All reports here say their targets would be within Canada in Southern Ontario - most likely downtown Toronto. The only US connection is a couple of (now arrested) men from Georgia who came up to talk with some of the accused early on.
Charlatan - I did notice in the first press conference, that all the police where in full dress regalia. As you say, it's for all of your reasons I'd say it's working so far. They've done a masterful job of releasing information.
Given the confidence of their allegations, I sure hope they caught the right guys and this doesn't turn into another round of investigative abuses. That would inflame the extremists, demoralize muslim citizens and strain the justice system's credibility.
The last thing anyone needs is 17 more Maher Arars.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/...in594974.shtml