There’s been a lot of talk about Canada lately. Janet Napolitano, the Secretary of Homeland Security has asked for an immediate review of the U.S-Canada border situation. Then, last week, the Washington Times wrote “The Soft Underbelly Up North,” in which it pointed out that, “it is the largest undefended border dividing the world’s greatest trading partners - and usually it draws no interest or attention at all.” Am I the only one who thinks this is silly?
Canada is the largest trading partner the U.S. has. Indeed, Canada.com points out that, “Since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. has poured billions into northern border security, including an almost six-fold increase in border agents — from 340 in 2001 to an anticipated 1,845 this year.” This increase has already created costly delays at the border, and increasing things would only make it worse. At a time of economic hardship, when Mexico is at risk of “a rapid and sudden collapse,” now is not the time to pour badly needed resources into defending a safe border.
I don’t want to sound like an alarmist, but if anything we should focus on supporting our relationship with Canada. Man-made or not, if global warming continues, the U.S. may soon be faced with a strong bordering country, something we’ve never had to deal with before.
Hopefully, Napolitano is just asking for a report so she can make sure her ducks are in order. I get it; I grew up in the South, and the only Canadian I’d met before I turned 19 was a kid who tried to steal my girlfriend. I too am still a little upset that they refused to be liberated when we offered in 1775. Canada looks huge up there on maps, so of course Napolitano wants to make sure things are ok. I just hope that after she gets her report, she’ll see that things are ok, and we can all move on. Canada is one of our most important bilateral relationships, and even though we haven’t had any serious problems since Nixon declared that our special relationship died, I think it is one that we sometimes take for granted.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
On behalf of all Canadians I’d like to apologize for that kid.
I think there is little doubt global warming is going to continue to escalate.
I’m curious though, why do you see that making Canada a stronger nation?
@The Commentator-Thanks, your work today has increased the bond between our two peoples. In all honesty though, since that kid, I’ve never met anyone from Canada that I didn’t like.
@Shawn-Well, global warming should increase the amount of arable land, make it easier to access resources farther north, and open an arctic trade passageway. I don’t doubt that it will cause other challenges, but Canada, Russia, and the Scandanavian countries should relatively gain.
This is a very interesting point, and not something I had thought about, despite being someone who visits Canada on a regular basis.
Heg, I agree about your assessment. Although there’s another angle you may have to consider: Namely large parts of the Arctic are disputed by the U.S., Russia, Norway and Denmark which poses challenges to Canada’s arctic sovereignty. In other words, in parts where land maybe disputed, Canada may or may no benefit. This is why some of us feel Canada needs to step up its presence in the region.
Canada’s population is relatively small. Whatever advantages global warming has to offer Canada, it doesn’t have the people to take advantage of them in a major way. Canada may become stronger than it is now, but without a significant population increase it will never represent would I would think of as a “strong” presence on the border. Mexico’s exploding population is much more of a factor in the US’s long term interests.