More on the not so secret drive to “integrate” the U.S. Mexico and Canada from CNN’s Lou Dobbs January 18, 2007
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DOBBS: The Bush administration is pushing and pushing hard a partnership between the United States and Mexico and Canada, with a goal of what it calls integration by 2010. This partnership among three nations is being discussed at the highest levels of the three governments at the urging of the largest multinational corporations, but it is barreling ahead with absolutely no congressional oversight, no voter approval, out of sight completely of the American people. And as far as we can determine, without any constitutional authority whatsoever.

Christine Romans reports. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Congressman Virgil Goode wants to stop the Security and Prosperity Partnership.

REP. VIRGIL GOODE (R), VIRGINIA: It will lead to a union between Canada, the United States, and Mexico. And it will greatly harm the sovereignty of the United States. It is part of the open borders philosophy to do away with borders. And I vigorously oppose it.

ROMANS: Launched in 2005, it’s a dramatic government and business effort to “harmonize regulations.” The president promised, no matter who the players are in Washington, Mexico City and Ottawa, this bureaucracy is meant to endure.

BUSH: And I appreciate the commitment of the prime minister and the president toward a spirit of partnership to outlast whatever politics may occur.

ROMANS: To critics, outlasting politics means skirting Congress and the will of the American people in secrecy. It took a Freedom of Information request to find out what happened last fall. Closed to the press, the North America forum was attended by the highest levels of business in government. The conservative group Judicial Watch found…

TOM FITTON, JUDICIAL WATCH: This is a forum where the push is for taxes, the push is for open borders. The push is for investment funds for Mexico.

So all the talk is on one side of the equation.

ROMANS: Among the notes the Pentagon released of meeting, a goal of integration and “Open borders for industry and investment. North America needs to be more competitive, and yet security goals seem to interfere with this outcome.” And the admission, “Most people (are) not compelled by North America integration need to identify steps that demonstrate the concept and success.”

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: Numerous documents advocate open borders between and a secure perimeter around the three countries, taking what’s called a continental vision. It is a vision Congressman Goode does not share. He will introduce this week a resolution opposing the Security and Prosperity Partnership — Lou.

DOBBS: And some mindless and uninformed before suggesting that this is not even occurring. I saw a number of articles suggesting whether it’s North American Union just isn’t happening. It’s a fiction as some wild conspiracy theory, yet it is absolutely documented, this administration continues to deny what is happening right in front of us, although it is happening with stealth and with secrecy, it’s happening.

ROMANS: The administration has a Web site called spp.gov. It outlines myths and realities. People can check it out themselves but there are a lot of questions about this, Lou.

DOBBS: You can check out our Web site, too, which is about truth. We’ll let the administration have its own view of that truth. And fortunately it seems to be one that they don’t want to share with a lot of Americans for some reason. This is a very important story.

ROMANS: They will not come on camera to talk about it, but they will refer us to a Web site but not come on camera it talk about it.

DOBBS: Absolutely. How odd and out of character. Christine, thanks. Christine Romans.