RCMP charge Syrian officer in Maher Arar torture

CBC is reporting that the RCMP have laid a charge in absentia against a Syrian intelligence officer accused of torturing Syrian-born Canadian Maher Arar, the first-ever charge of its kind in Canada. Arar's lawyer, Paul Champ, said in Ottawa today that RCMP will attempt to extradite Col. George Salloum to Canada to face a charge of torture, which RCMP later confirmed. A Canada-wide warrant and Interpol notice have been issued for his arrest.

I'm a little bit confused about jurisdiction but this certainly opens up Pandora's box and is no doubt driven by Stephen Harper's election campaign. The question we need to now ask is are we going to charge the United States government for torturing a 15 year old Canadian boy and all the others in Guantánamo bay as well as in all the other black CIA torture sites around the world? When George Bush came to Surrey there were many protesters calling for the RCMP to arrest him. Well how about it? Can we do that now finally? Can the RCMP charge Stephen Harper for knowingly handing over prisoners in Afghanistan to be tortured? Please advise.

According to Wikipedia, "Maher Arar is a telecommunications engineer with dual Syrian and Canadian citizenship who has resided in Canada since 1987. Arar was detained during a layover at John F. Kennedy International Airport in September 2002 on his way home to Canada from a family vacation in Tunis. He was held without charges in solitary confinement in the United States for nearly two weeks, questioned, and denied meaningful access to a lawyer. The US government suspected him of being a member of Al Qaeda and deported him, not to Canada, his current home and the passport on which he was traveling, but to Syria, even though its government is known to use torture. He was detained in Syria for almost a year, during which time he was tortured, according to the findings of a commission of inquiry ordered by the Canadian government, until his release to Canada. The Syrian government later stated that Arar was "completely innocent."[8][9] A Canadian commission publicly cleared Arar of any links to terrorism, and the government of Canada later settled out of court with Arar. He received C$10.5 million and Prime Minister Stephen Harper formally apologized to Arar for Canada's role in his terrible ordeal."

So here's the deal. Here's a Canadian with dual citizenship returning home from a holiday in Africa. The plane stops over at JFK on it's way back to Canada and he is unlawfully detained for two weeks. He asks for a lawyer and is told he does not have a right to a lawyer because he is not a US Citizen. That is satanic. I got into the same argument myself with US Border Agents who claimed Canadians randomly detained at the border unlawfully don't have a right to a lawyer because they are governed by Immigration law not the Constitution. That is a heinous lie.

The US Constitution says "No State shall deny to any person within it's jurisdiction equal protection of the law." The US Constitution says all people not all citizens. To claim that Canadians in the US don't have a right to a lawyer because they are not US Citizens is false. That's a Sarah Airhead Palin misinterpretation of the Constitution. The problem is, they disagree and a corrupt court upheld them. God help us. Oath keepers arise.

Homicides in Edmonton, Calgary and Vernon - Update

Prime time Crime is reporting that there has been recent homicides in Calgary and Edmonton. The Edmonton Sun is reporting that Nadine Skow, a 38-year-old employee of the YWCA in Lethbridge, was found stabbed to death in her suite at 104 Street and 106 Avenue in Edmonton this week. CBC is reporting that her ex-boyfriend has been accused of her murder. CBC is also reporting that a dead man was found lying on the road early this morning just off 118th Avenue. Homicide detectives were at the scene investigating what they're calling a "suspicious death."

The Calgary Sun is reporting that Gunfire claimed the life of a man outside his northwest Calgary home Thursday in the city’s third murder in less than a week. The Calgary Herald is reporting that "the man gunned down on a northwest Calgary street was a longtime, influential underworld figure once responsible for bringing large volumes of illegal drugs into the province."

The Vernon Morning Star is reporting that the body of a male in his 40's was found in Vernon at Poulson Park Wednesday morning. Infotel is reporting that police have identified the body as 42-year-old Jason Thomas Hardy, and believe foul play was involved in his death. Hardy has some history with police and was residing in the Vernon area.

Update: The Calgary Sun is reporting that Phillip Tu, who was gunned down in Calgary last week, had a brother named Donny Tu who was killed in like manner May 3 2010.

The Vancouver Province is reporting that police have two suspects in custody already for the Vernon murder - an 18 year old and a 14 year old. Castanet is reporting that the 18 year old is Brandon Joseph Clayton Wellington and that police believe the attack was targeted.

Scientist suspended for expressing political opinion

Once again we have re entered the Twilight Zone. CBC is reporting that Tony Turner, a scientist with Environment Canada, has been suspended from his job and is being investigated because he wrote and performed a political song on Youtube called Harperman. Sounds like something Putin did not long ago. Firing someone for expressing their political opinion. That's not the same Canada I grew up in. MaCleans ran the story as well as The Guardian. This is the video and petition.

Canadian Hells Angels convicted in Spain for smuggling 300 kilos of cocaine

OK so there are two separate cases in Europe involving Canadian members of the Hells Angels that we are following. One is the 300 kilo of cocaine bust in Spain where two full patch members were arrested along with two associates from Haney and Mission City chapters. The other case involves the three full patch members from Edmonton and Red Deer that were charged with beating a guy in Greece to death because they were sitting on his motorcycle and he asked if he could have it back so he could leave. It was deplorable.

One of my blog readers also reads Kim Bolan's blog. He claims that someone commented on Kim Bolan's blog claiming that the Canadian Hells Angels charged in the Spanish cocaine bust are back in Canada already. Kim then confirmed that they are indeed back and cited a Spanish news report which stated:

"The Audiencia Nacional (AN ) imposed four years and seven months in prison on Chad John Wilson, Jason Cyrus Arkinstall, Scott Ryan Smitna and Michael John Drybourgh – four Hells Angels and Canadian citizens arrested in August 2013 in Galicia, when they moved to pick up a shipment of 300 kilos of cocaine. In addition to establishing a fine estimated at 5,250,000 euros, the decision specifies that no convicted would serve their sentences in prison, but they will be expelled from Spain and may not return for a period of seven years."

They were convicted of smuggling 300 kilos of cocaine but didn't have to serve their time, instead they were kicked out of Spain and banned from returning for seven years. That is absolutely bizarre. Let's hope Greece does a better job for murder.

Agent K responds to a Troll

Some obscure troll who looks like a meth head made a video on youtube "calling out" Agent K. It obviously isn't worth my time but since they did ask a question I will answer that question and point out the obvious. As Fat Joe said to 50 Cent this is a one time response only. I aint gonna argue with an idiot. In the video the troll asked me how my court case is going.

Fine. Actually it's over and I'm still here. Defamation is a serious issue. So is free speech. Be advised that false allegations of defamation constitute defamation. All I'm allowed to say about the court case is that a mutual release was entered into by both parties and the matter is resolved. It cost me $1,500. One thousand dollars was raised by private donors. The Gofundme page is still there. I just took down all the posts talking about the trial. My responses are in the court file.

It is pretty obvious that free speech is under fire. Ontario had such a problem with Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation that they enacted legislation to combat frivolous law suits designed to censor free speech. I don't see that happening in BC because there isn't the political will to address the problem within the Christy Clark government. I don't see federal legislation responding to the problem either because Stephen Harper's supporters are the worst offenders.

The whole youtube video doesn't make sense because it doesn't call out Agent K at all. Its big revelation is that Agent K from Gangsters out is Dennis Watson. Very good, Did you read that in the newspaper or did someone have to read that to you? The troll claims that they are not affiliated with any gang yet at the end of the video they claim they have given my name to the "boys" which is a common reference to the Hells Angels. What am I supposed to do? Shake and tremble? Not likely. First of all, just because you buy crack from the Hells Angels doesn't mean you are allowed to use their name to threaten me. Who are you to use the name of the Hells Angels?

Use your brain. How do you think the newspaper found out who I am? They sent a process server to my home and I blogged about it. The boys already know who I am dumbass. You telling them isn't going to make a difference. The bottom line is I don't like crack dealers. I don't care if they're bikers, bankers, politicians or wall street investors, they're all equally to blame for the murder of Janice Shore. If you support that then we have nothing more to discuss. A Dieu.

Don't even get me started on 50 Cent and his Justin Bieber Unit. No one on the street in LA or New York City listens to 50 Cent. His followers, like Justine Bieber, are yuppies from the suburbs. Bieber is rich too. That doesn't make him a G. Gansta you not toy soldier.



The other day I bumped into a guy in Surrey wearing a Wu Tang Clan shirt. I look at him and say ah... Wu Tang Clan. He responds with oh, so you know what's going on. (For an old guy) I'm like yeah they're from New York. He nods then I add, come to think of it, Drake is popular in New York now. That's kind of surprising for a Canadian. He's like don't get me started on Drake. I'm like yeah I know. My daughter likes him. Well that's OK then he says as I nod.

I heard a track of Drake and the Game the other day. Two very different styles. The Game is like hard core inner city while Drake is smoother like a Tribe Called Quest but different. I like a Tribe Called Quest. They're from Queens. I knew a guy from Queens when I was in New York. He was very smooth.

I'll have to admit that Drake's Meek Mills diss Charged up is pretty good. In his second track Back to Back he asks is that your world tour or your girl's tour. Referencing the fact that Meek is the back up band for Nicki Minaj and is riding off her coat tails. In his first track he compares their relationship to Maria Carey and Nick and counsels Nicki to get a prenup. I aint gonna diss the father of Nicki's child. I'll just say that Drake hit him hard and clean. Hats off to Meek though. He's the one that won the Queen of Anaconda's heart. That treasure is priceless.

Body dumped in Prince George

The Vancouver Province is reporting that the body of a 35 year old man was dumped in Prince George. "A police officer found the body of Ian Matthew Begg at the end of Haldi Lake Road at about 8:40 a.m. on Sunday morning."

Canadian lawyers laundering money

Here's an interesting one. Today's Vancouver Province claims "Money laundering experts say there is no way for Canadians to know how much dirty money is being laundered in Vancouver real estate through Canadian lawyers. As a Province investigation revealed Monday, Canada’s financial intelligence unit Fintrac has ramped up an audit of Vancouver’s booming property market because of concerns that realtors may be turning a blind eye to money laundering."

We're going to have to start an online pool. How long do you think it will take Christie Clark to disband Canada’s financial intelligence unit? Historically, every time a police task force found organized crime, a government body disbanded that police task force. They claim "Canada's dirty money detection system broken all the way through." So instead of fixing the broken system what do you think the odd are that they';ll just get rid of the task force that came up with the report? Judging from their past history, I'd say it's guaranteed. So let's have a pool to see who can guess how long it will take.

Shooting in Richmond

CBC is reporting that "a man is in hospital following a serious incident Friday night in Richmond, but police are revealing few details. The incident began around 11 p.m. PT Friday near Number 2 Road and Westminster Highway and closed down nearby Dover Park for hours. A trail of blood could be seen leading from the park to a nearby Chevron gas station. Numerous evidence markers covered the scene."

Yes I remember the Dover Park shoot out in 2007 well. It was before I started the blog. I tied white balloons around the park and held a press conference on site calling for a cease fire. It was a park in the middle of a residential housing complex with a day care on site. A local Persian gang were targeted by another group with automatic weapons.

Update: News 1130 is reporting that "Police say a shooting in Richmond on Friday night appears to be targeted and gang related." The man who was shot is well known to the police, has gang ties and is not cooperating with the investigation.

Surrey Shooting

CBC is reporting that there was a shooting in Surrey 9:00 PM last night. "According to police, witnesses called 911 to report that the drivers of a silver Honda Civic and a Ford Mustang were chasing each other, with gunshots being fired between the cars. Officers located the Mustang, detained its three male occupants and found at least one bullet hole in the car."

Politics of the Pork Barrel

As the Canadian election kicks off the parade of politicians spewing ridiculous campaign promises has begun. Mulclair came to Vancouver and promised more money for Transit. Then he came to Surrey and promised more money for police. Likewise Harper and Justin are promising the moon. I think voters in BC and more specifically here in Surrey, don't want to hear a political promise they are going to spend more money on anything. I think they want politicians to be fiscally responsible and lower taxes for everyone not just for the rich and not just for the poor. When the government is fiscally responsible and taxes are low for everyone, business prospers and tax revenue increases.

Think about it. Many years ago Ireland was poor. Then the government had an idea. They figured that 80% of nothing is nothing while 10% of something is something so they offered a tax incentive to corporations. They gave large corporations huge tax breaks. As a result, large corporation moved in and started doing business in Ireland. The Shannon Industrial Park opened up and all of a sudden all these high tech industries set up shop right beside Paddy and Mic's sheep farm. They began to prosper.

Alberta is an excellent model. It's just unfortunate that Stephen Harper had destroyed that model when he went to Ottawa. Alberta has no sales tax. As a result, businesses are attracted to that province. This creates jobs and tax revenue because people working at those jobs pay income tax. Alberta even went one step further. They were doing so well financially they started paying everyone's medical insurance premiums. That almost a socialist idea yet Alberta is very conservative. For them it's just good business and that it is. It just makes sense.

I like Thomas Mulclair because he's a good guy and he's the only one supporting the Canadian Charter of Rights in defense of civil liberty. That is my primary election issue. However, I recognize that no political party is perfect. The Neo Cons keep parroting the same old stereotype that the NDP will tax and spend. Yet Harper has done a far worse job of spending tax dollars then any NDP government has ever dreamed of. Harper was the driving force behind the HST in BC that voters rejected. That is why Harper gave his buddy Gordon Campbell that offensive job as a high commission. Taxing things that are normally tax exempt is not a reduction in taxes. The HST killed a lot of local restaurants before it was finally over turned.

Conservatives are supposed to support small business and the free market. Stephen Harper does not. Harper supports big business and corporate monopolies which gouge consumers destroy the free market. Stephen Harper is no a conservative. He is a Neo Con and that is something very different as Ron Paul has clearly pointed out.

Yet when Thomas Mulcair comes to Vancouver and promises more money for Transit I'm like hold the door. That might be fine in Ontario but in BC Translink is a fiscal disaster. They already are over budget a billion dollars every year and suck that much money up in a regional gas tax above and beyond all the other gas tax. Consumers pay for the gas tax because everything we buy in stores gets shipped there on trucks. In BC we just had a referendum on raising sales tax to pour even more tax dollars into that fiscal nightmare and the voters said no. So promising more money for transit isn't going to win votes here. Forcing Translink to balance their budget will. The fact that SNC-Lavalin got the contract for the Evergreen line was a criminal act all on it's own.

So Thomas comes to Surrey and offers more money for police. Well that's nice but even Surrey's Worst has promised that finally. We have seen that more police officers is indeed helpful but that is not the solution in itself. If we start arresting crack dealers outside the Front Room in Whalley and in Newton then that would certainly make a huge difference to the violent crime in Surrey but that's not going to happen as long as Bill Fordy is in charge. He needs to be transferred out of the City before we can start finally addressing the violent crime in Surrey like we should. Peace.