extremism” (CVE) – programs are working best. Many replied that none are known to be working particularly well.

“Some expressed skepticism as to the relevance of CVE initiatives, highlighting the lack of supporting empirical evidence thus far to measure their effectiveness,” says a CSIS discussion paper recently published online. Other experts told CSIS such programs are only valuable “provided that their implementation is not led by governments … [because] governments are not credible messengers.”

Speaking to reporters after a speech to the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police on Wednesday, Mr. Goodale said he is mulling over who among two or three short-listed candidates will lead the government’s newest office. “We will be making the selection shortly,” he said. “That person will be directing a very important effort to up our game in Canada in terms of recognizing and understanding the process of radicalization.”

The minister said the new adviser will focus on how to nip extremism in the bud, as well as on how to unlock the psyches of hardened extremists. Mr. Driver was for years an active cheerleader of the Islamic State on Twitter. Last year, police compelled him to appear in court to swear a specialized peace bond that exists for terrorism suspects. (Source: Globe & Mail)

 

Wednesday June 15, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Wednesday June 15, 2016 Justin Trudeau condemns killing of Canadian hostage John Ridsdel Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denounced the killing of Canadian Robert Hall by a militant group in the Philippines as well as the mass shooting that saw dozens killed at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on Sunday as "vicious acts of hatred and violence.Ó The prime minister praised Hall's family for their "strength of character in their resilience" in the face of what he described as a "terrible situation.Ó "This is a grievous loss for them, and their country mourns with them," Trudeau said in a brief press conference in the foyer of the House of Commons Monday. Sources close to the situation in Jolo, the island where the al-Qaeda-linked group is based, and within Philippine security confirmed Hall's death early Monday to CBC News. Hall is the second Canadian to die at the hands of the extremist group in recent months after John RidsdelÊwas beheaded in April. Ridsdel and Hall were abducted last September from a seaside resort, along with Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and Marites Flor, a Filipina national.Ê Trudeau reiterated the Canadian government's policy not to pay ransom to hostage takers. "We will not turn the maple leaf worn with pride by over 3 million Canadians abroad into targets," Trudeau said. "Terrorism is a scourge on the world. Too many families have endured the unspeakable grief the Hall family is feeling today because of these senseless acts of hatred," Trudeau said. "On behalf of them and of all Canadians, we mourn their loss and reassert our resolve.Ó (Source: CBC News)Êhttp://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/justin-trudeau-robert-hall-death-1.3632389 Canada, ransom, travel, backpackers, radical, islam, hostage, terrorism

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday June 15, 2016

Justin Trudeau condemns killing of Canadian hostage John Ridsdel

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denounced the killing of Canadian Robert Hall by a militant group in the Philippines as well as the mass shooting that saw dozens killed at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on Sunday as “vicious acts of hatred and violence.”

The prime minister praised Hall’s family for their “strength of character in their resilience” in the face of what he described as a “terrible situation.”

“This is a grievous loss for them, and their country mourns with them,” Trudeau said in a brief press conference in the foyer of the House of Commons Monday.

Sources close to the situation in Jolo, the island where the al-Qaeda-linked group is based, and within Philippine security confirmed Hall’s death early Monday to CBC News.

Hall is the second Canadian to die at the hands of the extremist group in recent months after John Ridsdel was beheaded in April. Ridsdel and Hall were abducted last September from a seaside resort, along with Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and Marites Flor, a Filipina national.

Trudeau reiterated the Canadian government’s policy not to pay ransom to hostage takers.

“We will not turn the maple leaf worn with pride by over 3 million Canadians abroad into targets,” Trudeau said.

“Terrorism is a scourge on the world. Too many families have endured the unspeakable grief the Hall family is feeling today because of these senseless acts of hatred,” Trudeau said. “On behalf of them and of all Canadians, we mourn their loss and reassert our resolve.” (Source: CBC News)