Is it possible to articulate any broad principles governing the acceptability of Canadians fighting abroad, apart from serving in the Canadian Armed Forces?
Perhaps two recent stories can help define some parameters. The first is an article appearing originally in Slate that disparages lone soldiers who died fighting for the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) in the latest Gaza conflict. (Lone soldiers move to Israel without their family and choose to join the IDF.) These soldiers were described as naïve, foolish, and misguided for leaving their native United States to defend Israel. The second news item relates to the emergence of “terror tourists” – those who depart from their homes in the West to join militant groups in conflict zones abroad.
These issues stand in useful juxtaposition to each other.
Canadians leaving the country to fight alongside groups that commit terrorism is a real and growing problem. Hasibullah Yusufzai is a 25-year-old Canadian who has been charged under the Criminal Code with joining an armed Islamist group in Syria to engage in terrorism. Ahmad Waseem ignored his family’s pleas to stay in Canada, and is reportedly fighting in Syria with extremist groups. Mohamed Hersi has just been handed a 10-year jail sentence for attempting to leave Canada to join al-Shabaab, a recognized terrorist entity based in Somalia. In that court decision, the judge found that “offenders with Canadian passports, like Mr. Hersi, can easily return to Canada further radicalized, ready to carry out terrorist acts within our borders.” The accused, she determined, was “poised to become a terror tourist, bringing back with him untold dangers.”
In contrast, an IDF soldier poses no threat to Canada. On the contrary, Israel is the only liberal democratic country in the Middle East and a close ally of Canada.
Moreover, Israel’s front-line struggle against Hezbollah, Hamas, ISIS and other groups with global jihadist agendas is of significant import to the security of Canada, for the conflicts in which Israel fights to ensure its survival do not comprise only the warring sides. Israel’s enemies may choose to wage war against Israel first, but they aspire to attack the West as well.
And Canada is hardly exempt from this danger. Hamas, whose elemental purpose is the destruction of Israel and the death of Jews everywhere, has killed and injured Canadians abroad. Hezbollah sleeper cells have been caught monitoring possible Canadian targets for attack. Al Qaeda plots in Canada have been foiled. And all three of these terrorist groups are supported by Iran, which is suspected by Canadian intelligence officials of presenting a potential terrorist threat to the Ottawa area.
What can we take from this to create guidelines on acceptable conditions for a Canadian to fight in a foreign conflict?
Some maintain that Canadians should only fight for Canada. Perhaps. But a more nuanced test could consist of several steps. First, is the individual committing terrorist activity as defined in the Criminal Code, or fighting with a listed terrorist entity? This conduct must be condemned and prosecuted. Second, is the individual fighting on behalf of a state designated by Canada as a sponsor of terror, or that is engaged in armed conflict with Canada? This would run contrary to national security interests and is unacceptable. What if a country meets neither of these two criteria but is tyrannical and repressive? Fighting for such a country may be a greyer zone, but it surely feels wrong from a moral and common sense perspective.
On the other hand, if the individual is fighting for a state that is a Canadian ally, shares Canadian values, and operates under the rule of law, then this poses no threat to – and may even strengthen – Canada. We must recognize a common interest in seeing western democracies protected. It is, after all, the strength of the armed forces throughout the liberal democratic world that allows us to live in freedom.