I got interested in somebody named Cynthia Ann Vanier earlier this week. She's a Canadian woman, apparently from Ontario. But she's not in Ontario now. Today Cynthia Ann Vanier faces years in a Mexican jail, on charges of human trafficking and organized crime activity. Vanier was arrested on Nov. 10, as one of several conspirators allegedly trying to smuggle Saadi Gadhafi and members of his family into Mexico, using false passports and identification documents (replete with Mexican voter registration cards). Mexico's Attorney General says that she was the ringleader of the group.
Saadi Gadhafi is one of the surviving sons of deposed Libyan dictator Muammar Gadhafi, who ruled as a tyrant for 42 years. He was captured by revolutionary forces in October, and was executed not long after. Son Gadhafi never made it to sunny Mexico. He's sitting in a jail cell in Niger. But if Mexican authorities are correct, he and his family planned to set themselves up in luxury homes on the Pacific coast, in Puerto Valllarta and other areas, probably to remind them of home-sweet-home on the Mediterranean. Money would have been no problem, given the hundreds of millions of oil dollars the Gadhafi family stole and stashed over decades, preparing for that inevitable "rainy day." According to Mexico, Cynthia Vanier and others were actively assisting the Gadhafis with their relocation plans.
So just how did Vanier get involved, and why? I have a hunch on the answer to the latter, but I'll keep it to myself. Ms. Vanier is entitled to the presumption of legal innocence at this stage, even when probable motive is vigorously slapping us in the face.
As to the how, I looked up Vanier's CV to get some background on her. Here is what it says, verbatim (I've highlighted a few words):
"Cynthia Vanier has been providing Dispute Resolution Services as a private practitioner since 1992 and has acted as a Negotiator, Mediator, Fact Finder and Consultant. Cynthia Vanier is a Chartered Mediator with a well-established and unique practice dedicated to unconventional Mediation work.
"Cynthia works primarily within First Nation communities with issues involving land claims, intergovernmental conflict, community issues, and stakeholder facilitations. (Mining industry, business, financial and multi-party issues involving land claims, usage, treaty rights.) Cynthia is also trained in other areas including Kidnap, Ransom Negotiations and Asset Recovery facilitation. Cynthia has a one of a kind Instant Response Team established to respond to conflicts within Ontario with a recognized ability to diffuse and calm the most contentious and difficult environments. This Response Team approach has contributed to safe early and productive dialogue enabling stakeholders to preserve relationships and move forward in a healthy positive framework."
After reading this creative missive I'll be damned if I know what Vanier's actual job title or description is. The only thing I can conclude for sure is that she was probably available for hire - to the right person, and perhaps at the right price.
In my opinion, such a curious resume of "qualifications" offers insight into her own exalted self-perception, and may explain why Cynthia Ann Vanier ended up in this predicament. Clint Eastwood said in a trademark movie line, "A man's just got to know his limitations." In the case of Vanier, it would seem a woman does too. The failure to recognize those limitations may have already placed her in serious and irreversible jeopardy.
Mexico busts Gadhafi smuggling network: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/12/mexico-busts-plan-by-gaddafi-son-to.html.
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