Does anybody deny that Bush is moving toward an EU-style North American Union? Bush Doesnt!......
MONTEBELLO, Quebec – President Bush today sidestepped a direct question about whether he'd be willing to categorically deny there is a plan to create the North American Union.
Instead, he ridiculed those who believe that is taking place as conspiracy theorists.
The exchange came at a news conference held by Bush, Mexico's President Felipe Calderon, and Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who met at a resort in Quebec to discuss their latest work on the Security and Prosperity Partnership.
After the trio presented their prepared statement about the SPP, several reporters who had been selected in advance were allowed to ask questions.
When it came time for a question from a Fox News reporter, Bush was asked if he would be willing to categorically deny that there is a plan to create a North American Union, or that there are plans to create NAFTA Superhighways.
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"As you three leaders meet here, there are a growing number of people in each of your countries who have expressed concern about the Security and Prosperity Partnership. This is addressed to all three of you. Can you say today that this is not a prelude to a North American Union, similar to a European Union? Are there plans to build some kind of superhighway connecting all three countries? And do you believe all of these theories about a possible erosion of national identity stem from a lack of transparency from this partnership?" was the question, according to a White House transcript.
Reporters at the news conference said he sidestepped, instead adopting the tactic that those who are arguing the European Union model of integrating nations into a larger continental union is being used in North America should be ridiculed.
He called it an old political scare tactic, to try to create a wild conspiracy and then demand that those who "are not engaged" prove that it isn't happening.
Bush's answer was:
"We represent three great nations. We each respect each other's sovereignty. You know, there are some who would like to frighten our fellow citizens into believing that relations between us are harmful for our respective peoples. I just believe they're wrong. I believe it's in our interest to trade; I believe it's in our interest to dialogue; I believe it's in our interest to work out common problems for the good of our people.
"And I'm amused by some of the speculation, some of the old – you can call them political scare tactics. If you've been in politics as long as I have, you get used to that kind of technique where you lay out a conspiracy and then force people to try to prove it doesn't exist. That's just the way some people operate. I'm here representing my nation. I feel strongly that the United States is a force for good, and I feel strongly that by working with our neighbors we can a stronger force for good.
"So I appreciate that question. I'm amused by the difference between what actually takes place in the meetings and what some are trying to say takes place. It's quite comical, actually, when you realize the difference between reality and what some people are talking on TV about."
Harper joined in. There's not going to be any NAFTA Superhighway connecting the three nations, he said, and it's "not going to go interplanetary either," he said.
Harper said the SPP discussions that were held concerned such pressing issues as jelly beans. He said the business interests expressing their desires for progress on the SPP noted there were different standards in the United States and Canada, and there was a discussion about whether those standards could be made uniform for the U.S. and Canada.
Bush's comments echoed the comments published just a day earlier in the Ottawa Citizen by David Wilkins, the U.S. ambassador to Canada.
"While conspiracy theories abound, you can take it to the bank that no one involved in these discussions is interested in, or has ever proposed, a 'North American Union,' a 'North American super highway,' or a 'North American currency,'" he wrote.
"The United States, Canada and Mexico are three distinct, sovereign countries that practice democracy differently," he wrote. "Each proudly defends its own interests. But our leaders also recognize that we share a continent in this post-Sept. 11 world, where terrorism is but one threat. We have a vested interest in working together to prevent potential threats outside North America – like those posed by pandemic flu or improperly labeled foods, for example – from penetrating our borders.
Wilkins wrote that the nations also are "exploring ways to detect radiological threats and coordinating emergency efforts along our borders in the event of a man-made or natural disaster. It just makes sense when you share thousands of miles of common border to share a common emergency-management plan."
He said another goal is to reduce the cost of doing business across national borders.
"The Late Great USA," which was criticized by President Bush at the conclusion of the SPP summit in Quebec
However, Jerome Corsi, a Harvard Ph.D. whose newly published book, "The Late Great USA," uses the government's own documentation to show the advance of a North American Union, said ridicule is the "last resort of someone who is losing an argument."
Such tactics, Corsi said, "underestimate the intelligence of people listening, and people realize that the argument wasn't answered."
At the news conference, he noted, Bush failed to respond to the Fox News question with a denial of the plans for a North American Union.
And, Corsi said, "Bush did not address the fact that Texas Gov. Rick Perrry vetoed a two-year moratorium on the Trans-Texas Corridor project," believed to be the starting point for an eventual continent-wide grid of NAFTA Superhighways.
"Just to ridicule the idea, when he had a change to categorically deny it, raises doubts in peoples' minds, especially when these meetings aren't transparent," Corsi added.
The meeting this week, which focused on economic issues, was attended by representatives of dozens of multinational corporations anxious to have their manufacturing and sales processes smoothed.
However, Corsi said, "not one person who objects is permitted inside the room."
At the same time, Bush did affirm that there is a plan under consideration for the United States to provide military assistance to Mexico's military in its battles in the drug war, although officials were not ready to announce what that plan includes.
The three national leaders simply affirmed that drug trade is a continental problem and would demand a continental solution.
The formal statement from the three leaders referred to the "opportunities and challenges facing North America and [the need] to establish priorities for our further collaboration."
They said the three nations already have agreed to a North American plan for avian and pandemic influenza, a "Regulatory Cooperation Framework," an intellectual property action strategy and a "Trilateral Agreement for Cooperation in Energy Science and Technology."
"The North American Competitiveness Council (NACC), announced last year in Cancun, has provided us with thoughtful recommendations on how we could strengthen the competitive platform for business," the statement said.
The statement said the Regulatory Cooperation Framework will allow various rules to be streamlined across borders.
"In the coming year, we ask our ministers to consider work in areas, such as the chemicals, automotive, transportation, and information and communications technology sectors," the statement said.
And the Intellectual Property Action Strategy "also gives us an invaluable tool for combating counterfeiting and piracy, which undermine innovation, harm economic development and can have negative public-health and safety implications," the three said.
Food safety and border security also were discussed. "Our governments will continue to address the safety of food and products imported into North America, while facilitating the significant trade in these products that our countries already have and without imposing unnecessary barriers to trade," the leaders said.
"It is sometimes best to screen goods and travelers prior to entry into North America. We ask our ministers to develop mutually acceptable inspection protocols to detect threats to our security, such as from incoming travelers during a pandemic and from radiological devices on general aviation," the statement said.
But protesters who staged events in Ottawa as the meetings were moving forward, warned of the integration and harmonizing the SPP seeks.
"The SPP is pursuing an agenda to integrate Mexico and Canada in closed-door sessions that are getting underway today in Montebello," Howard Phillips, the chairman of the Coalition to Block the North American Union, told an earlier press conference in Ottawa.
"We are here to register our protest," Phillips added, "along with the protests of thousands of Americans who agree with us that the SPP is a globalist agenda driven by the multi-national corporate interests and intellectual elite who together have launched an attack upon the national sovereignty of the United States, Canada and Mexico."
Connie Fogel, head of the Canadian Action Party, agreed with Phillips.
"Canadians are complaining that the SPP process lacks transparency," Fogel told the press conference. "Transparency is a major issue, but even if the SPP working groups were open to the public, we would still object to their goal to advance the North American integration agenda at the expense of Canadian sovereignty."
Answers:
Fast track (tatkal) Passport application?
No denial from me. I like everything I'm hearing about Ron Paul so far. Just switched to Republican Party...I'm a recovering democrat now. =) THAT was a looong post.I hope bush goes for it, the blowback will be swift, severe and hilarious - as not one politician backing it will ever be elected.
Do you think my questions are a little bit touchy?
George Bush is a TERRORIST
Ah, the illegal holocaust against Americans continues?
The MSM has been covering this like crazy, I can't believe more people aren't scared and upset about this.
Oh, nevermind, what was your question?
You like Ron Paul, I think that was your point.
Why can't America be more like Britain who halts immigration illegals must learn english ?
W would like to think that he will be remembered as the father of the North American Union, off the record of course while he was denying it, then again he told us there were weapons of mass deception, Saddam was behind 911, and who can forget Mission Accomplished, all off the record as well, while once again he was denying it
Can i apply for american citizenship in a state i don't live in?
Uh our 3 countries represent the largest trading block on earth. Having an EU style arrangement isn't that bad. What Bush seems to want to do now is to have the US provide welfare to Mexico and degrade our own rights while raising up Mexico on our tax dollars.
He can say anything he wants but what he tried to do with Shamnesty shows where he really wants to go. We would have to pay for everything and we would actually have fewer rights than would illegals...
Screw him and his crap agenda and anyone that agrees with him the GD sell out. He's gone politically anyway so I wouldn't worry too much. He lost all credibility with his own base over shamnesty so he can talk all he wants but his wings are clipped it's only posturing and fantasy from him now.
That is the last thing we Americans need.It will be a disaster for us and a slap in the face to every true American.What would it mean to be an American in that case?Nothing I guess.
How Long does it take to get an EAD?
Down with the NAU!!
Up with RON PAUL!
British mothers and non british fathers?
first of all stupid question... who is Ron Paul?
but to the topic at hand... I am a canadian (proud of it) as are americans are proud to be and mexican's... now i don't know about you guys but I am totally against this NAU thing... us canadians would loose our heath care benifits, the canadian version of what would be the constitution, all human rights acts that we have in place would be OUT THE WINDOW, we would be subjected to NO PRIVACY, (if you are thought to be a terrorist)... "GPS TRACKING" (see below)
Our children's children would be auto-implanted with microchips with all ones information at birth. which by the way is exactly what they will eventually do to us all... and you don't think with all that information on microchip they can't erase us... put it this way... if one of us who is already implanted gets "out of line" they can and will totally erradicate our identity making it impossible for us to live. if you believe that will neve happen...then my friend you are living in a dream world...
everything will be in those microchips... driver's licences, debit card info, credit card info... EVERYTHING!! including a tracking device so that "this unified government" would know where we are at all times... why would they even need that?
Besides look at all the natural ressourses canada has... as someone said in another post... we give our ressourses... WHAT DO WE GET...
us canadians do not like some of the things american's do and have (easy access to guns/gun laws, wanting prayer in schools/or fighting against it) and i am sure vice versa for american's... and there are both sides who don't even like the other. We as canadians make it almost impossible to get a gun and we don't care either way about religion in schools.
but i am damn sure of one thing and i may be speaking for other canadians when i say this (or not)... I DO NOT WANT TO BE RUN BY THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT.
my user name is bmzod_ha and I AM CANADIAN. NOT NAU
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