Hello, i have searched all over this forum and i couldn't find this article anywhere so i thought i would post it. I posted it in this In The News section because i'm not sure if it has been on the news yet but the government said they would make it public. I haven't heard anything official yet.
Feb 14, 2008 : the day our government stabbed us all in the back and sold us down the river. You can find this article at canada.com
Canada, U.S. agree to use each other's troops in civil emergencies
David Pugliese , Canwest News Service
Published: Friday, February 22, 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, which allows the military from one nation to support the armed forces of the other nation during a civil emergency.
var addthis_pub = 'canada.com'; function textCounter(field,cntfield,maxlimit) { if (field.value.length > maxlimit) // if too long...trim it! field.value = field.value.substring(0, maxlimit); // otherwise, update 'characters left' counter else { var divLabel = document.getElementById("divLabel"); divLabel.innerHTML = maxlimit - field.value.length + " characters remaining"; } } 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.
© Ottawa Citizen 2008
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=403d90d6-7a61-41ac-8cef-902ald14879d&k=14984
My personal questions :
1- What troops? We don't have enough troops for this and EVERYBODY knows this. Including the U.S.
2- 'Civil Emergencies' ??? When was the last time Canada was ever involved a Civil Emergency? This deal isn't even necessary? - unless someone knows something the rest of us doesn't?
3- Martial Law? Why is our government even discussing these things with the U.S.?
I don't want to jump to too many conclusions but this whole thing seems quite foul!!! I see ulterior motives.
The truth is Canada has always been prepared to help the U.S in emergencies. Take Hurricane Katrina as the latest example - Canadian officials told the U.S that they were ready to send whatever type of aid the United States required to help with the aftermath of hurricane Katrina and they did. We sent [FONT=Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Verdana][FONT=Arial, Verdana][FONT=Arial, Verdana][FONT=Arial, Verdana][FONT=Arial, Verdana]highly trained disaster response volunteers[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT] from our Canadian Red Cross to help. We had some of our Canadian Troops on stand by to help them. We sent, along with all kinds of medical and non-medical supplies and volunteers, three warships along with a Coast Guard vessel, and three Sea King Helicopters to the area. So, it's not like we don't help or that we pass on our responsibility to help our neighbors when they're in need.
I understand that some are going to think - But WE are the ones who need protecting. That's fine BUT what i am saying is that this is 'in case' of a civil emergency - usually those things are not predictable and if that were to happen, we are already obligated to help each other because we are allies?
What i don't understand is why are they messing with our Martial Law? What is all this and why the secrecy?
Stepping back - we don't stand to gain anything from this kind deal. In fact i think we as Canadians have already lost too much simply with the signing of his agreement.
I pray to God we don't start seeing crap happening here so that they can make use of that 'new agreement'.
When you have another country's military looking down the barrels of their guns at you for whatever reason, then you know your government has failed you. I feel like we are no longer free. Like we are now no different from any other country that is at the mercy of anothers government and military power.
sorry for the long post!!!!!
Feb 14, 2008 : the day our government stabbed us all in the back and sold us down the river. You can find this article at canada.com
Canada, U.S. agree to use each other's troops in civil emergencies
David Pugliese , Canwest News Service
Published: Friday, February 22, 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, which allows the military from one nation to support the armed forces of the other nation during a civil emergency.
var addthis_pub = 'canada.com'; function textCounter(field,cntfield,maxlimit) { if (field.value.length > maxlimit) // if too long...trim it! field.value = field.value.substring(0, maxlimit); // otherwise, update 'characters left' counter else { var divLabel = document.getElementById("divLabel"); divLabel.innerHTML = maxlimit - field.value.length + " characters remaining"; } } 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.
© Ottawa Citizen 2008
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=403d90d6-7a61-41ac-8cef-902ald14879d&k=14984
My personal questions :
1- What troops? We don't have enough troops for this and EVERYBODY knows this. Including the U.S.
2- 'Civil Emergencies' ??? When was the last time Canada was ever involved a Civil Emergency? This deal isn't even necessary? - unless someone knows something the rest of us doesn't?
3- Martial Law? Why is our government even discussing these things with the U.S.?
I don't want to jump to too many conclusions but this whole thing seems quite foul!!! I see ulterior motives.
The truth is Canada has always been prepared to help the U.S in emergencies. Take Hurricane Katrina as the latest example - Canadian officials told the U.S that they were ready to send whatever type of aid the United States required to help with the aftermath of hurricane Katrina and they did. We sent [FONT=Arial, Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Verdana][FONT=Arial, Verdana][FONT=Arial, Verdana][FONT=Arial, Verdana][FONT=Arial, Verdana]highly trained disaster response volunteers[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT] from our Canadian Red Cross to help. We had some of our Canadian Troops on stand by to help them. We sent, along with all kinds of medical and non-medical supplies and volunteers, three warships along with a Coast Guard vessel, and three Sea King Helicopters to the area. So, it's not like we don't help or that we pass on our responsibility to help our neighbors when they're in need.
I understand that some are going to think - But WE are the ones who need protecting. That's fine BUT what i am saying is that this is 'in case' of a civil emergency - usually those things are not predictable and if that were to happen, we are already obligated to help each other because we are allies?
What i don't understand is why are they messing with our Martial Law? What is all this and why the secrecy?
Stepping back - we don't stand to gain anything from this kind deal. In fact i think we as Canadians have already lost too much simply with the signing of his agreement.
I pray to God we don't start seeing crap happening here so that they can make use of that 'new agreement'.
When you have another country's military looking down the barrels of their guns at you for whatever reason, then you know your government has failed you. I feel like we are no longer free. Like we are now no different from any other country that is at the mercy of anothers government and military power.
sorry for the long post!!!!!
