Posted on 09/25/2006 4:59:23 PM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Have you heard the one about the U.S. government and transportation agencies secretly trying to lay the groundwork for a "NAFTA Superhighway," and a North American Union with no borders between Canada, the United States and Mexico and one currency for everyone?
You may have heard that an organization called NASCO -- North America's SuperCorridor Coalition -- has allegedly been working secretly to construct a "NAFTA Superhighway" from Mexico through the United States to Canada, erase our borders and freely allow illegal immigrants and terrorists into our country. Plus, the group is allegedly working to get a Mexican customs facility built in the middle of the United States, which will be considered "sovereign Mexican soil."
These allegations started with strident warnings from "watchdog groups" and Internet alarmists and have, unfortunately, found their way into some mainstream media and campaign speeches.
It's time to get down to reality. As executive director of NASCO, I want to set the record straight before the myths pushed on us by conspiracy buffs take over the facts.
NASCO is an advocacy group, not a government agency, and we don't set transportation policy, build highways or set up customs facilities. We believe that our economy runs on trade and that trade runs on transportation -- they are eternally linked.
As a tri-national, nonprofit, trade and transportation coalition, we are committed to boosting economic activity while supporting needed infrastructure improvements, technological/security innovations and environmental initiatives within our midcontinent trade and transportation zone. We know these efforts will create job opportunities and enhance the well-being of workers, residents and consumers in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
The terms "NAFTA Superhighway" and "NASCO Corridor" have been confused in recent reports. The NASCO Corridor exists as the current infrastructure of Interstates 35, 29 and 94. There is no planned NAFTA Superhighway.
The Trans-Texas Corridor 35 (TTC-35) is not the first leg of this so-called secret superhighway. Indeed, TTC-35 will carry a substantial volume of NAFTA trade in Texas because it is designed to alleviate congestion and serve as a parallel work engine to existing I-35, which already carries a substantial volume of NAFTA trade. We do support the TTC-35, as it solves crucial transportation problems for that state. We support the facilitation of any and all projects and ideas that further NASCO's goal of increasing the efficiency and security of our supply chain.
The U.S. government is not funding this so-called NAFTA Superhighway. Since 1999, the federal government has directed more than $234 million in project funding towards the NASCO Corridor for current infrastructure improvements. In addition, the federal government has allocated $2.25 million directly to NASCO "for the development of technology integration and tracking project." This is our North American Facilitation of Transportation, Trade, Reduced Congestion & Security project in which we are working on technology solutions to improve the security and efficiency of trade across our borders.
Highways are only one element of the transportation needs up ahead. The North American Inland Port Network (NAIPN) is a subcommittee of NASCO that is an advocate for the interests of "inland" ports along the trade corridor. It seeks to develop logistics systems that enhance global security but not impede the cost-effective and efficient flow of goods.
Kansas City's SmartPort is a NASCO member, and neither is planning to have a Mexican customs office on "Mexican soil" that will bring in illegal immigrants. Kansas City plans to locate a Mexican customs office at the city's inland port, but it will handle outbound/southbound U.S. freight exclusively, not inbound, and it will not be leased to any Mexican government agency or be sovereign territory of Mexico.
NASCO does not encourage the elimination of international borders. NASCO's efforts are designed to balance the need for increased security at our international borders with the continued need for efficiency and security of the supply chain.
As our trade increases and our transportation systems age, we must look at inland ports, technology innovations and integration, and private-sector funding to accelerate improvements to our transportation infrastructure. We need to be on the forefront of security technology to keep our borders safe and secure. We must look at the environmental impact of all transportation as we move forward. And we must coordinate to ensure that efforts are not duplicated and scarce federal resources are not being wasted.
NASCO is there to help facilitate these solutions.
Trans-Texas Corridor PING!
"NASCO is there to help facilitate these solutions."
Bull$hite.
I take it this article is available in Chinese?
No way is the US going to give up its pesos.
Paging Dr. Corsi! Paging Dr. Corsi!
Unfortunately goofball theories aren't limited to the Left. There are nuts aplenty on both sides to keep the conspiracy theory industry going for quite a ways.
Jerome Corsi will be deeply saddened.
Everybody gets a black helocopter but meee.
Do I understand correctly, that "inland ports" will allow outbound freight to check through Mexican customs in, say, Kansas, which means they don't have to check through customs again at the Mexican border... ? Theoretically if they have a certificate issued at the "inland port" they won't have to open up again at the border...?
Will Mexican trucking companies handle that traffic, since it is intended to drive straight through into Mexico? Meaning Mexican trucking companies will operate on the US side of the border as far inland as, well, Kansas? Or will US truckers haul the load as far as the border, and then drop it for Mexican drivers to pick up there?
Is their any equivalent "inland port" on the Mexican side of the border envisioned?
Awwww, poor baby...
I'm so Ronery.
Of course I know in my heart that if HerHillery!ness
is ever coronated, that one will be winging to my last
known address. Unfortunately I won't be there.
No doubt.
Alright...this should make aluminum foil futures climb a few points.
Yeeee-haaaaa!
"As a tri-national, nonprofit, trade and transportation coalition, we are committed to ..."
Another example of NGOs taking control from national governments.
Yeah, NASCO is marching me and my homies out to Kansas at gunpoint to widen I-35.
Well I for one am a skeptic at heart and there are just too many reports and okay, rhumors, for something like this (a North American Union) NOT to be wanted by some.
As for me, I'll keep my tin foil hat close by and will turn on my special radar capable of seeing all those black helicopters.
N. American students trained for 'merger' 10 universities participate in 'model Parliament' in Mexico to simulate 'integration' of 3 nations
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=52104
Excerpt:
WASHINGTON In another example of the way the three nations of North America are being drawn into a federation, or "merger," students from 10 universities in the U.S., Mexico and Canada are participating annually in a simulated "model Parliament."
Under the sponsorship of the Canadian based North American Forum on Integration, students met in the Mexican Senate for five days in May in an event dubbed "Triumvirate," with organizers declaring "A North American Parliament is born."
A similar event took place in the Canadian Senate in 2005. The intentions of organizers are clear.
"The creation of a North American parliament, such as the one being simulated by these young people, should be considered," explained Raymond Chretien, the president of the Triumvirate and the former Canadian ambassador to both Mexico and the U.S.
Participants discuss draft bills on trade corridors, immigration, provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement and produce a daily newspaper called "The TrilatHerald."
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