Canada ping!
Please FReepmail me to get on or off this ping list.
Posted on 06/08/2006 6:01:24 PM PDT by fanfan
OTTAWA (CP)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he's no stranger to death threats and one that emerged from an alleged terrorist plot must come second to the danger to Canada.
A lawyer for one of the 17 people arrested in the purported plot said this week that his client is accused of planning to storm the Parliament buildings and behead the prime minister.
At the time, Harper joked he could live with death threats as long as they're not from his caucus.
But in an interview aired Thursday onradio stations CFRB in Toronto and CJAD in Montreal, Harper gave a more considered response, saying such threats are not a first for him.
"I have been subject to death threats before, it's not a new thing," Harper said. "This is the kind of thing that is tougher on the wife and kids than it is on the person in question."
But the alleged threat against him must take a back seat to the greater danger, Harper said.
"Our first priority is not to look at this in a personal sense," he said. "I think what's more important here is not the threats against me personally, but really the threats against our society, against our system of government, against our economic institutions."
Harper said he has received regular security briefings that started when he became Opposition leader, so he is aware of the kind of threats that Canada faces.
"I think it's probably less of a wake-up call for me than most Canadians that these threats really do exist."
Sources have said although the Parliament buildings were originally an alleged target, the idea was dropped because the suspected conspirators had a lack of knowledge of Ottawa.
The accused are said to have turned their focus to targets in southern Ontario.
Although there has been speculation about a large number of targets, sources have said the list was narrowed to three.
One media report said this week the three included an unspecified Canadian Forces base, the downtown Toronto office of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Toronto Stock Exchange.
The RCMP allege the suspects had acquired three tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertilizer - a deadly bomb-making agent - in order to fashion powerful explosives.
The 17 accused are due back in court for bail hearings on various dates over the next month.
Canada ping!
Please FReepmail me to get on or off this ping list.
It sure is!
Just wait till the conservatives take a majority in the next election.
Its going to be a long-overdue total liberal/commie asskicking in Canada.
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A sensible and intelligent response.
I like Mr. Harper...If Hillary wins in '08, I hope you are prepared for an influx of illegals across your southern border...I'll be the guy out front...:-)
You'd be welcomed with open arms!
Hillary can't and won't win.
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