http://www.cpcml.ca/tmld/TMLD211.htm#2

U.S. Military Occupation of Canada in the Works
TML Daily, no.211, 23 November 2001
As a second omnibus security bill was being tabled in the Canadian Parliament,
news reports surfaced of two related events which help to shed light on what
lies ahead.
Canada and the United States have agreed to launch a joint review of continental
defence agreements with the aim of increasing military co-operation between the
two countries, Art Eggleton, the Minister of Defence, said on November 21. The
National Post reports that Ottawa agreed to open talks on ‘the widest possible’
level of military integration following a meeting this week between Mr. Eggleton
and Donald Rumsfeld, the U.S. Defence Secretary.
According to Eggleton, The security environment in this country and the United
States changed fundamentally on Sept. 11. We have to look at security within our
own countries and—since we work in a co-operative way—security of the continent,
the Post says. However, what neither he nor the media pointed out is that this
meeting with his American counterpart took place because the Pentagon announced
that it has decided to name a four-star general to coordinate troops used for
defending the United States from attack. According to a report in the Washington
Post, the Pentagon currently has regional commanders in chief responsible for
Europe, the Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and South Asia, but has
no corresponding post for managing the deployment of U.S. forces within the
United States for homeland defense.
The issue is posed as one of rethinking of the Pentagon’s command structure and
force assignments in the aftermath of September 11. The Washington Post quoted
unnamed sources who said that creating a domestic regional commander in chief
would clarify the chain of command for troops being used for homeland defense.
Much was said about the fact that Rumsfeld has yet to decide who the rose will
be pinned on. But what emerges is that the military is being given a role in
homeland defence and Canada is participating in these precedent-setting changes
without bringing their significance to the attention of public opinion, let
alone for its consent.
The U.S. military traditionally is not used for domestic security purposes. But
the Sept. 11 attacks have thrust the U.S. military into such a role, with Air
Force jets patrolling the skies above U.S. cities and National Guard troops
protecting airports and bridges and assisting at border checkpoints, the
Washington Post says matter-of-factly. National Guard troops last week began
assisting in providing security at the U.S. Capitol, the Post adds.
As if permitting the military to occupy the United States is business as usual,
the newspaper said officials are considering restructuring an existing command
already headquartered within the United States to take up the homeland defence
role. The two possibilities mentioned are the North American Aerospace Defense
Command (NORAD) in Colorado and the Joint Forces Command in Virginia.
It is interesting that the second omnibus bill tabled in the Canadian Parliament
was expected on Wednesday but officials said it was not ready. It then appeared
on Thursday and contains measures to amend the Defence Act to provide for the
creation of temporary military security zones to protect Canadian Forces and
visiting forces personnel and equipment that are located off of National Defence
establishments.
When Eggleton announced that Canada and the U.S. agreed to launch a joint review
of continental defence agreements with the aim of increasing military
co-operation between the two countries, the Pentagon decision was not mentioned.
Eggleton said that The first mission of the Canadian Forces is the defence of
Canada and Canadians. The second is the defence of the continent together with
the United States … So we’ll be looking at areas of co-operation in the widest
possible area.
The National Post informs us that Canada and the United States already
co-operate on continental security through the North American Aerospace Defence
Command (NORAD), established in 1958 to defend North American airspace. Canada
has tripled the number of CF-18 fighters assigned to NORAD from four to 12 since
Sept. 11. The review will include some 80 treaties and 250 memorandums of
understanding that govern the security arrangements between Canada and the
United States.
According to the National Post, Mr. Eggleton hinted at the creation of a
sweeping continental security defence system that includes all arms of the
military, but refused to say whether Canada and the United States are
considering full integration of army battalions or task groups.
I’m not going to speculate on the outcome of this, other than to say that we are
out to improve the relationship and the safety and security of the people of two
countries and our continent, Eggleton said.
Canadians, who vigorously opposed the testing of American Cruise Missiles in
Canada, are now facing the possibility of not only the U.S. military occupation
of the United States but also of Canada. The omnibus bills are indeed legacy
legislation. The urgency of discussing what they will mean for Canadians and of
categorically opposing them cannot but be given top priority.