What in the world is the SPP?

Specifically, the "Security and Prosperity Partners" of North America. This mysterious agreement was signed between Canada, Mexico and the United States in 2005, but exactly what it's supposed to accomplish is a story untold. Tom Tancredo mentioned Monday night on the O'Reilly show.

Some believe the agreement is a trial balloon for a common North American union, or even outright laying the groundwork. Here's how Human Events' Jerome Corsi put it:

What we have here is an executive branch plan being implemented by the Bush administration to construct a new super-regional structure completely by fiat. Yet, we can find no single speech in which President Bush has ever openly expressed to the American people his intention to create a North American Union by evolving NAFTA into this NAFTA-Plus as a first, implementing step.

Curious myself after hearing someone mention it on talk radio I searched it on the net, and sure enough there it was. After perusing some of the documents it dawned on me the reason we haven't heard more is probably because the sucker is so wrapped in bureauhappyspeak it's nearly undecipherable to the average reader. Rank speculation leads me to believe it's a template for open borders, freer trade and perhaps a common currency at some point, but I'm not sure.

My opinion has yet to solidify on this due in part to the dearth of information but also because it seems to have some positives. Yet from just a cursory glance a few concerns seem to jump out: 1) Congress is not involved, 2) President Bush never talks much about it, and the press never asks him about it, and 3) it doesn't seem to discourage illegal immigration, actually quite the reverse.

We've had a hot story in Memphis lately about a local banker's admitted practice of lending money to illegal aliens to buy homes. The bankers seem to think they're doing nothing illegal. Did they get that notion from things like SPP?

Perhaps the fact it wasn't a national topic of debate during the Congressional elections should tell us something. The Democrats/liberals have hammered Bush on nearly every anti-terror measure put forth, caterwauling about the trashing of the Constitution and so forth, yet they've been silent on this possible usurpation (if indeed that's what it is). Perhaps we can assume one of two things--either there is no "there" there, or they are silently onboard.

If there is a "there" then would it be foolish to expect 'the party of the people' to add it to their upcoming investigatory billet? Henry?

THE TIN FOIL HAT LEAGUE 11/22/06

Hot Air and the Captain have suggested that Congressman Tancredo is teetering on the paranoid edge based on his comments on O'Reilly (mentioned above). I don't claim to know his mental state nor anyone else's, but if simply mentioning or asking about this SPP qualifies one for a tin foil hat fitting, guess that includes me, too. Ole!