|
Secret Deal to allow Canadian troops and US troops to share in Civil Emergencym
|
Michael Lehman
|
Feb 23, 2008 09:54 PST
|
National Post
Canada.com Network
Browse the Canada.com Network Home News Sports Entertainment Health Travel Obituaries Celebrating Contractors National Post Victoria Times Colonist The Province (Vancouver) Vancouver Sun Edmonton Journal Calgary Herald Regina Leader-Post Saskatoon StarPhoenix Windsor Star Ottawa Citizen The Gazette (Montreal) DOSE Vancouver Island Newspapers VANNET Newspapers Global TV Global National Global BC Global Calgary Global Edmonton Global Lethbridge Global Saskatoon Global Regina Global Winnipeg Global Ontario Global Quebec Global Maritimes E! CHEK NEWS CHCA NEWS CHCH NEWS CJNT Montreal TVTropolis X-treme Sports Specialty Channels
Shop | Find a Career | Find a Car | Find a Home
National Post
Home
News
Opinion
Arts
Life
Sports
Multimedia
Your Post
NP Network Blogs
Financial Post
Canada
World
Toronto
Posted
dcmaxversion = 9 dcminversion = 6 Do On Error Resume Next plugin = (IsObject(CreateObject("ShockwaveFlash.ShockwaveFlash." & dcmaxversion & ""))) If plugin = true Then Exit Do dcmaxversion = dcmaxversion - 1 Loop While dcmaxversion >= dcminversion
Hot Topics Aboriginals
U.S. Election
Love + Sex
Alberta Election
RRSP
Biz Startups
[input] Search
var int_search_init = setInterval(function(){ if(document.forms['search']){ clearInterval(int_search_init); document.forms['search'].q.value = 'Search National Post...'; } }, 100); Home / News
Canada, U.S. agree to share troops in civil emergencies David Pugliese, Canwest News Service Published: Friday, February 22, 2008
Story Tools
-+ Change font size
Print this story function print_click() { u=location.href; u=delineate(u); window.open('/story-printer.html?id='+encodeURIComponent(u),'sharer','toolbar=1,status=1,location=0,menubar=1,scrollbars=1,width=650,height=600'); return false; } function delineate(str) { theleft = str.indexOf("=") + 1; theright = str.lastIndexOf(""); if ( theright == -1 ) { theright = str.length; } return(str.substring(theleft, theright)); }
E-Mail this story
u=location.href; t=document.title; // Facebook Link function fbs_click() { window.open('http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u='+encodeURIComponent(u)+'&t='+encodeURIComponent(t),'sharer','toolbar=0,status=0,width=626,height=436'); return false; } // Digg Link function digg_click() { window.open('http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url='+encodeURIComponent(u)+'&bodytext=&title='+encodeURIComponent(t),'sharer',''); return false; } // Delicious Link function dels_click() { window.open('http://del.icio.us/post?url='+encodeURIComponent(u)+'&jump=close&title='+encodeURIComponent(t),'sharer','toolbar=0,status=0,width=700,height=400'); return false; } Share This Story
html .fb_share_link { padding:2px 0 0 20px; height:16px; background:url(http://static.ak.facebook.com/images/share/facebook_share_icon.gif?12:26981) no-repeat top left; } Facebook
Digg
Del.icio.us
More
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 Web site. "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
font_size(0);
Close
#commentform-narrow { display: none; } #recent-comments { width: auto; padding-top: 0.25em; margin: 0 0 1em 0; } #recent-comments #comment_head { font: bold 14px georgia, serif; } #recent-comments .comment_box { width: auto; margin-bottom: 0.5em; } tour_comments_off = true;
Reader Discussion
#comment_top { Xborder-top: #ccc 1px solid; } #commentform-narrow { float: none; width: auto; }
More From National Post
The winner in Iraq? Colin Powell
National Post - Friday, Nov. 23, 2007
Shared anguish and hope
National Post - Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007
9 Iranian Suspected Insurgents Released
National Post - Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007
Al-Qaeda 'On The Run,' Bush Tells Americans
National Post - Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008
Al-Qaeda 'On The Run,' Bush Tells Americans
National Post - Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2008
More From the Web
Japan demands crackdown on U.S. forces
United Press International - Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008
Pact allows troops to cross borders
Calgary Herald - Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008
U.S. soldier dies of non-combat related illness
People's Daily - Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008
Surge is 'clearly working'
Army Times - Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008
Tighter watch for US troops in Japan: Minister
Times of India - Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008
U.S., Canada may share troops in civil emergencies
Edmonton Journal - Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008
Secrecy should not override everything
Asahi Shimbun International - Friday, Feb. 22, 2008
U.S. rates post-surge face of Sons of Iraq
Middle East Times - Friday, Feb. 22, 2008
Sadr extends cease-fire
Daily Kos - Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008
Video: Military says it hit satellite
MSNBC Video Today Show - Thursday, Feb. 21, 2008
Powered by Inform
Most Popular
Read
E-Mailed
Subscribe to RSS
Obama's America looks a lot like Canada
Russia threatens to use force over Kosovo
Evicted cottagers suing Indian Affairs, band
Music industry groups squabble over proposed music tax
'End of an era' for Anglicans
tabs_init('tabs-most_pop');
NP Network Blogs
National Post
Financial Post
News for your mobile device | Subscribe to RSS
Posted Assignment Kandahar: Are we mentoring thugs? Sat, 23 Feb. 2008 11:46 by Brian Hutchinson
More
Filed under: Assignment Kandahar | Read More | Comments (0)
Posted Toronto Father, two children dead after early morning fire Sat, 23 Feb. 2008 10:32 by Ronald Nurwisah
More
Filed under: City | Read More | Comments (0)
Posted Dear Diary: Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury Sat, 23 Feb. 2008 08:00 by Ronald Nurwisah
More
Filed under: dear diary | Read More | Comments (0)
Shinan Shinan: Live from Bel-Air Sat, 23 Feb. 2008 06:41 by NP Editor
More
Filed under: Shinan Govani | Read More | Comments (0)
Posted Sports 41 Years, 41 Reasons Fri, 22 Feb. 2008 10:55 by James Madge
More
Filed under: Hockey, GTA, NHL | Read More | Comments (0)
Full Comment Robert Fulford: Ms. doesn't disappoint the left Fri, 22 Feb. 2008 10:26 by Marni Soupcoff
More
Filed under: Robert Fulford | Read More | Comments (2)
Full Comment Marni Soupcoff: They probably would have preferred a loot bag Fri, 22 Feb. 2008 08:56 by Marni Soupcoff
More
Filed under: Marni Soupcoff | Read More | Comments (0)
Posted Toronto Councillors decry 'inaccurate' view of city hall's culture Fri, 22 Feb. 2008 08:42 by Barry Hertz
More
Filed under: The Hall Monitor, Politics | Read More | Comments (0)
Posted Toronto My 905: Dave Barrow's Richmond Hill Fri, 22 Feb. 2008 08:13 by Barry Hertz
More
Filed under: Politics, My Toronto, Neighbourhoods | Read More | Comments (0)
Full Comment George Jonas: A disaster from the word go Fri, 22 Feb. 2008 07:26 by Marni Soupcoff
More
Filed under: George Jonas | Read More | Comments (0)
Posted Toronto Sexiest Torontonian 2008: Vanity is no concern Fri, 22 Feb. 2008 06:39 by Barry Hertz
More
Filed under: Sexiest Torontonian | Read More | Comments (0)
Full Comment Colby Cosh: Alberta's Oilsands Ambivalence Fri, 22 Feb. 2008 05:56 by Marni Soupcoff
More
Filed under: Colby Cosh | Read More | Comments (0)
Posted Toronto Toronto librarian admits shooting Chicago cop in '60s Fri, 22 Feb. 2008 05:51 by Rob Roberts
More
Filed under: Crime | Read More | Comments (1)
Posted Sports Blue Jays hope house call heralds good news for Ryan Fri, 22 Feb. 2008 05:27 by Jeremy Sandler
More
Filed under: GTA, Baseball, MLB | Read More | Comments (0)
Posted Sports Paper chase ends for Blue Jays' Cuban defector Fri, 22 Feb. 2008 05:14 by Jeremy Sandler
More
Filed under: GTA, Baseball, MLB | Read More | Comments (0)
Posted Quick, someone tell Stéphane Dion he won for a change Fri, 22 Feb. 2008 04:29 by Kelly McParland
More
Filed under: Blogs, Afghanistan, Ottawa, Canada, Politics | Read More | Comments (0)
Full Comment Kevin Libin: The lip service must end Fri, 22 Feb. 2008 04:26 by Marni Soupcoff
More
Filed under: Kevin Libin | Read More | Comments (1)
Shinan Scandal Sheet: Oscar parties live on Fri, 22 Feb. 2008 04:26 by Jen@Dose
More
Filed under: Lindsay Lohan, Amy Winehouse, Sex and the City, Madonna, Demi Moore, Ellen Page, Oscars, Jonas Brothers, Tori Spelling, Aaron Carter | Read More | Comments (0)
Posted Sports NHL: Speculation swirls around Sundin, McCabe Fri, 22 Feb. 2008 04:16 by Sean Fitz-Gerald
More
Filed under: Hockey, GTA, NHL | Read More | Comments (0)
Posted Wildrose Alliance's Hinman full of surprises Fri, 22 Feb. 2008 04:02 by Chris Boutet
More
Filed under: Canada, Alberta election, Kevin Libin | Read More | Comments (0)
tabs_init('tabs-blog');
More National Post NewsRSS
RCMP poised to charge ex-Nortel executives
The struggle to define Obama
'End of an era' for Anglicans
Financial PostRSS
Blue is the new green: Message in a bottle
Tim Hortons' toughest foe
Median family RRSP worth $25,000: StatsCan
SportsRSS
Ugly goal stands up for Flames
Speculation swirls around absent Sundin
Loss puts another nail in Oilers' season
ArtsRSS
Take our Oscars acceptance speech quiz
The Ampersampler podcast: Oscar edition
Music industry groups squabble over proposed music tax
Promotion FP Stock Widget Take your stock portfolio anywhere you go
RSS Have Post news delivered straight to your browser or reader
show_swf('/_assets/swfs/site_promo.swf?auto=10&list=80674', 964, 153, '{allowFullScreen:false, menu:false, wmode:\'opaque\'}') undefined
Ads by Google'; }else{ str_ad += 'Ads By Google'; } str_ad += ''; str_ad += google_show_ad(google_ads[0], 'left'); str_ad += google_show_ad(google_ads[2], 'right'); str_ad += google_show_ad(google_ads[1], 'center'); str_ad += '
'; document.write(str_ad); } function google_show_ad(obj_ad, str_class){ return '' + obj_ad.line1 + '
' + obj_ad.line2 + '
' + obj_ad.line3 + '
' + obj_ad.visible_url + '
'; } // --> Ads by Google How To Defend Yourself
Discover What The Martial Artists
And The Army Don't Want You To Know
www.CloseCombatTraining.com
Self Defense Products
Self Defense Products for Everyone
Everyday Family Protection
RKCSelfDefense.com
Free Self Defense Report
The one item that can protect
you that you never thought of.
www.canaryislandspress.com
Services: Privacy | Terms | Contact us | Advertise with us | FAQ | Copyright and permissions | Today's paper | Digital paper | Newsletter | YourPost | RSS | Subscription services | Site map
National Post: Home | News | Opinion | Arts | Life | Sports | Multimedia | NP Network Blogs
Financial Post: Home | Analysis | Trading Desk | Markets | Money | Small Business | Working | Reports | FP Magazine
National Post and Financial Post are Part of the Canada.com Network Browse the Canada.com Network Home News Sports Entertainment Health Travel Obituaries Celebrating Contractors National Post Victoria Times Colonist The Province (Vancouver) Vancouver Sun Edmonton Journal Calgary Herald Regina Leader-Post Saskatoon StarPhoenix Windsor Star Ottawa Citizen The Gazette (Montreal) DOSE Vancouver Island Newspapers VANNET Newspapers Global TV Global National Global BC Global Calgary Global Edmonton Global Lethbridge Global Saskatoon Global Regina Global Winnipeg Global Ontario Global Quebec Global Maritimes E! CHEK NEWS CHCA NEWS CHCH NEWS CJNT Montreal TVTropolis X-treme Sports Specialty Channels
© 2008 Canwest Interactive, a division of Canwest Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited.
@import url('/_assets/_tour/tour.css'); #tour_overlay { filter: alpha(opacity=75); } .tour_shield { background: #fff; filter: alpha(opacity=0); } National Post Features Tour Close
Nav
RSS
NP link (in nav)
Your Post
Blog Aggregator
Services
-->
=0)document.write(unescape('%3C')+'\!-'+'-') //-->
---------------------------------
Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.
|
|
 |
|
