At Monday’s Anti-Bush protest in Ottowa, peaceful protesters, including Union president Dave Coles, squared off along the line with three masked men who seemed fairly intent on turning things violent. At one point Coles, suspicious of their intent, accuses the men of being police officers. The men freeze like deer in headlights, and are almost too-quickly taken down by waiting riot police.

Evidence here is not trial-proof. It may just be that three kids who listen to too-much punk rock wanted to stir things up. That is very possible. But, is it also possible that Canadian police planted provocateurs within the protest lines in order to force a violent confrontation that could potentially end in the arrest and dissipation of these protesters? Absolutely.