Deeply Integrating . . . .

This is the first mention I've seen in US media outlets of the upcoming Montebello conference. Surprisingly, it was in the Washington Post. Lately they haven't been exactly up to speed on "scoops." Since Canadian media outlets have made mention of the meeting for weeks, I guess it's not considered a "scoop" anymore. Well, maybe in the US it is . . . .


Bush to Tighten Ties With Mexico, Canada
By BEN FELLER - The Associated Press
Saturday, August 18, 2007; 12:52 PM

WASHINGTON -- Never fond of interrupting his Texas vacation, President Bush is doing it this year to bolster ties with the leaders of Canada and Mexico, two friendly neighbors and vital partners.

Bush joins Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mexican President Felipe Calderon in Montebello, Quebec, on Monday in hopes of expanding cooperation among their countries, which enjoy the largest trading partnership in the world.

The two-day North American Leaders' Summit appears to lack a signature issue, except perhaps a new U.S. push to halt Mexico's bloody drug wars.

Instead, the broad theme is economic prosperity, built around several topics: border security, competitiveness with India and China, product safety and energy solutions.

Underlying those points are technical but important matters, such as aligning border-crossing procedures and commercial standards.

"It's not necessarily sexy stuff, but it's essential to our security. It has to be done," said Roger Noriega, Bush's former assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs. "And it just so happens that Mexico and Canada have renewed themselves with the election of two right-of-center leaders who see the world a lot like Bush does."


Oh, Joy. Two leaders in our hemisphere who see the world as bush does.

Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy, how 'bout you ? ? ? ?

(Cross-posted from Moving to Vancouver)