In reply to “Canada Copies US Customs,” by Ivan Eland, 08/26/09:

Mr. Eland is correct to be disappointed in Canada. I’m a Canadian citizen by a a lucky accident of birth, and I’m downright disgusted. Good thing Mr. Eland is white and not brown, an American citizen instead of a citizen of a Muslim country, or else Mr. Eland might still be sitting in a Canadian jail cell, wondering when he’d be able to enjoy Canada’s wonderful lakes, rivers, mountains, forests and fresh air.

I hope that Mr. Eland uses his experience to shed more light on the escapades of my country’s government. Canadians are largely apathetic to these issues. People up here trust the government and the Canadian state and rarely do they question the national myth, carefully cultivated under a patina of wounded pride, of our Canadian rightness and superiority in all things, including the interrogation of innocent holiday makers by our customs officers.

Apologies for the conduct of our officials to Mr. Eland and to all the others out there who have suffered similar or worse. You are welcome here. These officials and this government do not represent all of us.

Stephen James Kerr

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I feel for you … I’m a Canadian Citizen who lives in the US and almost every time I go back for a visit I’m treated like an undesirable alien.

Robin Adair

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The world does not revolve around the US whims and fancy. I’ve worked for Canada’s custom and these are international laws. Every country is afraid you are bringing something that will contaminate their agricultural products … the 10,000 cash is to prevent money laundering another internationl agreement and again implemented before 9/11 …. Mr. Eland also states that he’s crossed several other border[s]. He obviously hasn’t been in the UK or France lately because if you want to see draconian measures you simply have to go there.

Richard Legault

In reply to “Obama’s Road to War,” by Justin Raimondo, 08/28/09:

For years now, it seems like every other week Justin Raimondo predicts war between the US (or Israel) and Iran, just around the corner. It’s always next week or next month or this summer, like clockwork and so far he’s been wrong every time.

My powers of prediction aren’t as sharply honed as his, but I predict that if the US (or Israel) and Iran ever DO go to war, he’ll be jumping up and down announcing that he nailed it.

Sol McCliam

Justin Raimondo replies:

If the rising level of threats emanating from Washington and Tel Aviv don’t indicate the prospect of a coming war, then what would? Of course no one can predict exactly when and how war will come — but, then again, if you go back and check my columns, and what I actually wrote in them, you’ll not find any specific “predictions” as to time, place, etc. I just think it’s fair to take these people at their word that they mean to go to war if Iran doesn’t bow before “the international community” (i.e. the Western powers and Israel).