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.
Foreign troops are foreign troops are foreign troops.
Not no, but no fricken way in hell!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your own troops are looking at fellow citizens when they take actions. Foreign troops are looking at widgets when they take actions.
If Bush has signed on to this, he is breathtakingly ignorant.
Folks, this is who you begged me to vote for, and I did the last time. This is why I didn’t want to and it’s why I think McCain will be even worse.
These two men just don’t get it.
The U.S. has now slid to the place that it can’t take care of it’s own business? What are we some third world hell hole?
This really angers me.
How are you going to feel if Candian troops are tasked with removing weapons from your homes up there, because U.S. troops were considered reluctant to do so?
I think you’re wrong on this one Mark. And if that doesn’t convince you, then consider the next move, when federales are given the same status in a year or two.
Think again!
Think again!
Bingo!
I hope the Canadian soldier gives this a second thought. No American will hand over their guns to a foreign military. That’s a good way to start a civil war.
I’m still not over JBTs from Kalifornia beating up on little old ladies in New Orleans.
JBTs?
Thanks for the reasonable analysis. There aren’t enough Canadian troops to do much in the US, so the hysteria from the US Right is a bit much. And ... frankly ... if the Quebec-ers eventually vote to pull out of Canada and join France (and they will), the USA is probably going to pick up several new states in the aftermath (some of them — like the Provinces of Alberta and Manitoba — being fairly conservative, and all of them being Resource-rich). This agreement may be a precursor to that to facilitate the operations that would be called for to secure the natural resources of those orphaned Provinces (France can’t be allowed to gain access to the Yukon and all the natural resources throughout the rest of Canada).
Robert A Heinlein was right ... British Canadians are Americans who have figured out how not to pay taxes to Washington.
Jack Booted Thugs.
Republicrat agreement exists with Mexcicorruption to enter U.S. and help quell an outbreak of law enforcement... breaking news
BATF?
Well, I pity the Canadian who tries to take this not so little old lady's weapons.
My real point is that we should be able to use our strengths to help our neighbors during a real crisis, not getting drug into political bs. We should handle our own riots. Any Canadians (or American troops) helping after a Katrina type incident should know that disarming citizens is an illegal order.
But who gets the back bacon stores?
I appreciate the comments Mark. What we have to do is think of this as incrementalism. If this is okay, then what next? If Canadian troops are okay on our soil, why not Mexican troops or U.N. troops?
I don’t want to take one step down that road.
We’re not talking about police. We’re talking about armed military forces with all that implies, troop carriers, tanks. Look once the barn door is open, what our vision of this was won’t matter. It’s their intent that will rule the day.
As far as I know, it would be the first time we would have armed foreign forces on our soil since the Revolutionary War.
What the hell is our leadership thinking? This is just absurd. We can’t even protect ourselves, or take care of our own problems?
What is wrong with this picture? It makes no sense whatsoever.
Telling me what to do?
Tomorrow Canadian Troops
The day after tomorrow UN Troops.
Too cold! Build a bridge from Mexico into Canada with no exit ramps. Have at it amigos!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.