13.5

WAS SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001, A TURNING POINT FOR CANADA?

LEARNING GOALS

  • Understand the impact of the events on September 11, 2001, in the lives of North Americans.

  • Explore whether September 11 served as a turning point for Canada.

SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001

  • On September 11, 2001, four commercial flights were hijacked over the United States:
      - Two planes were flown into the World Trade Centre Towers in New York City, resulting in their destruction.
      - One plane crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
      - One plane crashed into a field in Pennsylvania.

NEWS BROADCASTS – SEPTEMBER 11, 2001

  • 9:59 AM - CNN Live broadcast of the events unfolding during the attacks.

AL-QAEDA AND OSAMA BIN LADEN

  • Osama Bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the attacks, which have since been referred to as 9/11.

THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN

  • In the late 1980s, Osama Bin Laden formed al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, intending it to be the base for fighting against Western influences in the Middle East.

  • The United States became the chief target of this organization.

  • Following the 9/11 attacks, the United Nations permitted the U.S. and its allies to invade Afghanistan as a self-defense measure to track down Bin Laden and remove the Taliban regime.

  • This initiated the War on Terrorism.

CANADIAN RESPONSE TO THE WAR IN AFGHANISTAN

  • In October 2001, Jean Chretien, then Prime Minister of Canada, joined NATO, leading to Canadian troops being deployed to Afghanistan.

OSAMA BIN LADEN'S CAPTURE

  • On May 1, 2011, President Obama announced that Osama Bin Laden had been captured and killed by U.S. military forces.

  • This event officially occurred on May 2, 2011, in Pakistan (due to GMT differences, it was still May 1 in Canada).

EVALUATION OF THE AFGHANISTAN MISSION

  • Canadian forces contributed to building diplomacy, community development, and infrastructure in Afghanistan during military operations while also fighting against insurgents.

  • Some citizens argue that the costs of this mission were too burdensome for Canadians.

  • The impact on the everyday lives of people in Afghanistan is documented but requires careful analysis.

CANADA'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE IRAQ WAR

  • In 2003, amid the War on Terror, Canada declined to join the U.S.-led coalition for the invasion of Iraq.
      - The goal of this invasion was to overthrow the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and locate purported weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) that could potentially threaten Israel and its Western allies.

  • The United Nations had reported no evidence supporting the existence of WMDs in Iraq, leading to disapproval of the American invasion by the UN inspectors.

  • Public opinion in Canada largely supported the decision not to participate, believing the invasion aimed principally at seizing Iraq's oil reserves.

  • Prime Minister Jean Chretien was key in resisting this military involvement.

SADDAM HUSSEIN

  • Saddam Hussein was captured on December 13, 2003 and transferred to a U.S. military base.

  • He was later tried and found guilty of crimes against humanity in November 2006, leading to his execution by hanging on December 20, 2006.

  • The rationale for the Iraq invasion faced substantial international criticism as no connections between Hussein and al-Qaeda/Taliban were established.

  • The re-entry of forces into Iraq in 2014 was primarily to combat the rise of ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria), which is perceived as a direct consequence of the 2001 invasion that destabilized the region.

CULTURE OF FEAR POST 9/11

  • On December 18, 2001, the Canadian Parliament passed the Anti-Terrorism Act, which defined terrorism as actions taken for political, religious, or ideological aims.
      - Key provisions of the Act included:
        - Granting police the ability to detain suspected terrorists without charge for three days.
        - Easing electronic surveillance of suspected terrorists and enabling preventative arrests.
        - Allowing judges to compel witnesses to provide evidence during investigations.
        - Empowering the government to designate specific groups as terrorist organizations.
      - It became illegal to support, financially or otherwise, groups identified as promoting terrorism;
      - As of early 2009, 40 groups had been designated.
      - A controversial aspect is the use of security certificates, permitting the detention of non-citizens deemed threats to national security, trying their cases, and deporting them based on governmental findings.

  • Following international conventions signed in 2009, Canada committed to not deporting individuals to countries where they face torture.

MEDIA COVERAGE BEFORE AND AFTER 9/11

  • Before 9/11, there was minimal media attention on the Taliban, Afghanistan, or Iraq.

  • The language used in media following 9/11 often reflected a narrative of “the war on terror,” framing military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

  • Critics raised questions regarding the accuracy of this language and its role in generating support, propagating stereotypes, and fostering fear.
      - The lives of North Americans of Middle Eastern descent or Muslim faith were significantly impacted post-9/11 due to media portrayal and anti-terrorism legislation, which often discriminated against these communities.
      - The New York Times acknowledged that its coverage regarding WMDs was not as diligent as it should have been after being criticized for false reporting.

Mahar Arar

  • In September 2002, Maher Arar, a dual Canadian–Syrian citizen, was detained in New York on his way home to Ottawa.

  • He was misinformed by the RCMP, leading U.S. officials to accuse him of terrorism and deport him to Syria.

  • U.S. authorities likely sent him to Syria expecting harsher interrogation methods than Canada would provide.

  • Arar faced imprisonment and torture in Syria for a year, confined in a small underground cell.

  • His wife, Monia Mazigh, raised public awareness about his situation, pressing the Canadian government for action.

  • Arar was eventually freed and allowed to return to Canada.

  • Following public pressure, the Canadian government launched an inquiry into his case.

  • The inquiry concluded there was no evidence of terrorist involvement.

  • In 2007, Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized and awarded Arar $10.5 million in compensation.

  • Arar has become an advocate for civil rights and national security issues, being recognized by Time magazine in 2007.

  • The U.S. has not apologized and still maintains him on a watch list, raising concerns regarding Canada-U.S. relations.

  • Maher Arar's deportation incident could strain Canada-U.S. relations.
      - Canada criticized U.S. for mishandling its citizen and wrongful deportation.

  • News Headlines Analysis:
      - Headline 1: "U.S. deports respected Canadian to Syria"
        - Emphasizes respect, portrays U.S. negatively.
      - Headline 2: "United States deports suspected terrorist to Syria"
        - Suggests justification based on suspicion of terrorism, presents a favorable view of U.S.
      - Bias in headlines affects perceptions:
        - First headline may evoke sympathy for Arar.
        - Second might rationalize the deportation as a security measure.

  • Post-9/11 Co-operation and Conflict Between Canada and the U.S.:
      - Co-operation examples:
        - - Joint operations in the War on Terror, sharing intelligence to combat terrorism.
      - Increasing border security measures and initiatives for mutual law enforcement collaboration.
      - Conflict examples:
        -Disagreements over Canada’s decision not to participate in the Iraq War, leading to political tensions.
      - Divergent approaches to border control, public safety policies, and treatment of detainees.

Overall, the post-9/11 landscape led to both increased co-operation in certain security matters but also significant conflict over foreign policy, illustrating the complexity of the Canada-U.S. relationship