Region-Building: Common Objectives Part 4

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INTEGRATED MILITARY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
AFRICAN UNION:
Briefing on the AU Police and Civilian Training Exercise – StarAfrica|African Press Organization, October 29, 2012 – The AU Police and Civilian Focused Exercise aims to build the police and civilian capacities of the African Standby Force (ASF) as a step towards achieving operational readiness by 2015.
U.S. Military Steps Up ‘Sustained Engagement’ With Africa – AllAfrica, July 13, 2012 – Ambassador Anthony Holmes, the deputy Africom commander for civilian-military activities, outlined what he describes as a ‘concerted’ American effort to strengthen the capacity of African militaries to handle their own security, using a ‘by, with and through’ approach’. Excerpts:….”This can’t be done overnight. Essentially what we are doing is building institutions at the national level, at the sub-regional level and at the continental level. So we work with the African Union, we work with the regional economic commissions to develop their peace and security architecture and to promote the cooperation of African countries among themselves.”
Libya, Africa and Africom – CounterPunch, May 25, 2012 – It is no coincidence that barely a month after the fall of Tripoli – and in the same month Gaddafi was murdered (October 2011) – the US announced it was sending troops to no less than four more African countries….None of this would have been possible whilst Gaddafi was still in power. As founder of the African Union, its biggest donor, and its one-time elected Chairman, he wielded serious influence on the continent.
K police lauds EAC police harmonization programme – StarAfrica|African Press Organization, Feb. 7, 2012 – The Head of United Kingdom’s National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA), Kurt Eyre, has lauded the efforts of the East African Community (EAC) Partner States to harmonize Police Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs)….It broadly covers collaboration on cross border and trans-national organized crimes, among others.

EURASIAN UNION:
Europe’s debt crisis: A nudge toward a common security policy – Foreign Policy, October 5, 2012 – The global community is focused on the EU’s efforts to implement the fiscal union that its currency union now demands, but ambitious eurocrats are quietly pursuing an even more fundamental change for the bloc: a truly common foreign and security policy.
What functions will the Eurazpol have? – BNews (Kazakhstan), October 21, 2012 – According to experts, the Eurasian police should be more similar to Europol (European Police Office) than Interpol or the Ameripol.
Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus to integrate joint air defense system – Pravda (Russia), July 12, 2012 – Kazakhstan and Russia along with Belarus are going to integrate the joint air defense system by 2013….Now, according to the CSTO agreement, the joint air defense system is active in five countries of the CIS. It is noteworthy that this list includes Ukraine, even though on a bilateral basis. Games with the European Union are one thing, but so far Kyiv prefers to trust its own safety to Moscow.
CSTO collective forces’ military drills to be held in Armenia – ArmeniaNow, Feb. 22, 2012 – Speaking about integration processes in the territory of the CIS, Bordyuzha said CIS may follow the example of the European Union, where the EU ensures the economic development of the countries, and NATO serves as protective shield. “The same may be in the relations of the CSTO [Collective Security Treaty Organization] and EurAsEC,” the CSTO secretary general said.

GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL:
U.S. and Gulf allies pursue a missile shield against Iranian attack – Inland Empire News Radio, August 9, 2012 – In contrast, the Persian Gulf effort is mostly behind the scenes, and on a country-by-country basis, with billions of dollars in arms sales negotiated bilaterally between the United States and nations in the region. Thus, the next challenge is coaxing gulf nations to put aside their rivalries and share early warning radar data, and then integrate the capabilities of their unilateral missile interceptor systems to extend defenses over the entire region.
Iran, Saudi Officials Hold Rare Talks – Wall Street Journal, Dec. 14, 2011 – Gulf leaders are set to discuss bolstering a regional military force, in part due to unease over Iran’s nuclear program, at a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting this month in Riyadh. Saudi King Abdullah met with the head of the six-nation GCC, Abdul Latif Zayani, on Tuesday, the Saudi news agency said.
GCC police team up to create regional force – ArabianBusiness, Dec. 8, 2011 – Police forces in the six GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] states are to team up under an agreement to create a regional agency and a permanent security committee as political upheaval threatens the wider Middle East.
GCC Defense Ministers say armed forces integration key to protecting member states – Kuwait News Agency, Nov. 22, 2011 – Defense ministers in the six GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] countries underlined Tuesday that building a joint defense system, via full integration among armed forces, was the most “active practical” option to defending the Arab Gulf countries’ security, stability, sovereignty and resources.

NORTH AMERICA:
Mexican drug wars in Chicago – what now? – By Robert Pastor, Latitude News, September 4, 2012 – We need to devise new ways to collaborate with Mexico and our neighbor to the north, Canada, to address the drug war as well as the many other challenges that ignore the borders and fences we build. Some in the U.S. oppose integrating law enforcement with Mexico and Canada as a betrayal of American sovereignty.  I personally have been attacked as the “architect of the North American Union”…
Robert Pastor is Professor, Founder, and Director of the Center for North American Studies at American University in Washington and the author of The North American Idea: A Vision of a Continental Future. He was National Security Advisor for Latin American and Caribbean Affairs in the White House during the Carter Administration.
[The drug war crisis was enabled by the deliberate dereliction of public officials to control the border and by nefarious false flag programs such as “Fast and Furious,” not only as a pretext for more gun control, but also to install Robert Pastor’s North American “solutions.” Conveniently for the globalists, Obama and Canada’s Harper were right on time with their cross-border law enforcement scheme.]
Agreement could see U.S. border guards on Canadian soil – Toronto Sun, October 19, 2012 – Armed U.S. border guards may soon be on Canadian soil in Fort Erie, Ont., pre-inspecting commercial vehicles before they cross the Peace Bridge into America.
Do we really want U.S. police working on Canadian soil? – Victoria Times Colonist, August 26, 2012 – Maybe concerns got lost in the Olympic news tidal wave, or maybe nobody cared. But it is a fact that the Integrated Cross Border Law Enforcement Operations Act became law in Canada with only whispers of public doubts. The new law enables armed United States law enforcement officers to cross the Canadian border in pursuit of American lawbreakers. And, once across the line, grants them “the same power to enforce an act of Parliament as a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.”
CANADIAN, U.S. OFFICERS COULD SOON CROSS BORDERS TO PURSUE SUSPECTS – Vancouver Sun, May 17, 2012 Shared waterways along the Canada-U.S. border soon could be patrolled by vessels staffed with armed Canadian and American officers who have the authority to freely cross into each other’s territories in pursuit of suspected criminals….Some, however, are concerned about issues of sovereignty and due process, especially as authorities are looking eventually to create a land-based version of the program.
‘BABY STEPS’ TO US AGENTS ON CANADIAN SOIL: RCMP – Embassy (Canada), May 16, 2012 – The RCMP [Royal Canadian Mounted Police] is planning to ease Canadians into the idea of United States law enforcement agents pursuing suspects across the land border and onto Canadian soil through “baby steps,” say two top Mounties. “We recognized early that this approach would raise concerns about sovereignty, of privacy, and civil liberties of Canadians,” RCMP Chief Superintendent Joe Oliver, the Mounties’ director general for border integrity, told the Senate Committee on National Security and Defence on May 14.
MEXICO NOW ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN NORTHAMERICAN JOINT EXERCISES – San Antonio Express, May 3, 2012 – NAFTA isn’t NATO, at least not yet. However, the North American defense ministers’ conference hosted by Canada the last week of March sent the low-key but categorically public message that Mexico has emerged as the U.S. and Canada’s regional security partner.
NAFTA Triumverate Moves to Further Cement Continental Union – Pacific Free Press, April 10, 2012 – On April 2, President Barack Obama hosted Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican President Felipe Calderon for the sixth North American Leaders Summit….In their joint communique, the leaders recognized, “the growing regional and federal cooperation in the area of continental energy, including electricity generation… They emphasized the need to deepen, “cooperation to enhance our collective energy security, including the safe and efficient exploration and exploitation of resources.”….Mexico’s drug war is increasingly being seen as a continental problem that requires continental solutions which is further pushing the NAFTA partnership into a common security front. This is escalating the militarization of the borders, integration in areas of law enforcement and the military, as well as advancing the development of a North American security perimeter.
Police State North America: The U.S.-Canada Integrated Cybersecurity Agenda – Center for Research on Globalization, November 13, 2012 – In a move that received little attention, both countries recently announced a joint cybersecurity action plan. Cyber threats know no national borders which has made the issue an important security concern. A fully integrated North American security perimeter would be entrusted with preventing and responding to any such attacks.
Is Canadian sovereignty at risk with cross-border policing? – CBC News (Canada), July 11, 2012 – When the Conservative government passed its controversial omnibus budget bill last month, it included new powers for certain U.S. law enforcement agents that critics say could have ramifications for Canadian sovereignty. The Integrated Cross Border Law Enforcement Operations Act now makes it possible for American officers to cross the border into Canada where, as the act states, they have “the same power to enforce an act of Parliament as a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.” This means they’ll be armed and have the powers to arrest suspects in Canadian territory.
Accountability questions arise in cross-border policing law – Embassy (Canada), May 2, 2012 – The Harper government’s plan to permanently legalize the ability of certain American agents to cross the border and enforce Canadian law in shared waterways will include aerial police surveillance over land, raising several questions over national jurisdiction and police accountability in the minds of opposition and academic observers.
Beyond Borders: Are the DHS’s International Agreements Ensuring Actionable Intelligence to Combat Threats to the U.S. Homeland? – defpro (Defense Professionals), July 31, 2012 – Written testimony of Policy Office of International Affairs Director of Canadian Affairs Deborah Meyers for a House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence field hearing
….Recognizing the continued importance of the U.S.-Canada partnership, President Barack Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper released the joint declaration, Beyond the Border: A Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness, on February 4, 2011. This declaration committed the United States and Canada to pursue a perimeter approach to security, working together within, at, and away from the borders of our two countries to enhance our security and accelerate the legitimate flow of people, goods, and services between our two countries. Beyond the Border includes multiple Cabinet level departments, reflecting a true interagency effort within each government and binationally.
….To advance Integrated Cross-Border Law Enforcement, we will deploy regularized Shiprider operations in which U.S. and Canadian officials jointly patrol our shared waterways. Building on the successes of Shiprider as well as Integrated Border Enforcement Teams and Border Enforcement Security Taskforces, we intend to develop the next generation of integrated cross-border law enforcement operations, and pursue national security and transnational crime investigations together. To support these bilateral law enforcement efforts, we are advancing greater law enforcement interoperability and information sharing between our countries….
Big business attends perimeter talks in Washington – Embassy (Canada), Feb. 8, 2012 – The border action plan announced in December indicates that by the end of last month, Canada and the United States would “determine the way ahead” on how to share information and evidence between their police forces and intelligence agencies. A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Ian Trites,….indicated that a series of meetings have already taken place that tackle legal problems associated with harmonizing intelligence sharing.
Deep Military Integration: Towards a North American Combined Military Force – Global Research (Canada), Feb. 7, 2012 – In his speech in front of the PJBD, [Canada Defense Minister Peter MacKay] also called for, “increased military involvement implementing the Beyond the Border strategy, saying the Canadian Forces and its American counterparts should be supporting civilian agencies monitoring the cross-border security.”
Canada, U.S. set ground rules for responding to armed attack – Montreal Gazette, Jan. 24, 2012 – The Combined Defence Plan has been under discussion for several years and would further integrate cross-border military co-operation….Canada and the U.S. also will extend the Civil Assistance Plan, which allows for the deployment of troops and equipment from one country to the other in the event of a natural disaster or terrorist attack. Unlike with the Combined Defence Plan, this would be to assist civilian agencies.
The End of Canada as a Sovereign Nation State? Canada, the US and the “Security Perimeter” – Global Research (Canada), Dec. 17, 2011 – The security agreement uses the threat of terrorism, crime and health securities to announce an increasing merger of the two countries’ border security, including an integrated entry-exit system that will involve full sharing of individuals’ biometric details between the two governments by 2014 and even the creation of integrated cross-border law enforcement teams with authority to collect intelligence and conduct criminal investigations on either side of the border.

UNASUR:
American-backed initiative to create Unasur defense agency – CRI (China Radio International), July 26, 2012 (Google translation from Spanish) – The commander of U.S. Southern Command, General Douglas Fraser, said Wednesday that his country supported Argentina’s initiative to create a new joint defense body under the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), which is in charge of dealing with transnational crime in the region.
UNASUR calls for integrated armed forces, said Venezuelan Minister – Prensa Latina, June 6, 2012 – Venezuelan Defense Minister General Henry Rangel stated here that the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) calls for the integration and consolidation of the Armed forces from the member countries of the bloc. In statements to Prensa Latina, Rangel pointed out that separate armed forces for friendly countries cannot continue to exist and that these ought to become South American armed forces.
UNASUR will develop its own military aircraft primary training – Lainformacion (Spain), May 30, 2012 (Google Translation link) – The Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) began working on the design and production of the first primary trainer military aircraft basic South American, said the Argentine Ministry of Defense. The development of this aircraft, which will be renamed the “UNASUR I” was agreed at the special meeting of the South American Defense Council, held last November in Lima.
Unasur members begin sharing information on defence expenditure – MercoPress, Jan. 31, 2012 – Six South American countries are sharing for the first time in history information on defence expenditure which is seen as a first concrete step to leave behind border disputes and ensure peace in the region, said delegates from Chile, Ecuador and Unasur, Union of South American Nations.
Venezuela Proposes South American Intelligence Center to Monitor Drug Trafficking – InSight Crime, June 19, 2012 – On June 18, Venezuela proposed creating a South American intelligence center to monitor drug trafficking in the region. According to Venezuelan Vice Minister of Public Safety Nestor Reverol, the system will monitor maritime and aerial transportation in the region and will promote shared intelligence among South American countries…The proposal will be raised before the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR).
No More Arms Race in the Region, Says Ecuador – Radio Cadena Agramonet, August 10, 2012 – In a yearly address to the country, [Foreign Minister Ricardo Patiño] said there has been progress in the creation of a Defense Council of UNASUR [Union of South American Nations] in order to generate a regional security policy…
‘Unasur 2′ Combined Exercise Begins in Argentina – UPI Español, October 2, 2012 (Google translation) – The Defense Minister Arturo Puricelli opened the Joint Combined Exercise Regional Peacekeeping Operations “Unasur 2″ to be held in Argentina until Friday….Participants will work on an alleged military peacekeeping operation under the mandate of the United Nations Organization (UNO).

SAARC:
What Can SAARC Offer To Afghanistan? – Analysis – Eurasian Review, Dec. 12, 2011 (Google Link) – It has already been five years since Afghanistan joined the SAARC but it has still not been possible to chart out concrete ways to help the country come out of the shackles of civil war….Following the American withdrawal, an idea of a South Asian peacekeeping contingent can also be mulled over but only after a certain degree of stability has been established and after receiving the mandate from the UN.

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