statism watch

CBC News
Tuesday, June 10, 2008

The Canadian public has failed to fathom the true scope of the havoc planned in an alleged militant plot to attack targets in southern Ontario, a CSIS informant testified Tuesday.

Mubin Shaikh appeared in a Brampton, Ont., court to give testimony in the trial of the only youth accused of being part of the alleged 2006 plot.

“I’m disturbed at how people have played this off,” Shaikh, who is in his early 30s, told court. “We weren’t there picking daisies, that’s for sure.”

Shaikh infiltrated an alleged home-grown cell in 2005 and helped the RCMP gather hundreds of hours of secret audio surveillance.

Eighteen Muslim teens and men were arrested two years ago. Since then, charges against seven have been stayed due to a lack of sufficient evidence.

Shaikh began his much-anticipated testimony in a Brampton, Ont., courtroom by detailing how he infiltrated the group of alleged militants. He told court that the alleged plot was well-developed before he became involved with the conspirators.

Shaikh was working for CSIS, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, and was told by the spy agency to get to know the suspects, befriend them and win their trust.

He did this by meeting them at social events and convincing them that he was willing and able to carry out terrorist attacks.

…

Shaikh then digressed in his testimony, lamenting how some have already made fun of the camp, describing it as little more than a paintball fight in the woods.

Shaikh insisted it was nothing of the kind, adding it was a serious attempt to train a group of men to commit acts of terror against the RCMP, CSIS, Parliament and the CBC.

“Two birds with one bomb, I guess,” Shaikh said.

The trial continues on Wednesday.

Full Story | See Also: Latest Toronto 18 ‘Terror’ Wiretaps Confirm Youths Goaded by Reservist, Paid Police Informant | Toronto ‘Terrorists’ Agree on Decapitation Plot, Fail to Open Tuna Tin | Many Question if Toronto “Terrorists” Were Led by Informants as Case Weakens | Crown presents evidence in Toronto terror suspect trial | Terror case begins to emit ripe aroma | Tanks, Face-Scanning Cameras Part of ‘Discreet’ 2010 Games Security | Anti-terror cops probed Ottawa punk band for Cartoon, Political Speech | Rumsfeld to Pentagon Media Analysts: America Needs another Attack | Canada’s anti-terror law unconstitutional, defence says | Toronto’s Terrorism Case: For the Families, Fear and Bewilderment | Terror trial proceedings troubling | CSIS informant admits cocaine, marijuana use during investigation | Alleged Toronto terror plot included two police agents | Toronto Terrorist Ringleader Has Military Connections | Canadian ‘Terror Plot’ Begins To Unravel | Police arrest terrorist suspects in Toronto

By Jane Corbin, BBC News
Tuesday, 10 June 2008

A BBC investigation estimates that around $23bn (£11.75bn) may have been lost, stolen or just not properly accounted for in Iraq.

For the first time, the extent to which some private contractors have profited from the conflict and rebuilding has been researched by the BBC’s Panorama using US and Iraqi government sources.

A US gagging order is preventing discussion of the allegations.

The order applies to 70 court cases against some of the top US companies.

War profiteering

While George Bush remains in the White House, it is unlikely the gagging orders will be lifted.

To date, no major US contractor faces trial for fraud or mismanagement in Iraq.

The president’s Democratic opponents are keeping up the pressure over war profiteering in Iraq.

Henry Waxman who chairs the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform said: “The money that’s gone into waste, fraud and abuse under these contracts is just so outrageous, its egregious.

“It may well turn out to be the largest war profiteering in history.”

In the run-up to the invasion one of the most senior officials in charge of procurement in the Pentagon objected to a contract potentially worth seven billion that was given to Halliburton, a Texan company, which used to be run by Dick Cheney before he became vice-president.

Unusually only Halliburton got to bid – and won.

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David Edwards and Mike Sheehan, rawstory.com
Monday June 9, 2008

An Ohio Democratic lawmaker and former presidential candidate has presented articles of impeachment against President George W. Bush to Congress.

Thirty-five articles were presented by Rep. Dennis Kucinich to the House of Representatives late Monday evening, airing live on C-SPAN.

“The House is not in order,” said Kucinich to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), upon which Pelosi pounded her gavel.

“Resolved,” Kucinich then began, “that President George W. Bush be impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors, and that the following articles of impeachment be exhibited to the United States Senate. …

“In his conduct while President of the United States, George W. Bush, in violation of his constitutional oath to faithfully execute the office of president of the United States, and to the best of his ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has committed the following abuses of power…”

The first article Kucinich presented, and many that followed, regarded the war in Iraq: “Article 1 – Creating a secret propaganda campaign to manufacture a false case for war against Iraq.”

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