Why Do Terrorism Experts Think Canadians Are in Denial?

Seriously...

Canadians should not be surprised to see terrorism coming so close to home, said former RCMP jihadism expert Tom Quiggin, now a university researcher in Singapore.

"A clear sense of denial exists in Canada about the degree to which terrorism activity occurs," said Mr. Quiggin, who is Canada's only court-recognized expert on jihadism.

1. Who said Canadians are 'surprised' by this news?
2. How many Canadians are in this so-called state of denial? Stats, anyone?

"Political correctness is wielded as a weapon against anyone who dares to speak out. Yet some of the world's most infamous terrorists have operated in Canada almost unhindered for years.

3. Who is weilding 'political correctness...as a weapon'?
4. Which of the world's 'most infamous terrorists have operated in Canada almost unhindered for years'?

"Even direct threats against Canada and attacks against Canadians with multiple deaths have not broken this denial. As a result of the highly suppressed political discourse in Canada, the domestic response to this growing problem has been limited."

5. What??

There is no doubt that Mr Quiggin has a stellar biography, but I'd really like to see some actual facts to back up these statements.

He's not the only expert speaking out today about how clueless Canadians supposedly are. Listening to news reports, I've been struck by the repeated use of the word 'naive' to describe what we are supposedly like in relation to terrorist threats. And, of course, the ever popular cliche 'wake up call' has been used over and over.

How, exactly, would these experts like us to display our concern about possible terrorist threats? By toting guns around and conducting surveillance on our neighbours? Do they think we forgot that Canadians were also killed on 9/11 or that OBL has threatened Canadians on many occasions? Do they assume that we do not understand that our continued presence in Afghanistan provides fuel to the fire?

Seriously, what would they have us do as citizens to show them that we're not as stupid as they think we are?