The discussion of "bilateral" agreements needs to be taken in context. The US has, ahem, a bit more power than Belgium I'd say.. So "mutual agreement" is basically strongarming in my book. The US wants control. It has the means to demand it.

My point about convenience is that is how it is sold/portrayed. Call it what you may, but it is territorial overreach. In my mind, and it is a philosophical take, the US has no purpose setting up shop on foreign soil. No country should do so.

"Governments have all kinds of operations on each other's soil, both military and civilian." Again, who do you think has more operations on whose soil? Can you imagine if the Saudis or the Chinese opened shop in the US? Americans would be outraged. It would never be allowed.

Of course there isn't enough traffic to justify Canada's setting up shop in the US. The US has already done so in Canada. Duplicating this would be silly.

I'll give you an example of one "bilateral" agreement with the US. The US implemented FATCA to keep tabs on bank accounts of American citizens and permanent residents abroad. Like citizenship-based taxation, it's a massive overreach. It strongarmed governments to force banks around the world to provide full access to accounts held by American citizens. Of course, promising reciprocity (the US is a major "fiscal paradise" along with the UK). Well guess, what? Foreign banks must report to the US but the US isn't reporting monies to foreign governments. Several goverments- notably France- have threatened to end their agreements. The US says "sure, end your agreement", you just won't be able to trade in dollars. That's the kind of "agreements" we make.

There is a disturbing aspect to having overseas clearance facilities. In essence, it is an attempt to push our borders out overseas. Don't be fooled into thinking that these are just "clerical" positions. They are strategic positions and ones that give intelligence and shield potential travelers from legal recourse (they are refused on foreign soil), etc etc.

If you haven't noticed I have great distrust of government in general, but particularly of the US goverment (and a few others)... they have too many tentacles in too many places around the world under the guise of "security". It's been almost 20 years of this post 9/11.

Finally I disagree with you on the professionalism of these folks. My experiences in Canada and Ireland have been pretty poor.