Does Canada’s support for Western offensive against ISIL come with threat of attack?

Canada's recent decision to support a Western offensive against Islamic radicals in northern Iraq could end up including us on the list of future terror threat targets, though when it comes to stopping the Islamic State's growth of power and authority, there is really no question that Canada should be involved.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also referred to as Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is a violent terrorist group that has displaced 200,000 people in as it spreads across northern Iraq.

They have been called despicable, brutal and repugnant by Canadian officials, who have joined with American and Britain allies in opposing the group.

But could the decision to strike against the Islamic State result in an increase in domestic terror threats in Western countries? Some experts suggest that is a distinct possibility.

Richard Barrett, a counter-terrorism expert formerly with Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, told Huffington Post UK that the West's involvement in the conflict plays into the group's narrative that the regimes of Syria and Iraq are "being supported by outside powers" that will intervene against those looking to overthrowing them.

He added that those who support the Islamic State's violent mandate could turn their sights on Western powers, specifically the United Kingdom and the United States.

"The argument that they could also achieve the same (result) by (conducting) terrorist attacks in Western countries becomes stronger (though) not necessarily inevitable," Barrett told the news group.

Wesley Wark, a professor at the University of Ottawa's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, says that a direct threat against Canada is unlikely. The real battle at home will be against Islamic State recruitment efforts

"I think there is little likelihood of any blowback attacks on Canada/North America by ISIL at this stage, although there have been threats from ISIL media sources," Wark told Yahoo Canada News in an email.

"The counter-terrorism challenge is more about trying to prevent and/or monitor Canadian and American youth who might be attracted (in very small numbers) to join the group."

The debate comes as U.S. President Barack Obama and U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron continue to authorize military assaults against Islamic State targets in northern Iraq, including positions where artillery is known to be held.

Canada has vocally supported U.S. airstrikes and publicly condemned the actions of the extremist groups.

"ISIS is nothing more than a violent terrorist organization, devoid of the respect, deference and acceptance Muslims are called to have toward others," Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird stated previously.

Canada has provided two military cargo planes to help ferry weapons to Kurdish forces fighting in northern Iraq and has been urged to offer more help, specifically providing relief supplies and helping evacuate the threatened public.

Janice Stein, the director of the Munk School of Global Affairs, says that Canada's participation in the Iraq conflict does make us a possible target for the Islamic State and its sympathizers.

"The leader of the Islamic State has said that the United States is squarely in its sights, but we are in good company. We're with the British, the French, probably the Germans, probably the Dutch. And that is not a reason to do this or not to do this," Stein told CBC The National last week.

Last week, Cameron spoke bluntly on the offensive, telling The Telegraph that "if we do not act to stem the onslaught of this exceptionally dangerous terrorist movement, it will only grow stronger until it can target us on the streets of Britain."

But in America, terrorism experts were warning that the strike could have a similar outcome. Rand Corp's Seth Jones told Time that the attack “could increase the likelihood that ISIS or somebody inspired by ISIS, would strike against the homeland.”

After all, the Islamic State has openly threatened the U.S. in the past. The argument goes that these strikes will more closely link the Western world to Islamic State's enemies in the eyes of its supporters. Even if the strikes are successful in pushing militants back, it could make available Western-born militants to return home and execute their agenda here.

If these attacks have painted a target on Western countries, Canadians should not assume we are immune.

Canada, after all, has been the home of several young men who allegedly joined the Islamic extremist group and died fighting for the cause. Calgary's Farah Mohamed Shirdon was reportedly killed fighting in Iraq.

And the National Post reports that Canadian Salman Ashrafi's death has been used as a recruitment tool, and to “put pressure on the Canadian government to change its foreign policy in the Muslim world.”

In his email to Yahoo Canada News, Wark noted that ISIL is currently focused on expanding its authority in Syria and northern Iraq. With the U.S. joining the fight, they will under great pressure on that front, though recruitment efforts will surely continue.

From Canada's perspective, as with the rest of the Western world, it's a bit of a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. Either we do nothing, and the Islamic State grows in strength and scope. Or we oppose them and add our name to their list of enemies.

But that's a list comprising some very good company, and the cause is even better. The threat of future threats doesn't change that balance.

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