A B.C. couple was recently exonerated from terror charges stemming from a 2013 incident after a judge determined evidence clearly showed authorities had entrapped the two.
“The world has enough terrorists, we do not need the police to create more,” said B.C. Supreme Court Justice Catherine Bruce, quoted in a Vancouver Sun article.
“This was not a situation in which the police were attempting to disrupt an ongoing criminal enterprise; rather, the offences committed by the defendants were brought about by the police and would not have occurred without their involvement. By any measure, this was a clear case of police-manufactured crime.”
So in other words, undercover officers not only encouraged but actively enabled a couple that otherwise never would have lifted a finger to hurt a fly to instead actually become complicit pawns in a staged attack. Of course the two had no idea it was just a ruse.
Precisely what were the police involved in this operation thinking?
“Hey look, here are some vulnerable, marginalized individuals who seem to be potential extremist converts. I know! Instead of reaching out to them and expressing concern about their choices as well as offering them a constructive alternative, let's covertly manipulate them into attempting to commit an atrocity and then arrest them for it!”
And now, another “terror” attempt has recently been making headlines. Yet another individual known to police for openly expressing support for the so-called Islamic State but who was apparently nevertheless allowed to reach a point where an attack was imminent.
But we should wait for the investigation to run its course before worrying about “balancing” security with liberty, which the Liberal government did not take long to bring up. What if this “terror” plot was more manufactured terrorism like the case in B.C.? At best this incident was gross negligence.
We should be taking every measure possible to de-radicalize potential extremists. Reaching out and having a sincere conversation not based on deception would be a start.
Certainly, there are those who are so far gone down the path of hate that likely no amount of reason will ever reach their troubled souls. In such sad instances, we are left with little resort other than the rule of law.
But who knows how many more are simply uncertain, confused, lost, afraid, angry and alone?
So what humane, compassionate sense does it make to deceive such a person and convince that individual to attempt a terror attack? If there's even so much as the slightest chance to reach such a person through reason, it should be jumped at.
The police involved in the shameful entrapment of the naive B.C. couple that clearly needed help does a great disservice to the RCMP and its integrity as a whole. As everyone knows — especially lawyers, politicians and even journalists — it only takes a few bad apples to give the whole batch a rotten reputation.
There are numerous officers who should be celebrated for serving their communities with honour and diligence, including members of Sundre's own detachment, who are no strangers to getting involved in the community even when they're off duty.
So although we must remain vigilant against the abuse of authority, we can never allow the actions of the few to tarnish the commendable deeds of the many — a sentiment that can and should be extended to others as well.
