Mackenzie Institute

The Mackenzie Institute for the Study of Terrorism, Revolution and Propaganda is a think tank in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Founded in 1986 by Brigadier Dr. Maurice Tugwell, a former Parachute Regiment officer and British Army veteran of WW-2, Palestine (1947), the Malayian insurgency, Cyprus and Ulster.Fact|date=January 2008 The institute is a non-profit organization that depends upon individual donors and charitable foundations; it does not accept government funding. The institute publishes online research papers on a wide variety of political matters, with a focus on terrorism, political extremism, warfare, and organized crime. [cite web | title =Policy.ca Profile: Mackenzie Institute | publisher =Policy.ca | date =November 25 2005 | url =http://www.policy.ca/policy-directory/Detailed/Mackenzie-Institute-316.html | accessdate =2006-11-16 ] Its mission is to "provide research and commentary on its subject matter, to promote informed public debate, and to hold to the proposition that our liberal democratic tradition must be safeguarded and fostered" It is also "concerned with the social and political stability of Canada, and works to enhance it when it can". The institute is named after Canadian explorer Alexander Mackenzie. [cite web | title =The Mackenzie Institute | publisher =Mackenzie Institute | url=http://www.mackenzieinstitute.com/index.html | accessdate =2007-05-14] Its current executive director, John C. Thompson, often appears as a television contributor on terrorism and military issues.

In July 1995, members of the Animal Liberation Front sent a pipe bomb to Thompson's office in Toronto. His assistant would have been killed, except that the device's battery had become disconnected through mishandling by Canada Post. [ [http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/16/41/News/front.html RCMP PROBES ANIMAL ACTIVISTS] , Scott Anderson, NOW Magazine, JUNE 12-18, 1997] [ [http://416-777-7777.com/article/252285 Letter bomb mystery deepens] , Jen Gerson, Simona Siad & Surya Bhattacharya, The Toronto Star, Sep 01, 2007 ]

Several newspaper reports have described the institute as a conservative or right-wing organization. [Michael Doxtater, "How the Mohawks look at history", "Globe and Mail", 11 July 1991, A17; "Mail bombs spark public warning", "Kitchener-Waterloo Record", 20 July 1995, A3; Geoff Baker, "Who's behind mail-bomb plot?", "Toronto Star", 30 July 1995, A2; "Tamils protest paper's story", "Toronto Star", 13 February 2000, p. 1; Rob Faulkner, "Institute offers anti-terrorism tip sheet", "Hamilton Spectator", 10 August 2005, A6.] In 1994, journalist Michael Valpy criticized the institute for producing what he described as an ideologically-driven report of supposed "leftist conspiracies". [cite news | last =Valpy | first =Michael | title =It's A Plot, I Tell You, A Plot! | language =English | publisher =The Globe and Mail | date =July 20 1994 ] Thompson has repeatedly rejected such descriptions, describing himself as a "classical liberal". [John Thompson, "Defending the institute", "Globe and Mail", 23 July 1991, A14.] He has written, "if being a traditional liberal these days means being condemned as a right-wing nut, I plead guilty". [John Thompson, "The liberal view", "Globe and Mail", 29 July 1994, A16. See also " Murray Campbell, "Wonks", "Globe and Mail", 2 December 1995, D1.]

In 2005, the institute released a report entitled "Waiting for the Kaboom: Indicators to Watch for", described as a citizen's guide to finding terrorists. In this report, John C. Thompson encouraged Canadians to watch for theft of credentials and credit cards, attempts to buy weapons in bulk, increased visits to access tunnels under office towers, and large groups of men living together "for no apparent purpose". He also warned Canadians about people wearing bulky clothing in hot weather, arguing that suicide bombers sometimes wear several sets of underwear to protect their groins for the virgins they believe martyrs receive in the afterlife. These guidelines were welcomed by some law enforcement groups, but were also met with some criticism. [Rob Faulkner, "Institute offers anti-terrorism tip sheet", "Hamilton Spectator", 10 August 2005, A6.] Canada's Public Safety ministry declined to comment on the release. [Stewart Bell, "Think-tank urges public to watch out for terrorists: 'Our turn is coming soon'", "National Post", 9 August 2005, A4.] The Mackenzie Institute later issued a revised version of the report, under the new title "Precursors of Hostile Intent: Signs of a Potential Terrorist Attack". [ [http://www.mackenzieinstitute.com/2005/precursors-attack.htm John C. Thompson, "Precursors of Hostile Intent: Signs of a Potential Terrorist Attack"] , Mackenzie Institute, current as of 20 March 2006, accessed 15 May 2007.]

The Mackenzie Institute makes frequent comments on Canada's military mission in Afghanistan, and supports increased funding for the Canadian military generally. [For instance, Lynda Hurst, "Deep well of Taliban fighters", "Toronto Star", 13 September 2006, A1 [Afghanistan] ; Chris Wattie, "Canada's hollow army is 'short of everybody'", "National Post", 4 May 2006, A6 [funding] .]

References

External links

* [http://www.mackenzieinstitute.com/ Official Website of the Mackenzie Institute]