National Security Council Chief Wichean Potephosree: Trip To Thailand

Viktor Bout Dept: The "Land of Smiles" has long been a favourite haven for criminals -- from Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout to gangsters, drug smugglers and pedophiles -- drawn by its open-door visa policy, lax law enforcement and huge variety of white sand beaches, according to CTV. "We have to admit that there are threats all over the world, and our country is a weak link," National Security Council chief Wichean Potephosree said after an apparently foiled bomb plot was uncovered when an explosion in the Iranians' rented house Tuesday forced authorities to acknowledge that Thailand was a target of international terrorists and the three Iranians detained in Bangkok and accused of plotting to attack Israeli diplomats set priorities during their trip to Thailand. They spent several days at a seaside town in the company of prostitutes, soaking up the sun and sin that has attracted many of the world's unsavoury characters. Thailand's tourism industry rakes in more than $25 billion in revenue a year, accounting for more than 6 per cent of the economy. But officials are now questioning if they should roll back the welcome mat a little. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.