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 […]
Wednesday, February 27th, 2008
Canada, U.S. Agree to Use Each Other’s Troops in Civil Emergencies
Author: DAVID PUGLIESE
Source: Canwest News Service (Canada)
Publication Date: Friday, February 22, 2008
Link: Canada, U.S. Agree to Use Each Other’s Troops in Civil Emergencies
Source: Canwest News Service (Canada)
Publication Date: Friday, February 22, 2008
Link: Canada, U.S. Agree to Use Each Other’s Troops in Civil Emergencies
Stephan: This is a very odd story. Put the politics aside. Focus on the fact that it presumes emergencies are to be anticipated that may require this absolute break with historical policy. Ask: what are they? 9/11 certainly required nothing so drastic as this. So what is this really about?