We're twenty-five years removed from one of the worst acts of terrorism ever and, despite a much delayed investigation into the Air India 182 bombing and a 3000 page report that was released yesterday by retired Supreme Court of Canada Associate Justice John C. Major, we still don't know whodunit. What we do know is that there were major and massive clues that something was going to go down, there were several informants who told the police something was up, and nothing was done to follow-up.
Worse still, the fact that most of the victims were South Asian and not white is a big reason why it took so long to even begin the criminal investigation, let alone this judicial inquiry. There is no doubt that racism and an attempt to appease business interests in India was the reason those who did it got away with it.
The next time someone takes flying lessons but doesn't want to learn take offs and landings, or if someone flies first class but doesn't want the drinks or gourmet meals, or if someone fires off a "practice bomb," would it hurt so much to look into it.
The skies aren't so friendly any more, are they? We spend all this money on security and do not feel any safer. And the worst part is, there were several opportunities in three different Canadian cities to stop this disaster before it happened -- the day it happened.
UPDATE (1:56 PM EDT, 1756 GMT): Yes, it was 25 years ago, not 15. Too much on my mind this weekend.
Vote for this post at Progressive Bloggers.
3 comments:
Don't you mean twenty-five years (not 15)?
Our sources in the Indian Army (military intel - Kashmir) - close family members, officer level - indicate that there was Pakistani and foreign intel training Mujahhadin (not sure of the spelling) in Northern Pakistan camps. The Sikh separatists were also training there (and were slipped across the Indian border by ISI - Pak intelligence - agents), and the foreign agency had a very keen interest in using these "unilaterally controlled assets" in defeating the Soviets in Afghanistan. At that time, the government of India was closely aligned with the Soviets, and India was seen as a "socialist" nation and a "trouble-maker".
If you dig a little further (and I won't), you'll find why your tapes were deleted. You'll also find why there were fights between the RCs and CSIS.
Sometimes some things are better left "unexplained". War creates strange bedfellows. Let's just leave it at that.
The world is a different place now - and they're all on the same side fighting evil... The Taliban need to be stopped at all costs - even if our Western governments helped open "pandora's box" in the first place. We cannot allow societies to repress women and minorities. We cannot allow the crushing of modern and moderate thought, science, and creativity, on the basis of one person's idea of what God/god wants...
Sassy: It was 25 years ago, and I've made the correction. Too much in a rush this morning.
WG: Thanks for the thoughts. Don't worry about some of the spelling -- I've gotten mixed up on so many of the groups over the last five years writing in this space and its precedessor I've lost count.
I do agree that there are all sorts of strange alliances ... and double standards. Even now, it's almost bizarre we're in bed with some of the worst dictatorships as well as countries which have democratic elections but little respect for due process -- but the common enemy of terrorists makes such an alliance necessary if not desirable.
Let's not forget, too, that the Americans had no trouble with democratic socialists getting elected in NATO countries but regularly orchestrated coups in Latin America, with repercussions still felt today. But that's another story in itself.
Post a Comment