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Soft Target: The Real Story Behind the Air India Disaster
A provocative look at one of Canada's biggest tragedies
On March 16, 2005, almost twenty years after one of the biggest mass murders in Canadian Aviation history, the Air-India Case concluded with a verdict that authors Zuhair Kashmeri and Brian McAndrew predicted sixteen years ago when Soft Target was first published: not guilty.
In this second edition, the two offer a detailed foreword that brings readers up-to-date with some startling new information surrounding the twin bombings on June 23, 1985 in the air over the Atlantic, and on the ground in Japan, which left 331 people dead. They offer key details from the trial of Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri that took place in a specially-built Vancouver courtroom, leads that were not followed up, and more details of India's intelligence service's clandestine interference in Canada. They explain how their own prediction that justice would not be found because of a botched investigation came true, and that only a public inquiry will offer closure to the families of the victims.
On March 16, 2005, almost twenty years after one of the biggest mass murders in Canadian Aviation history, the Air-India Case concluded with a verdict that authors Zuhair Kashmeri and Brian McAndrew predicted sixteen years ago when Soft Target was first published: not guilty.
In this second edition, the two offer a detailed foreword that brings readers up-to-date with some startling new information surrounding the twin bombings on June 23, 1985 in the air over the Atlantic, and on the ground in Japan, which left 331 people dead. They offer key details from the trial of Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri that took place in a specially-built Vancouver courtroom, leads that were not followed up, and more details of India's intelligence service's clandestine interference in Canada. They explain how their own prediction that justice would not be found because of a botched investigation came true, and that only a public inquiry will offer closure to the families of the victims.
Paperback
First published September 6, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 20, 2022
This book is an important part of Canadian History as, written Globe and Mail reporter Zuhair Kashmeri and Toronto Star reporter Brian McAndrew, looks at the carefully orchestrated misinformation, interception and misalignment of Government of India officials into Canada’s investigation of the bombing.
At the time of a Genocide in India targeted towards Sikhs, the GOI lodged a campaign in Canada to discourage Sikh separatist sentiments.
The writers are forthcoming with information of Indian spies posing as Sikhs in Canada known to CSIS and the RCMP. The events took place in a time where Canada’s trade relations with India were growing, and to keep the peace and win India over, Canadian conservative politicians played a role in the misinformation campaign and scapegoating.
Very progressive and detailed.
At the time of a Genocide in India targeted towards Sikhs, the GOI lodged a campaign in Canada to discourage Sikh separatist sentiments.
The writers are forthcoming with information of Indian spies posing as Sikhs in Canada known to CSIS and the RCMP. The events took place in a time where Canada’s trade relations with India were growing, and to keep the peace and win India over, Canadian conservative politicians played a role in the misinformation campaign and scapegoating.
Very progressive and detailed.
December 9, 2014
Positives:
- This is a VERY important book. It casts an entirely different light on the circumstances surrounding Flight 182, and most notably the Sikh community and devious Indian Government -- the latter of whom was really behind the terrorist attack.
Negatives:
- The authors -- as many do on topics like this -- seem to have one bias only. And that is the bias against Sikhs. They source everything else, remain objective, and tell both sides of the story... except when it comes to Sikhs, where they more or less accept all of the bullcrap they have been fed. Note that they source nearly nothing legitimate or credible when it comes to many characterizations of the Sikhs. The authors also use racial 'code words', and go out of their way to criticize Sikhs whenever possible. The point, I can only assume, is to be above any criticism that they sided with the Sikhs and were therefore biased. So they overcorrected and in the process lost their objectivity on particular issues.
- The story is not told well. This is a second edition and I'm not sure if the first edition was better, but this one is choppy.
- There really is no conclusion.
4/10.
- This is a VERY important book. It casts an entirely different light on the circumstances surrounding Flight 182, and most notably the Sikh community and devious Indian Government -- the latter of whom was really behind the terrorist attack.
Negatives:
- The authors -- as many do on topics like this -- seem to have one bias only. And that is the bias against Sikhs. They source everything else, remain objective, and tell both sides of the story... except when it comes to Sikhs, where they more or less accept all of the bullcrap they have been fed. Note that they source nearly nothing legitimate or credible when it comes to many characterizations of the Sikhs. The authors also use racial 'code words', and go out of their way to criticize Sikhs whenever possible. The point, I can only assume, is to be above any criticism that they sided with the Sikhs and were therefore biased. So they overcorrected and in the process lost their objectivity on particular issues.
- The story is not told well. This is a second edition and I'm not sure if the first edition was better, but this one is choppy.
- There really is no conclusion.
4/10.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews