Posted on 02/23/2008 9:18:08 AM PST by BGHater
Canada and the U.S. have signed an agreement that paves the way for the militaries from either nation to send troops across each other's borders during an emergency, but some are questioning why the Harper government has kept silent on the deal.
Neither the Canadian government nor the Canadian Forces announced the new agreement, which was signed Feb. 14 in Texas.
The U.S. military's Northern Command, however, publicized the agreement with a statement outlining how its top officer, Gen. Gene Renuart, and Canadian Lt.-Gen. Marc Dumais, head of Canada Command, signed the plan, which allows the military from one nation to support the armed forces of the other nation during a civil emergency.
The new agreement has been greeted with suspicion by the left wing in Canada and the right wing in the U.S.
The left-leaning Council of Canadians, which is campaigning against what it calls the increasing integration of the U.S. and Canadian militaries, is raising concerns about the deal.
"It's kind of a trend when it comes to issues of Canada-U.S. relations and contentious issues like military integration. We see that this government is reluctant to disclose information to Canadians that is readily available on American and Mexican websites," said Stuart Trew, a researcher with the Council of Canadians.
Trew said there is potential for the agreement to militarize civilian responses to emergency incidents. He noted that work is also underway for the two nations to put in place a joint plan to protect common infrastructure such as roadways and oil pipelines.
"Are we going to see (U.S.) troops on our soil for minor potential threats to a pipeline or a road?" he asked.
Trew also noted the U.S. military does not allow its soldiers to operate under foreign command so there are questions about who controls American forces if they are requested for service in Canada. "We don't know the answers because the government doesn't want to even announce the plan," he said.
But Canada Command spokesman Commander David Scanlon said it will be up to civilian authorities in both countries on whether military assistance is requested or even used.
He said the agreement is "benign" and simply sets the stage for military-to-military co-operation if the governments approve.
"But there's no agreement to allow troops to come in," he said. "It facilitates planning and co-ordination between the two militaries. The 'allow' piece is entirely up to the two governments."
If U.S. forces were to come into Canada they would be under tactical control of the Canadian Forces but still under the command of the U.S. military, Scanlon added.
News of the deal, and the allegation it was kept secret in Canada, is already making the rounds on left-wing blogs and Internet sites as an example of the dangers of the growing integration between the two militaries.
On right-wing blogs in the U.S. it is being used as evidence of a plan for a "North American union" where foreign troops, not bound by U.S. laws, could be used by the American federal government to override local authorities.
"Co-operative militaries on Home Soil!" notes one website. "The next time your town has a 'national emergency,' don't be surprised if Canadian soldiers respond. And remember - Canadian military aren't bound by posse comitatus."
Posse comitatus is a U.S. law that prohibits the use of federal troops from conducting law enforcement duties on domestic soil unless approved by Congress.
Scanlon said there was no intent to keep the agreement secret on the Canadian side of the border. He noted it will be reported on in the Canadian Forces newspaper next week and that publication will be put on the Internet.
Scanlon said the actual agreement hasn't been released to the public as that requires approval from both nations. That decision has not yet been taken, he added.
North American Union - here we come!!! What’s next??? Common currency?
This would be effective 99% in one direction.
Finally a decision from a former Soviet republic that makes sense.
I hate the moves towards the NAU but this makes sense. As if Canadians are going to DO anything if they were called.
ping for later
Who do we contact to see this never, ever happen. Mexamericanada here we come. I’m sickend and troubled by this in a lot of ways... I almost feel as though I am saying good bye to a relative that is dying a slow death.. I know the relative is dying, just not when. Kinda eery.
Canada cannot afford to both pay for retirements AND Socialized medicine, AND defend itself, any more.
Thier were big article last summer about how the Canadians were getting rid of thier fighter aircraft.
Someone from another country is going to come over here and tell us what to do? I don’t think so.
Huh? Canada’s been the virtual 51st State for decades...;)
But it’s really about economic protection. We account for 75% of their imports and 86% of their exports (higher than California’s equivalents to the rest of the US).
Canada accounts for 20% of our imports, and 16% of our exports. That’s a lot of our GDP that’s directly tied to our Northern neighbor. Not to mention being our biggest source of oil.
Canada hasn’t maintained the infrastructure nor staff to assist in a major catastrophe. Canada had a long-standing rule that foreign troops from ANY country could not operate in Canada.
What happens now if the Great White North has a massive natural disaster, say a huge earthquake hits the Seattle area, all the way up through Vancouver (the ONLY Canadian port on the Pacific)? Well, currently they’re screwed - we can’t send aid like we did to Indonesia after the Tsunami. Or like we’ve done around the world for massive natural disasters, deploying our troops to assist in recovery.
This agreement seems to make sense to me - it assures that Canada will not suffer as much as they would now if a major disaster happens. And that - in the long run - is the best thing for the US.
The day I see Canadian troops marching over the Detroit - Windsor bridge to help quell the inevitable riots that will happen again someday in Detroit I will sit right down and eat my hat.
If there was a disaster in Canada and we could help with rescue efforts and the like, I would be embarrassed as hell, if we did not do so.
I see no real problem here. It is like Fire Departments backing each other up.
I’d lay strong odds that this means US troops assisting in Canada is a thousand times likely more than Canadian troops (what few there are) assisting in the U.S.
bump
I realize that it is unlikely that we would ever have need of help from Canada.
And in spite of whatever faults Canada might have I feel great affection for Canadians and would certainly hope that we would always come to their aid...the same goes for Mexico.
“We should invade Canada and let’s the Mexicans have the USA. They appear to be taking it anyway.”
Heh...you think global warming is an accident?
Rove’s weather machine is getting Canada warmer for us to move north...
*snicker*
PING :)
Clive, have you seen or heard about this?
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