President Bush was on the defensive this week, denying rumors that he and the leaders of Canada and Mexico are planning to create a “regional super-government” much like the European Union.  The President was in Montebello, Quebec for two days of meetings related to the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP).  (The SPP is an international agreement between the U.S., Canada and Mexico that some fear will sacrifice U.S. sovereignty.)          This is the president’s response to critics of the SPP (according to The Washington Times):     

         “‘I'm amused by the difference between what actually takes place in the meetings and by what some are trying to say takes place,’ said Mr. Bush, responding to concerns raised by conservative and liberal groups and some U.S. lawmakers. ‘It's quite comical actually, to realize the difference between reality and what some people on TV are talking about.’”

         This response, of course, begs the question:  If the president is concerned about the difference between the reality of what takes place in the meetings and public perception, why not make all SPP meetings open to the public?  Why not make all documents related to the deliberations available to the American people?  Why give ammunition to opponents of the SPP by conducting any business in secret?

        You will recall from last week’s installment of the Weekly Update that Judicial Watch attempted to gain entrance to the meetings as part of its ongoing investigation of the Security and Prosperity Partnership and all of its subgroups.  Specifically we sought access to the North American Competitiveness Council, the business advisory group that is part of the SPP process.    

        We were forced to file a lawsuit against the Department of Commerce to ensure that the North American Competitiveness Council, as an advisory group to the federal government, is subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, and is therefore opened to the public.  We asked the court to grant a temporary restraining order that would have provided Judicial Watch access to the Quebec meetings.  Our request, unfortunately, was denied.  (The part of the lawsuit seeking documents, however, is still active).

        The issue is not, despite what President Bush says, what so-called conspiracy theorists think about the SPP.  Officials at the highest levels of all three governments are meeting to craft policies impacting the lives of all American citizens.  From the documents uncovered by Judicial Watch thus far, some of these policies raise serious red flags.  One document uncovered by Judicial Watch speculated that in order to overcome public opposition to North American integration, policies should be developed in secret, what the document called “evolution by stealth.”  Other documents talk of sending tax dollars to Mexico to build its infrastructure as part of the SPP, and still other documents talk of carbon taxes.

        There is nothing comical about this.  President Bush is out of touch with the concerns of many Americans about the facts of the SPP. 

        Judicial Watch, of course, will continue to monitor the Security and Prosperity Partnership and make all documents obtained available on its Internet site, www.judicialwatch.org.