SMUGGLING TIMELINE

It was barely a year ago that the secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, ignited a diplomatic controversy after suggesting that the September 11, 2001, hijackers entered the U.S. via Canada. Days later, Arizona senator and one-time presidential candidate, John McCain, chimed in, telling Fox News that “some of the 9/11 hijackers did come through Canada, as you know.”

But it isn’t true. In 2004, the final report of the 9/11 Commission appointed by the U.S. government confirmed that each of the 19 hijackers — 15 from Saudi Arabia, two from the United Arab Emirates, one from Lebanon, and one from Egypt — entered the U. S. with government-issued documents on passenger jets originating from outside North America.

Hugh Pouliot

(Illustration: "I want you for the U.S. Army nearest recruiting station" James Montgomery Flagg, 1916-1917)