Bush Bolsters Ties With Mexico, Canada

The two-day summit is the third of its kind during Bush's presidency, and each one has been meant to bolster a compact — dubbed the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America — that serves as a way for the nations to team up on health, security and commerce. The partnership of the countries is a framework for working out problems — not a deal that was ever intended to produce dramatic announcements. In turn, the White House sought to lower expectations that something bold would emerge from the meetings. "I don't expect any major announcements," Bush spokesman Gordon Johndroe said. "I think it's a continuance of discussions that we have regularly with our two closest neighbours." For Bush, the event also allows him to show that he does not take his neighbours for granted; they are both vital trading partners and energy providers for the U.S. "The message for Canada and Mexico is that despite the ongoing emphasis on Iraq and terrorism in U.S. foreign policy ... the U.S. is investing time and attention on relationships with our own region," said Chris Sands, a scholar of North American studies and senior associate at the centre for Strategic and International Studies. Bush arrived to the greeting of a Canadian honour guard decked in red coats and fur hats. Nearby, on the airport tarmac in Ottawa, a U.S. Marine collapsed and was treated by White House medical personnel and local paramedics. He was taken to a local hospital. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/5069007.html

Note: http://www.chron.com/di...