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| Great White North |
| Canada Claims Arrested Algerian Has Bin Laden Link |
| 2002-12-18 |
| The "galvanizing" piece of information that led to the arrest of 34-year-old Mohamed Harkat in Ottawa last week was supplied by one of Osama bin Laden's top lieutenants, intelligence sources say. They say that the name of Mr. Harkat, who worked as a gas-station attendant and pizza-delivery driver in Ottawa, came up during an interrogation by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation of Abu Zubaydah, a key member of Mr. bin Laden's inner circle. Mr. Zubaydah's information, which was passed on to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, is considered a crucial element in the investigation of Mr. Harkat. Mr Harkat would be in deep doody if he was anywhere other than The Great White North... According to a classified intelligence file, CSIS investigators believe Mr. Harkat is a member of an al-Qaeda sleeper cell and has spent the past several years preparing for an unspecified terrorist mission in North America. Although few details about his activities have been released, intelligence sources have confirmed that Mr. Harkat worked at a Petro-Canada gas bar directly across the street from a CSIS office. CSIS spokesman Phil Gibson refused to comment on whether Mr. Harkat may have used this vantage point to learn the identities of CSIS operatives. But an intelligence-community source said Mr. Harkat is suspected of carrying out surveillance operations at a number of locations, including Parliament Hill, where he was reportedly spotted taking pictures from a vehicle. "Just casing the joint. There ain't no law against that, is there? Didn't think so..." The source said Mr. Harkat is considered a "high-level player" in the North American terrorist network. "There have only been a few cases of this magnitude," the source said. "We don't proceed this way against people on the periphery." "Matter o' fact, we're pretty lackadaisical with all of them..." Mr. Harkat, who was arrested last week, is at the centre of a closed federal hearing that will determine whether he can be deported to his native Algeria as a threat to national security. Oh, probably not... Solicitor-General Wayne Easter said Tuesday that he was confident the investigation into Mr. Harkat had yielded a solid case. "I believe the intelligence information that we had will stand up to the test of the court." Uhuh. We'll see, won't we? Actually, we probably won't, since the incident will probably never make the papers again... Mr. Harkat's supporters say he is a victim of mistaken identity. "He is not involved in any terror plots, and he doesn't know any terrorists," said Bruce Engel, an Ottawa lawyer who is representing Mr. Harkat at his federal court hearing. "As far as he's concerned, it's all a big mistake." The "wudn't me" defense... According to documents obtained Tuesday, Mr. Harkat came to Canada in 1995 using a forged Saudi passport that he bought in Pakistan for $1,200 (U.S.). According to the CSIS investigative file, this was one of many deceptions Mr. Harkat used to get into Canada and pursue a secret terrorist agenda. "The Service believes that Mohamed Harkat is an Islamic extremist," the file says. "[He] was and is a member of the bin Laden Network, and that Harkat's role in this terrorist network is exemplified by his actions and intentions. "Forged Saudi passport" is redundant. It's like saying "boney bones," or "chocolaty chocolate," or "rich plotocrat." So we have this Algerian, and he's in Pakland, with a Soddy passport, wearing a Samoan grass skirt, Equimeaux-style mukluks, a false nose and glasses... There's obviously a perfectly reasonable explanation for it all... Although Mr. Harkat lived a life of near-poverty in Canada, the CSIS file says that was a cover for his true activities. According to the file, Mr. Harkat was a highly connected member of the al-Qaeda network. His best-known associate was Mr. Zubaydah, whom he had known "since the early 1990s." Mr. Zubaydah, who was arrested last March in Pakistan, has provided key information on al-Qaeda operatives to the FBI. Sources said the naming of Mr. Harkat by Mr. Zubaydah was the "galvanizing factor" behind Mr. Harkat's arrest last week. Inconvenient, that. But Jihad Unspun is doing its part: (Editors Note: There is much debate whether Abu Zubaydah, a senior bin Laden's lieutenant is actually in custody or whether he died in a gun battle with authorities. The Bush Administration have not released any pictures of Zubaydah since his alleged arrest which cast further doubt on his fate.)So, y'see, Zubaydah's really dead so he didn't say anything except maybe a death rattle, and they just picked poor Harkat's name out of the phone book at random to frame him because he's an innocent Muslim... In an interview with CSIS agents in 1997, Mr. Harkat denied that he had visited Afghanistan or trained with the mujahedeen. He told the agents that one of his legs was partly paralyzed. "As far as mujahedeen are concerned, Mohamed commented that he cannot walk a kilometre," one of the agents noted. "No, no! Only When Mr. Harkat was confronted about his use of aliases, he replied that he had used them only in Pakistan. "Mohamed commented that aliases are very common in Pakistan and everyone used them," the agent said. "When he met people that he did not trust, he would give them another name." "Like when he met us. And when he met his Mom. He was eight years old before she found out his name wasn't Stanley..." Mr. Harkat told the agents he owned two cars. One of them was a five-year-old Honda Accord that he was trying to sell for $8,500. The other was a 13-year-old Accord that he used to deliver pizzas. He said the older car was worth about $500. Mr. Harkat told the agents he was on social assistance, but acknowledged that he received money from Yemen. "I mean, the dole's there. Might as well take advantage of it, right? That's why they have taxpayers in this country. And that money from Yemen, that's all charitable donations..." How'd Yemen get in that routine, by the way? When he was asked whether he knew Ahmed Said Khadr, a Canadian aid worker who was implicated in the bombing of the Egyptian Embassy in Pakistan, Mr. Harkat initially said no. But when pressed by the agents, Mr. Harkat said he he had met him during a visit to Toronto with a friend. Named Muggsy... The interview ended on a note of sharp skepticism. "We know you are not being truthful with us," the agents told Mr. Harkat. "Is there nothing you wish to add or change? "No," Mr. Harkat replied. "See what parts of the story you can break easiest and then we'll talk some more..." |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |