Posted on 10/07/2006 3:56:30 AM PDT by Man50D
WASHINGTON – There are mixed signals coming from Mexico about the fate of a proposed mega-port in Baja California for mainly Chinese goods that would be shipped on rail lines and "NAFTA superhighways" running through the U.S. to Canada.
The port at Punta Colonet, planned as a major container facility to transfer Asian goods into America's heartland, got at least a temporary setback when a Mexican businessman announced a competing project in which he was seeking to secure mineral rights in the area.
Gabriel Chavez, originally one of the principal movers behind the port plan, now says there are significant amounts of titanium and iron to be mined offshore – a project he considers more important than the port.
Mexican ports czar Cesar Patricio Reyes placed a moratorium on further work toward port planning for three or four months while the government explores ways to make everyone happy.
It is no secret the Mexican government is still committed to the port plan. A map from the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies shows the proposed goods route into a North American community.
According to transportation officials in Arizona, one of the sites considered for a rail line from Punta Colonet, the Mexican government has released an official directive stating its intention to create a new marine facility there -- about 150 miles south of the U.S. border.
The port at Punta Colonet, when completed, is expected to rival the biggest West Coast ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach, both heavily congested now.
Bringing goods into a Mexican port would mean lower costs for foreign shippers because of cheaper labor and less restrictive environmental regulations.
Hutchison Ports Mexico, a subsidiary of the Chinese company Hutchison Whampoa Ltd., is keeping reports about progress on the venture close to the vest.
Only recently has the port become a source of controversy in the U.S. as Americans begin questioning highway and rail projects criss-crossing the country – many of which are designed to carry product from Mexico to the U.S. and Canada on the so-called "NAFTA superhighways."
Resentment is building inside the U.S. because of what appear to be secretive plans made outside normal government policymaking channels about immigration, border policies, transportation and integration of the three North American nations.
Transportation Secretary Maria Cino has promised to release plans within months for a one-year, NAFTA pilot program permitting Mexican truckers beyond the limited commercial zone to which they are currently restricted.
The program will likely involve about 100 Mexican trucking companies, the Department of Transportation says.
Under the North American Free Trade Agreement – NAFTA – the borders were to open partially to truckers from both countries in 1995. Full access was promised by 2000. Because of the restrictions on Mexican trucks, the Mexican government has imposed limits on U.S. truckers.
The U.S. restrictions were placed by the Clinton administration in response to demands from the Teamsters union, which said Mexican trucks posed safety and environmental risks. Currently, the U.S. permits Mexican truckers only in commercial zones close to the border that extend no further than 20 miles from Mexico.
While the American Trucking Association supports opening the border, other unions have joined in opposition with the Teamsters. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association came out this month in opposition to any Mexican truck pilot program.
Todd Spencer, the association's executive vice president, said the program would jeopardize safety on U.S. roads and would lead to an influx of cheap Mexican labor.
"A move by the U.S. Department of Transportation to open U.S. roadways to Mexican trucks puts the interest of foreign trade and cheap labor ahead of everything else, including highway safety, homeland security and the well being of hardworking Americans," Spencer said.
In a letter to the Interstate Trade Commission, Spencer wrote: "The net effect of admission of Mexican trucks into the U.S. marketplace would undoubtedly be negative. The supposed benefits to consumers from speculative reductions in shipping rates would be offset by the societal costs that are difficult to measure, but are easy to identify."
Raising more suspicions that such plans are leading to a future integration of the U.S., Canada and Mexico, a high-level, top-secret meeting of the North American Forum took place this month in Banff – with topics ranging from "A Vision for North America," "Opportunities for Security Cooperation" and "Demographic and Social Dimensions of North American Integration."
Despite "confirmed" participants including Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, former Secretary of State George Shultz, former Central Intelligence Agency Director R. James Woolsey, former Immigration and Naturalization Services Director Doris Meissner, North American Union guru Robert Pastor, former Defense Secretary William Perry, former Energy Secretary and Defense Secretary James Schlesinger and top officials of both Mexico and Canada, there has been no press coverage of the event. The only media member scheduled to appear at the event, according to documents obtained by WND, was the Wall Street Journal's Mary Anastasia O'Grady.
The event was organized by the Canadian Council of Chief Executives and the Canada West Foundation, an Alberta think-tank that promotes closer economic integration with the United States.
The Canadian event is just the latest of a series of meetings, policy papers and directives that have citizens, officials and members of the media wondering whether these efforts represent some sort of coordinated effort to implement a "merger" some have characterized as "NAFTA on steroids."
Last week, government documents released by a Freedom of Information Act request revealed the Bush administration is running what some observers see as a "shadow government" with Mexico and Canada in which the U.S. is crafting a broad range of policy in conjunction with its neighbors to the north and south.
I guess we had better get used to the NAU....
And the joke is on anyone that reads WND.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2006/09/21/secret-meeting.html
Top secret: Banff security meeting attracted U.S., Mexico officials
Last Updated: Thursday, September 21, 2006 | 9:15 AM MT
CBC News
A North American security meeting was secretly held in Banff last week, attracting high-profile officials from the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The North American Forum was hosted with the help of the Canada West Foundation and the Canadian Council of Chief Executives.
Among the attendees at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel affair was Stockwell Day, Canada's minister of public safety.
'The participants joined the conference essentially knowing that it would be a private function.'-John Larson
The gathering may not have made headlines, but it is still the talk of Banff.
Taxi Driver Chris Foote said he first learned of the meeting when he stopped into a submarine shop for a late night snack last week and heard rumours U.S. Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld was in town.
"Here they are talking in my backyard, no media to tell Canadians, Mexicans and Americans about what's going on. [I am] completely outraged," he said. "This is an assault on democracy."
John Larson, a spokesperson for the North American Forum, said reporters were not told about the conference. He won't confirm who attended the meeting nor will he give any concrete details about what was discussed.
"The participants joined the conference essentially knowing that it would be a private function," said Larson.
Mel Hurtig, author and founder of the Council of Canadians, obtained internal documents about the Sept. 12-14 forum revealing that the gathering was called Continental Prosperity in the New Security Environment.
Rumsfeld was slated to be a keynote speaker and topics on the agenda included North American energy strategy and security co-operation.
"We're talking about such an important thing, we're talking about the integration of Canada into the United States. For them to hold this meeting in secret and to make every effort to avoid anybody learning about it, right away you've got to be hugely concerned," Hurtig said.
Hurtig says questions should be raised in the House of Commons about why Canadians are being kept in the dark on meetings attended by officials like Day."
http://lookingglassnews.org/printerfriendly.php?storyid=7151
Secret Banff Meeting of CEOs and the Defense Establishment
by Michel Chossudovsky GlobalResearch.ca
Entered into the database on Wednesday, September 20th, 2006 @ 16:12:46 MST
MILITARIZATION AND THE DECONSTRUCTION OF NORTH AMERICAN
Cabinet ministers, Five Star Generals together with North America's top corporate executives mingle in the plush surroundings of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.
This secret venue on "Continental Prosperity in the New Security Environment" focused on "Deep Integration," which largely consists in flushing national sovereignty in favor of "Fortress North America".
According to the draft program (see below), Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld traveled to Banff, Alberta to deliver the keynote address on "military to military cooperation". Canada's Minister of Public Security Stockwell Day focused his address on issues of North American public security.
Top brass from the US and Canada were in attendance. Canada's Minister of Defense Gordon O'Connor was present together with Chief of Defense Staff, General Rick Hellier.
There was, however, no confirmation that Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper attended the meetings.
On the US side, several of Rumsfeld's top policy advisers were present alongside a handful of researchers and consultants.
The commander of US NorthCom Admiral Tim Keating was also in attendance with several of his senior staff members. Keating is also Commander of NORAD, which is slated to be merged with US NorthCom.
Deep Integration
"Deep Integration" was first enunciated by "The Independent Task Force for North America", led on the Canadian side by former Liberal deputy prime minister, John Manley together with Tom Aquino, president of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives. The task force led by US, Canadian and Mexican officials was sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).
"D’Aquino and his partners in a corporate task force, former deputy prime minister John Manley and former finance minister Michael Wilson, tell us that by integrating ever more into the U.S. we will somehow guarantee our prosperity, creating fortress North America to compete with China, Europe, and other competitors." (Murray Dobbin, April 2005)
In 2005, Manley’s task force released its "Trinational Call for a North American Economic and Security Community by 2010".
Both Aquino and Manley are participants in the Banff venue, which essentially constitutes a follow-up to the CFR sponsored initiative. Another central theme of the Banff conference is the integration of military command structures, which could eventually lead to the scrapping of NORAD and the integration of Canada into US Northern Command.(Chossudovsky, November 2004)
The Banff venue was co-chaired by George Shultz, a staunch Republican, former Secretary of State to President Ronald Reagan who later became president and
George Shultz
Top execs from the military-industrial complex and the oil companies were present including Lockheed Martin, Chevron, Mexico's PEMEX and Suncor Energy.
Top officials and policy analysts from the military's research labs and thinks tanks including Livermore were invited to integrate several of the specialized panels.
The meetings focused on the interrelationship between North American defense systems, militarization, national security, borders, immigration, military production and the control over North America's energy reserves.
The venue had more to do with profit driven militarization than "continental prosperity" .
No journalists, no press releases, no commentary which might inform public opinion, a total media blackout: The program of this venue, which was a carefully guarded State secret was first revealed by Canadian author and politician Mel Hurtig on an internet posting :
Thought you would like to see this. They're at it again. The sellouts, the usual suspects.
September 12th to 14th, at the Banff Springs Hotel, a conference on North American Integration.
Among the long list of those who will be there are Perrin Beatty, Peter Lougheed, Thomas d'Aquino, Stockwell Day, Wendy Dobson, Roger Gibbins, John Manley, Anne McLellan, Gordon O'Connor, James Schlesinger, Donald Rumsfeld, George Shultz and a long list of others.
Among the topics: "A Vision for North America", "A North American Energy Strategy", "Demographic and Social Dimensions of North American Integration", "Opportunities for Security Cooperation".
Many prominent high level U.S. government people will be there.
Lots of military. Lots of Deputy Ministers.
Lock up your valuables. Hide your children.
Mel Hurtig
Done laughing yet?
I can continue.
*PING*
Just pinging a few of you that I can remember who might be interested in this...
Damn right. We, who run the NAU are going to keep you under our thumbs for years to come.
Mwahahahahahahaha.
That's only the beginning.
First it's lunches and panels.
Before long it's little cocktail weenies and vegetable trays.
Mwahahahahahahaha
Just wait. One more.
Mwahahahahahaha.
There. Thank you.
Is you're name Ben or do you have multiple accounts?
Mel Hurtig's back.
http://www.canadianactionparty.ca/temp/articles/Secret_Agenda_of_NAU.asp
"Whistle Blower Releases Secret Agenda of NAU meeting in Banff, Alberta, Canada Sept 12-14, 2006
Comment from Connie Fogal, Leader, CanadianActionParty, Tuesday Sept 19, 2006, 4:45 P.M. :
The secret information below was uncovered by Vive le Canada. On September 12- 14, 2006 in Banff Alberta, Canada a group of present and past elected federal Ministers and Deputy Ministers from Canada, USA and Mexico met with unelected corporate, military, academic, financial ,industrialists,and "think tank" members to strategize the unification of Canada, USA, and Mexico. They conspired to continue to commit the unconstitutional act of castrating three national entities by planning ways to remove the constitutional powers and protections granted to the citizens of Canada, USA, and Mexico. "
That's an awful amount of information for a "secret meeting." How could you find it and World Net Daily could not?
The NAU has all of the accounts we need. We are everywhere! Fear our nametags and our 10:15 coffee breaks!
Yikes. Now the Canadian Action Party. Barbarians at the FR gate.
http://cgi.bowesonline.com/pedro.php?id=65&x=story&xid=256985
Protesters gather at hotel after secret forum
By Aaron Paton
Tuesday September 26, 2006
Yui Mathsushima holds up her protest sign in front of the Banff Springs Hotel on Monday.
Aaron Paton
A handful of protesters gathered in front of the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel Monday to show their disapproval of a secret forum held earlier in the month in Banff that featured politicians, business elite, top military generals and weapons manufacturers from Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The protest came almost two weeks after The North American Forum was held at the Springs from Sept. 12 to 14. and drew a crowd of about 10 protesters, some bearing signs like “we want our country back” and “lost liberty hotel.”
ROFL
But you won't continue all the way. So let me continue for you.
WND and these other sources that you have linked to are merely piggy-backing. We need to go to the original source.
And that original source is Global Research.ca.
The reason that you and WND stay away from Global Research is because you know that even more people will be laughing at you.
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