Canada, U.S. ink deal to let troops cross border

[Guest guest]

Published in today's Ottawa Citizen.

*********

Canada, U.S. ink deal to let troops cross border

Governments now able to ask for support in times of emergency

David Pugliese, The Ottawa Citizen, Published: Saturday, February 23, 2008

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.

The agreement allows the military from one nation to support the armed

forces of the other 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.

Mr. Trew said there is potential for the agreement to militarize civilian

responses to emergency incidents. He noted that work is also under way on 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.

Mr. Trew also noted that 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 Cmdr. David Scanlon said it will be up to

civilian authorities in both countries to decide whether military assistance is

requested or used.

He said the agreement is " benign " and simply sets the stage for co-operation

if the two 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, Cmdr. 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, where it is

being

cited 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 regional 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 federal troops from conducting

law enforcement duties on domestic soil without approval from Congress.

Cmdr. Scanlon said there was no intent to keep the agreement secret in

Canada. He noted it will be reported in the Canadian Forces' newspaper next

week

and that publication will be put on the Internet.

He said the actual agreement hasn't been released to the public because that

requires approval from both nations. That decision has not yet been taken,

he added.

Military officials on both sides of the border say such co-operation is a

plus and could help speed up responses in a disaster.

" Unity of effort during bilateral support for civil support operations such

as floods, forest fires, hurricanes, earthquakes and effects of a terrorist

attack, in order to save lives, prevent human suffering and mitigate damage to

property, is of the highest importance, and we need to be able to have

forces that are flexible and adaptive to support rapid decision-making in a

collaborative environment, " Gen. Renuart said in the U.S. military news

release.

In the same news release, Canadian Lt.-Gen. Dumais called the plan " an

important symbol of the already strong working relationship between Canada

Command

and U.S. Northern Command.

The plan recognizes the role of each nation's lead federal agency for

emergency preparedness, which in the United States is the Department of

Homeland

Security and in Canada is Public Safety Canada.

The plan facilitates the military-to-military support of civil authorities

once government authorities have agreed on an appropriate response, according

to the news release.

© The Ottawa Citizen 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Social Security funds due to immigration.. going! going! .. gone!!!

Better have a private backup account.

 

 

, surpriseshan2

wrote:

>

>

>

> Published in today's Ottawa Citizen.

> *********

> Canada, U.S. ink deal to let troops cross border

> Governments now able to ask for support in times of emergency

> David Pugliese, The Ottawa Citizen, Published: Saturday, February

23, 2008

> 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.

> The agreement allows the military from one nation to support the

armed

> forces of the other 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.

> Mr. Trew said there is potential for the agreement to militarize

civilian

> responses to emergency incidents. He noted that work is also

under way on 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.

> Mr. Trew also noted that 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 Cmdr. David Scanlon said it will be

up to

> civilian authorities in both countries to decide whether military

assistance is

> requested or used.

> He said the agreement is " benign " and simply sets the stage for

co-operation

> if the two 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, Cmdr. 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,

where it is being

> cited 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 regional

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 federal troops from

conducting

> law enforcement duties on domestic soil without approval from

Congress.

> Cmdr. Scanlon said there was no intent to keep the agreement

secret in

> Canada. He noted it will be reported in the Canadian Forces'

newspaper next week

> and that publication will be put on the Internet.

> He said the actual agreement hasn't been released to the public

because that

> requires approval from both nations. That decision has not yet

been taken,

> he added.

> Military officials on both sides of the border say such co-

operation is a

> plus and could help speed up responses in a disaster.

> " Unity of effort during bilateral support for civil support

operations such

> as floods, forest fires, hurricanes, earthquakes and effects of a

terrorist

> attack, in order to save lives, prevent human suffering and

mitigate damage to

> property, is of the highest importance, and we need to be able to

have

> forces that are flexible and adaptive to support rapid decision-

making in a

> collaborative environment, " Gen. Renuart said in the U.S.

military news release.

> In the same news release, Canadian Lt.-Gen. Dumais called the

plan " an

> important symbol of the already strong working relationship

between Canada Command

> and U.S. Northern Command.

> The plan recognizes the role of each nation's lead federal agency

for

> emergency preparedness, which in the United States is the

Department of Homeland

> Security and in Canada is Public Safety Canada.

> The plan facilitates the military-to-military support of civil

authorities

> once government authorities have agreed on an appropriate

response, according

> to the news release.

> © The Ottawa Citizen 2008

>

 

[Guest guest]

If that is all the problems this causes, then we will be very very lucky

indeed. It would be amazing.

Shan

 

 

_Re: Canada, U.S. ink deal to let troops cross border _

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Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:04 am (PST)

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Better have a private backup account.

 

_Alternative_AlternatiAlternative_<WBRAlter_

( ) , surpriseshan2@,

wrote:

 

Published in today's Ottawa Citizen.

********* Canada, U.S. ink deal to let troops cross border Governments now

able to ask for support in times of emergency

David Pugliese, The Ottawa Citizen, Published: Saturday, February

 

23, 2008 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. The agreement allows the

military from one nation to support the armed forces of the other 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. Mr. Trew said there is potential for the agreement to militarize

civilian responses to emergency incidents. He noted that work is also under

way on 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. Mr. Trew also noted that 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

Cmdr. David Scanlon said it will be up to civilian authorities in both

countries

to decide whether military assistance is requested or used. He said the

agreement is " benign " and simply sets the stage for co-operation if the two

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, Cmdr. 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, where it is being

cited

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 regional

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 federal troops from

conducting law enforcement duties on domestic soil without approval from

Congress.

Cmdr. Scanlon said there was no intent to keep the agreement secret in Canada.

He noted it will be reported in the Canadian Forces' newspaper next week and

that publication will be put on the Internet. He said the actual agreement

hasn't been released to the public because that requires approval from both

nations. That decision has not yet been taken, he added. Military officials on

both sides of the border say such co- operation is a plus and could help speed

up responses in a disaster. " Unity of effort during bilateral support for

civil support operations such as floods, forest fires, hurricanes, earthquakes

and effects of a terrorist attack, in order to save lives, prevent human

suffering and mitigate damage to property, is of the highest importance, and we

need to be able to have forces that are flexible and adaptive to support rapid

decision- making in a collaborative environment, " Gen. Renuart said in the

U.S. military news release. In the same news release, Canadian Lt.-Gen. Dumais

called the plan " an important symbol of the already strong working

relationship between Canada Command and U.S. Northern Command. The plan

recognizes the

role of each nation's lead federal agency for emergency preparedness, which

in the United States is the Department of Homeland Security and in Canada is

Public Safety Canada. The plan facilitates the military-to-military support

of civil authorities once government authorities have agreed on an appropriate

response, according to the news release. © The Ottawa Citizen 2008

 

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