- WASHINGTON - The Pentagon
is about to propose a new military command structure to President George
W. Bush - a direct result of the attacks on Sept. 11.
-
- The continental command would oversee the protection
of the area extending from the North Pole to southern Mexico and 800
kilometres
off the East and West coasts. It would bring air, sea and land forces under
one central U.S. command for North America.
-
- Before a congressional committee this week, U.S. Defense
Secretary Don Rumsfeld thanked Canada for its military contribution,
"for
the very healthy and close working relationship that our two militaries
have had for any number of years."
-
- But Canadian senators in attendance were more interested
in what's happening on the homefront, where critics worry about issues
of sovereignty.
-
- Canada already shares joint command for North American
air defense, under NORAD.
-
- The head of the Canadian senate committee was briefed
by U.S. national security officials on how the new command might eventually
include Canada.
-
- Art Eggleton
-
- "They'd start with the air first because it's
already
in place. And both countries seem to feel it's working well," said
Liberal Sen. Colin Kenny. "Then they would ask us how do we feel about
a naval model, and is that in the Canadian interest. And we'd have an
opportunity to say yes or no. And the same would apply to ground
forces."
-
- Minister of Defence Art Eggleton says it's worth
exploring.
-
- "We will continue to command our own troops; we'll
continue to do what is best for Canada," Eggleton said. "But
co-operating with the United States on defence of our continent is
something
that is in our best interests."
-
- Critics worry that Canada is rapidly spiraling into the
U.S. orbit on military policy.
-
- Stephen Clarkson
-
- The Canadian Centre for Policy alternatives says
overhauling
the North American military command structure would be an
overreaction.
-
- "We need to be sure that the massive response being
proposed is appropriate to these almost impossible problems," said
Stephen Clarkson of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
-
- Deputy Prime Minister John Manley brushes off criticism
that Canada is becoming excessively pro-American. In fact, he identified
a point of difference today with Washington, saying he wouldn't label
countries
like Iran, Iraq and North Korea, the Axis of Evil, as President Bush did
in his State of the Union Message last month.
-
- John Manley
-
- "I don't disagree with them bring criticized, but
i don't think that we would have used quite the bellicose language that
they did," he said.
-
- A U.S. military command for North America is still only
a proposal, but officials in Washington and Ottawa say it's coming, and
Canada will eventually have to decide whether to be a part of it.
-
- Written by CBC News Online staff
- http://www.cbc.ca
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