Please be so kind as to give me a link to the actual SPP text, which you read. (The actual SPP text doesn’t appear to be on the anti-NAU site that you quoted and linked to.)
I sure don’t want an EU style structure (NAU) over our current government, but I don’t see that the SPP, as currently existing, as setting up a NAU for us. Kindly show me the text and you may recruit another person to your cause. http://www.spp.gov/pdf/nap_flu07.pdf
Go to page 11 of 53, the last paragraph which starts with "Although influenza will not physically damage critical infrastructure......
I’ve given specific examples of where Schlafly, much as I respect her for opposing the ERA among other things, is wrong. You’ve not yet given any specific examples of how the text of the SPP vindicates the specific Schlafly statements that I’ve questioned.
You have not quoted or given any direct links, only your opinions. Certainly since you have been here since 1999 you don't need to be spoon fed. But I'll give you one more link then go to the article and get the links for yourself.
http://www.state.gov/g/avianflu/91271.htm
Annex 2: Terms of Reference for the Coordinating Body on Avian and Pandemic Influenza
Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs August 2007
Overview`
Canada, the United States and Mexico have established a senior level Coordinating Body to facilitate the effective planning and preparedness within North America for a possible outbreak of avian and/or human pandemic influenza under the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP). This Coordinating Body will serve as the senior level contact group in the event of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza or a novel strain of human influenza outbreak and, as such, could be used as a model for regional collaboration.
Mandate
The Coordinating Body will support and facilitate the coordination of SPP-related activities in North America with a bearing on planning and preparedness for avian and pandemic influenza, much of which will be incorporated into the North American Plan for Avian and Pandemic Influenza including:
Ensuring the development and implementation of a comprehensive, coordinated and science-based North American approach to plan for and manage the threat of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza and/or human pandemic influenza;
Ensuring the development and implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to strengthen North America’s ability to prevent and mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza or a human pandemic influenza;
Ensuring that previous tasks related to avian influenza and human pandemic influenza, SOPs, policies, protocols and any subsequent actions reflect the principles outlined in the North American Cooperation on Avian and Pandemic Influenza agreement and the principles agreed to by the leaders in the March 2006 Cancun Summit;
Ensuring the completion in a timely manner of all tasks agreed to by leaders in Cancun and any subsequent tasks; Identifying and prioritizing additional activities, gaps or areas of collaboration required to ensure North American preparedness;
Promoting cross-sectoral integration of preparedness activities (e.g. human health, animal health, transportation, borders, communications, surveillance, emergency response, etc.);
Encouraging the exchange of information on each government’s avian and pandemic influenza plans and intentions; and
Encouraging the development of comprehensive, multi-sectoral business continuity plans that address North American considerations.
Chairs
The chair of the SPP Coordinating Body will rotate between each national authority on a yearly basis.
Membership
Membership will include senior officials from the following departments and agencies: Canada:
Public Safety Canada Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Public Health Agency of Canada Canadian Food Inspection Agency United States:
U.S. Department of State U.S. Department of Health and Human Services U.S. Department of Homeland Security U.S. Department of Agriculture Mexico:
Ministry of Agriculture Ministry of Health Ministry of Foreign Affairs Representatives from other agencies/departments can join future discussions in accordance with the agenda. Working Groups
Where possible, existing SPP working groups, governmental structures or trilateral/bilateral mechanisms will conduct the analysis and develop policies and procedures that inform all levels of government in their ability to deal with the North American, cross-sectoral impacts of avian and pandemic influenza, avoiding where possible duplicating efforts Administrative Support
Administrative and logistical support for the SPP Coordinating Body is the responsibility of each national authority.
Frequency of Meetings Quarterly or as called by the chairs; in person or by teleconference.
If you go to the second link you will note it is from the State Department.
The Flu Plan is not the original SPP text, but is a plan to cooperate dealing with Flu. And there are 3 other such plans for dealing with 3 additional areas.
Both you and nicmarlo have read quite a lot on this, and it should be easy to site the actual SPP itself unless there is no SPP itself other than something along the lines of "let's get together every so often, taking turns being chair, and adopt cooperative plans to deal with our problems?" Absent anyone citing the actual SPP text, I'll just deal with the Flu Plan.
The paragraph cited by you, and following text, is as follows:
Although influenza will not physically damage critical infrastructure, systems may be weakened by the absence of essential personnel in the workplace or the diversion of resources. This Plan, therefore, extends beyond the health and medical sectors to include provisions in relation to critical infrastructure and the movement of goods and services across our borders. The North American Plan for Avian and Pandemic Influenza provides a framework for:
• The basic structure and mechanisms for trilateral emergency coordination and communication;
• Collaboration on the prevention, control and eradication of highly pathogenic strains of avian influenza;
• Collaboration on a North American approach to pandemic influenza preparedness and response, including border monitoring and control measures to stop or slow the spread of a novel human influenza virus; and
• Collaboration on a North American approach to keeping critical infrastructure and essential systems functioning properly in the event of an influenza pandemic.
Thus, the 3 countries will establish coordination, communication, and collaboration to deal with flu. Is that a bad thing that our HHS and/or USDA officials meet with corresponding Canadian and Mexican officials to discuss how to handle a human or avian flu? Nothing in the language delegates legislative powers.
Nothing in that serves "to shift powers from U.S. legislatures to unelected, unaccountable 'North American' bureaucrats" as Schlafly wrongly said. A committee that includes a foreigner, let alone a foreigner by himself, is NOT given legislative power.
You have not quoted or given any direct links, only your opinions.
Actually, I quoted Schlafly several times before and have again above. I have now also quoted the language of the Flu Plan and showed that it doesn't give Congress' legislative powers to a committee that, among other things, meets to coordinate how countries respond to sick birds.
Again, Schlafly also wrongly writes that "a foreigner will be THE decision maker for Americans" [emphasis added] because the chair rotates between the 3 countries. The committee, i.e., the decision-makers of the countries, meet and try to adopt a crisis response such that one country's response doesn't increase problems for other countries.
Indeed, the language that you quoted from the State Dept annex confirmed what I said about the chair. That annex language said: "Frequency of Meetings Quarterly or as called by the chairs; in person or by teleconference." It, and the Flu Plan itself, clearly do NOT give the chair the unilateral power to make decisions, proving that Schlafly's claim that the decision maker is a foreigner is just plain wrong, except I suppose that the chair gets to decide when & where to meet.
good post, tt; ty for the ping *will read thoroughly later*