I was reading your site tonight and had a thought regarding the Islamic convention that just wrapped in Toronto.
All we’ve heard here for the last 2 days is about the chaos at Pearson Airport, something like 15% of flights to the US cancelled, incredible delays etc. I’m given to understand the problems are not as severe in other parts of the country or in the US.
And then I began to wonder if the presence of 8000 politically active Muslims in the city might have more to do with the extensive searches and cancelled US flights than some guy whose underwear caught fire.
Not the sort of angle our local media is likely to suggest. But if you were an edgy head of Homeland Security and knew 8000 people who don’t like you very much were camped that close to the border, you might be putting some pressure on your opposite number here to tighten things up.
One of mine writes:
On [post 9/11] 2001 I delivered a pair of speakers to XXX freight forwarders. The speakers were destined for XXX. My friend assisted me on the journey to the far end of Toronto International Airport.
The route was a long winding one and we passed a check point — a wee guard house sort of thing that was empty. The gate was also up.
Down a slight hill we noticed a vehicle stopped on a bridge with the hood up. A gentleman looking very “Islamish” was peering into the engine. This vehicle was right beneath a flight path! We assumed that there would be a convoy of security vehicles with wailing sirens screaming along the roadway. Nothing. Nada. Nary a one.
We drove on passing a control tower and finally found the XXX shipping doors. Right beside American Airways. We finally gained entry and backed the wagon in and unloaded the freight. Two speakers at 128 lbs. each.
We couldn’t locate the gal to help with the paperwork, it being Saturday and all. After weigh in we were told that we could leave the goods there until Monday when the paperwork could be completed. We looked around and inquired as to security precautions . “There’s our security over there” declared the XXX chap.
After a good scrutiny of the enormous warehouse we spotted her. A young kid about 18 or 19 seated at a card table in the corner reading a novel and yes, she looked very “Islamish”. We left the goods at the warehouse, all 256 lbs of it.
It could well have been a dirty great bomb that would have leveled the entire airport and a goodly part of Mississauga. When we drove back over the winding road Akmed was still there arsing about under the hood of his K-car, right under the flight path. Bloody unbelievable! Chum and self enjoyed the calming effect a few Guinness back in our local pub.
